About Discover California

A Passion for California

I'm Scott — an American traveler who got his first passport in 2002 and has since explored 40+ countries. California captivated me from the start with its dramatic coastline, world-class cities, diverse landscapes, and a creative energy unlike anywhere else. This is how decades of obsessive trip planning became the travel guide I wished existed.

Scott · American · First passport: 2002 · 40+ countries traveled

Travel has always been my escape from the rat race — and honestly, I enjoy the planning almost as much as being there. Researching destinations, mapping routes, finding that perfect spot. California has been one of the most rewarding places I've explored — the dramatic coastline, the world-class food scene, and the way laid-back beach culture blends with cutting-edge creativity.

From the sun-drenched beaches of Malibu to the towering redwoods of Northern California, from a perfect taco in a San Diego strip mall to watching the sunset from Big Sur — California delivers experiences that stay with you. The diversity of the landscapes, the energy of the cities, and the sheer beauty of the coast are unlike anywhere else on Earth.

I'm not a travel blogger. I work in healthcare IT. But California keeps revealing new layers, and I finally decided to put everything I've learned into something useful — a site with honest prices, video content from the places I've actually been, and an AI trip planner that builds real itineraries. It's the resource I wished existed when I started exploring California beyond the tourist highlights.

Our Story

The Journey So Far

2002
The Passport

Scott gets his first passport and begins exploring the world. 40+ countries would follow — but certain destinations would leave a deeper mark than others.

First Trip
First Road Trip: PCH

The first real California road trip. Highway 1 hugging the cliffs, Big Sur's impossible views, a first fish taco at a beachside stand. The realization that California operates on a rhythm all its own. The obsession begins.

Exploring
Beyond the Coast

Yosemite, Napa Valley, Joshua Tree, Lake Tahoe. Each trip goes deeper — from the tourist highlights to the places only locals know. California's highways make the entire state accessible, and every region reveals something new.

2025
Discover California Launches

The travel guide Scott wished existed finally becomes real — with video content, an AI trip planner, and honest recommendations. Not recycled content from press trips. A real guide built by someone who loves this state.

Meet the Team

The People Behind the Pages

Scott Murray
Scott
Founder · Writer · Videographer

Healthcare IT professional by day, travel obsessive by every other waking moment. Based in Southern California. Got his first passport in 2002 and has since explored 40+ countries. California captured his imagination with its dramatic coastline, world-class cities, diverse landscapes, and a creative energy unlike anywhere else. Enjoys the trip planning almost as much as the travel itself.

40+
Countries traveled
20+
Years of travel
San Diego
Home base
Our Promise

What You'll Never Find Here

I built this site because I got tired of California travel content that's secretly a press trip recap or a sponsored hotel review dressed up as honest advice. Discover California exists because I wanted the resource I wished I had when I started exploring this state.

0
Sponsored posts
ever
0
Press trips or
free hotel stays
20+
Years of
travel experience
100%
Real prices in
USD
If I recommend it, I've been there. If I list a price, I've paid it. If I tell you to skip something, I've wasted my own money there first. This is a truthful, fact-based site — and I want you to feel like you've experienced it with me.
What We're Building

More Than a Travel Blog

Discover California isn't a collection of "Top 10" listicles. It's a living resource built on real experience and technology that actually helps you plan a better trip. Here's what makes it different:

  • 🎥 Video guides for select destinations — see the coastline, cities, and landscapes before you book
  • 🤖 An AI trip planner that builds custom itineraries with real prices, not hallucinated estimates
  • 💰 Every price listed in USD, updated regularly based on what I actually pay
  • 🚅 Transport logistics — road trip routes, rental car tips, and the details that make California travel seamless
⛩️
Destination Guides
Deep dives into each region — not surface-level overviews, but neighborhood-level detail with real logistics.
📹
Video Content
Real footage from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and more. See the beaches, mountains, and landscapes before you go.
🗺️
AI Trip Planner
Describe your dream trip and get a custom day-by-day itinerary built on real experience.
📧
Itinerary Downloads
PDF itineraries you can take offline — complete with maps, booking links, and transport details.