California Welcome Centers

Located at the south end of Shasta Outlets, the Anderson California Welcome Center is operated by the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association. Stop in and discover all the recreational wonders of Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity counties, the eight eastern counties in northern California that together comprise the Shasta Cascade Region.

Come in for free maps, brochures and sightseeing information for National and State Parks including Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mcarthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Castle Crags State Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreational Area just to name a few. Browse great historic and informational exhibits, including our geocaching display, view wild trout in our waterfall pond, take your photo with Joe Tourist, our friendly mascot, or Ed our life-size bronze grizzly bear. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is available to assist you 7 days a week, 361 days a year.  

Hours: Monday thru Friday 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm

The California Welcome Center Barstow is located inside the Outlets at Barstow off of I-15 halfway between Las Vegas & Los Angeles. 

The staff at the California Welcome Center can provide you with great trip planning information as you visit our local area where you can shop, museum hop, hike, explore the Mojave Desert and visit the Old West at Calico Ghost Town, or they can provide you with details and ideas for the rest of your stay in the Golden State.

Barstow is the perfect place to stay since plenty of day trips are within 2 hours and we offer a vast array of hotels & motels, some right on historic Route 66. So we invite you to join us!

Please contact the Welcome Center for specific hours of operation. 

Mammoth Lakes’ motto is, ‘Come as you are.  Do what you love.’  This applies to the surrounding area as well.  As the gateway to California’s natural wonders located in the Eastern Sierra, Mammoth Lakes is a great base camp and information hot spot for travelers. 

During the summer, the most popular reasons people visit the area is to take in the natural sightseeing, hike, participate in other outdoor sports like fishing and biking, and learn about mining history.  The Mammoth Lakes area also has a robust summer festival season.  During the winter, Mammoth Mountain is the main attraction in the area for skiing and snowboarding, along with other outdoor snow activities.

The California Welcome Center located in Mammoth Lakes is unique.  This Center is a collaboration of multiple agencies to provide the best possible information to travelers. These partners include: US Forest Service, National Park Service, Mammoth Lakes Tourism and Eastern Sierra Interpretive Center.  In addition to information and referrals, this center also issues backcountry permits, sells local and educational-based souvenirs and leases bear boxes.

Access is easy. Take the scenic and not so curvy US 395 or fly! The Mammoth Yosemite Airport is only 10 minutes from Mammoth Lakes. Flights are available year-round on Alaska Airlines, and during the winter on United Airlines. 

The Greater Ontario area hosts some of the very best in extreme sports, quiet retreats and spas, and is home to some of California’s ultimate shopping and dining opportunities.  The city is the gateway to experiencing Southern California gems such as lush green vineyards and Prado Regional Park to the South. While a short drive North brings you to historic desert communities and the California Route 66 museum.

Eastern travelers seeking serenity can experience mountain resorts near Big Bear Lake or take on the thrill of NASCAR at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. And a short drive brings visitors to the biggest and the best of entertainment with California’s premier theme parks waiting to be explored.

The California Welcome Center – Ontario is located at the Ontario Mills Premium Mall, and is excited to assist with planning your Southern California vacation with Greater Ontario being your home away from home. We look forward to your visit!

Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 am - 9 pm, Sunday 10 am - 8 pm

Discover beautiful Salinas California, the gateway to the Monterey Bay in Steinbeck Country, where you'll find historic sites, unspoiled farmland, world-class wines, a quaint, historic downtown, and some of the friendliest people around. Author John Steinbeck was born here, so visit his boyhood home as well as the National Steinbeck Center while you're here. Salinas is famous as the Salad Bowl of the World for agriculture and our fresh, home-grown produce is available internationally. We have the best year-round climate in the entire North American continent, and some of the cleanest air in the United States of America!

Salinas' hospitality blends yesterday's charm with today's modern conveniences. Visitors can explore the beauty of nearby Monterey Bay beaches, historic missions of San Juan Bautista, Soledad, Carmel, and San Antonio de Padus and wineries of South Monterey County, Carmel Valley and Pinnacles National Monument.

Local attractions include more than 50 beaches, 60 plus parks, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Giant Redwoods of Big Sur and Santa Cruz, Gilroy Gardens Amusement Park, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and a variety of history and art museums.

The area plays host numerous festivals, some celebrating agricultural heritage, such as the Artichoke Festival, Garlic Festival and Strawberry Festival as well as a great many music festivals like the world famous Monterey Jazz Festival, Blues Festival, and Bach Festival.

Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm, Saturday – Sunday 10am – 4pm

The California Welcome Center in Santa Rosa is conveniently located just off Highway 101 in the Railroad Square Historical District. It is housed in a beautifully restored 1904 train depot alongside the tracks for Amtrak and the future SMART rail project. The building’s importance to quaint Railroad Square is that of a focal point for the local railroad heritage and an important resource for travelers and the community. The depot houses the Northwestern Pacific train museum featuring railroad artifacts and interactive displays.

The Center is walking distance to a variety of fine hotels as well as dining choices ranging from funky little coffee shops to first-class restaurants. There is a multitude of charming retail shops surrounding the depot - offering a wide selection of goods.

Open 7 days a week, the Center offers an array of logo wear, locally-made gifts and souvenirs, in addition to travel information, maps, and brochures.

Amenities

• Concierge Services
• Free maps, guides and brochures
• Gift Shop – selling local souvenirs
• Handicapped Access
• Nearby Restaurants
• Nearby Hotels
• Restrooms
• RV Parking/Bus Parking

Often referred to as the “gateway” to California’s outback, the Morongo Basin is conveniently situated just a short drive to some of Southern California’s great outdoor destinations.  With the majestic Joshua Tree National Park on its southern border, the basin communities play host year-round to visitors and outdoor recreation enthusiasts from all over the world.  The unique natural surroundings of the Joshua Tree National Park have made it a favorite destination for rock climbers, hikers, campers, photographers and natural enthusiasts!! The region’s California Welcome Center is found on State Route 62 in Yucca Valley and offers information and resources for the California Desert Visitor. From Idyllwild to Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, from Palm Springs to Big Bear, our courteous Ambassadors at our Center will show you where to eat, where to stay, and where to play while you're in our Basin and Southern California.

Hours: Monday thru Friday from 9 am – 4 pm, Saturday from 9 am - 2 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm.