Lake Tahoe, CA
Bordering California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe (12 mi/19 km wide and 22 mi/35 km long) is the highest alpine lake in the U.S. The surrounding area (usually referred to simply as Tahoe) is a year-round resort destination with spectacularly beautiful mountain and lake scenery, camping, hiking, mountain climbing, boat cruises, historical sites and lots of snow skiing.
And, of course, there's gambling, big-name entertainment and Vegas-style revues. Most of the big casinos—such as Harrah's, Caesars, Harveys and Del Webb's High Sierra—are in Nevada, just over the border from California. Traveling from the south shore of Lake Tahoe to the north shore along Route 89 is scenic but slow-going.
Though the lake itself is bisected by the California and Nevada state line, most visitors to the Tahoe area don't concern themselves with this distinction. Instead, visitors often go to the northern or southern ends of the lake. It's not uncommon for vacationers to ski or lodge in California but cross into Nevada for nighttime activities at Stateline or Reno.
Only minutes away from the mountain's base, the California town of South Lake Tahoe and the Nevada town of Stateline provide skiers ample lodging, dining, shopping and (in Nevada) gambling.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park embraces a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada, which was set aside as a national park in 1890. The park harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things.
Highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley, and its high cliffs and waterfalls; Wawona's history center and historic hotel; the Mariposa Grove, which contains hundreds of ancient giant sequoias; Glacier Point's (summer-fall) spectacular view of Yosemite Valley and the high country; Tuolumne Meadows (summer-fall), a large subalpine meadow surrounded by mountain peaks; and Hetch Hetchy, a reservoir in a valley considered a twin of Yosemite Valley.
Sonoma
Sonoma County is perfect for a great vacation getaway, with beaches and surf, mountains and redwoods, the lush beauty of vineyards, upscale specialty shops, rich cultural arts, outdoor sports, and a dazzling selection of award-winning wineries, restaurants and lodgings. Experience wine country with a visit to Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, in the heart of Dry Creek Valley. Stroll through famous gardens, then enjoy fine wines at beautiful Villa Fiore. Sonoma County’s specialty shops abound in distinctive art, antiques, home décor, gourmet foods, fashion and jewelry. Check out the historic town of Healdsburg, where boutiques and antique stores ring the shaded central plaza. Seasons of the vineyard offers irresistible gifts for home and garden. Sonoma County is as well known for its fresh, delicious foods as it is for its prestigious wines. In Santa Rosa, discover the vineyard-surrounded restaurant that put wine country cuisine on the map – enjoy the inspired seasonal menu of John Ash & Co., complemented by an award-winning wine list from the county’s most prestigious wineries.
Monterey, CA
The historic town of Monterey lies on a peninsula at the southern end of beautiful Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean about 85 miles south of San Francisco. Formerly the Mexican capital of California and a whaling and fishingport, Monterey is now mainly a tourist town. Sights include the Old Customhouse (1827) and the First (California) Theatre (1844) located in Monterey State Historic Park. Founded in 1770 by the Spanish, it was capital of Alta California and Mexican California until it came under American control in 1846 during the Mexican War.
San Francisco
Blessed with a viable fog-cooled and sun-kissed climate and a dramatic landscape, the San Francisco Bay Area is a visual feast where neither water nor hills are ever too far away. Add to this the cultural medley: Within every neighborhood, from Santa Cruz to Oakland to Mill Valley, a diversity of tastes and interest is thriving. See it in the cuisine, the bookstores, the arts, and the recreational opportunities. To embrace all San Francisco has to offer get out and explore. Walk the streets, drive across the Bay Bridge, go south down the peninsula to Silicon Valley and cruise along the San Mateo coast. Find great sights, museums, art, culture, and family fun attractions. There is a plethora of attractions and activities to satisfy the desires of every one who visits.
Bordering California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe (12 mi/19 km wide and 22 mi/35 km long) is the highest alpine lake in the U.S. The surrounding area (usually referred to simply as Tahoe) is a year-round resort destination with spectacularly beautiful mountain and lake scenery, camping, hiking, mountain climbing, boat cruises, historical sites and lots of snow skiing.
And, of course, there's gambling, big-name entertainment and Vegas-style revues. Most of the big casinos—such as Harrah's, Caesars, Harveys and Del Webb's High Sierra—are in Nevada, just over the border from California. Traveling from the south shore of Lake Tahoe to the north shore along Route 89 is scenic but slow-going.
Though the lake itself is bisected by the California and Nevada state line, most visitors to the Tahoe area don't concern themselves with this distinction. Instead, visitors often go to the northern or southern ends of the lake. It's not uncommon for vacationers to ski or lodge in California but cross into Nevada for nighttime activities at Stateline or Reno.
Only minutes away from the mountain's base, the California town of South Lake Tahoe and the Nevada town of Stateline provide skiers ample lodging, dining, shopping and (in Nevada) gambling.
Yosemite National Park embraces a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada, which was set aside as a national park in 1890. The park harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things.
Highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley, and its high cliffs and waterfalls; Wawona's history center and historic hotel; the Mariposa Grove, which contains hundreds of ancient giant sequoias; Glacier Point's (summer-fall) spectacular view of Yosemite Valley and the high country; Tuolumne Meadows (summer-fall), a large subalpine meadow surrounded by mountain peaks; and Hetch Hetchy, a reservoir in a valley considered a twin of Yosemite Valley.
Sonoma County is perfect for a great vacation getaway, with beaches and surf, mountains and redwoods, the lush beauty of vineyards, upscale specialty shops, rich cultural arts, outdoor sports, and a dazzling selection of award-winning wineries, restaurants and lodgings. Experience wine country with a visit to Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, in the heart of Dry Creek Valley. Stroll through famous gardens, then enjoy fine wines at beautiful Villa Fiore. Sonoma County’s specialty shops abound in distinctive art, antiques, home décor, gourmet foods, fashion and jewelry. Check out the historic town of Healdsburg, where boutiques and antique stores ring the shaded central plaza. Seasons of the vineyard offers irresistible gifts for home and garden. Sonoma County is as well known for its fresh, delicious foods as it is for its prestigious wines. In Santa Rosa, discover the vineyard-surrounded restaurant that put wine country cuisine on the map – enjoy the inspired seasonal menu of John Ash & Co., complemented by an award-winning wine list from the county’s most prestigious wineries.
The historic town of Monterey lies on a peninsula at the southern end of beautiful Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean about 85 miles south of San Francisco. Formerly the Mexican capital of California and a whaling and fishingport, Monterey is now mainly a tourist town. Sights include the Old Customhouse (1827) and the First (California) Theatre (1844) located in Monterey State Historic Park. Founded in 1770 by the Spanish, it was capital of Alta California and Mexican California until it came under American control in 1846 during the Mexican War.
Blessed with a viable fog-cooled and sun-kissed climate and a dramatic landscape, the San Francisco Bay Area is a visual feast where neither water nor hills are ever too far away. Add to this the cultural medley: Within every neighborhood, from Santa Cruz to Oakland to Mill Valley, a diversity of tastes and interest is thriving. See it in the cuisine, the bookstores, the arts, and the recreational opportunities. To embrace all San Francisco has to offer get out and explore. Walk the streets, drive across the Bay Bridge, go south down the peninsula to Silicon Valley and cruise along the San Mateo coast. Find great sights, museums, art, culture, and family fun attractions. There is a plethora of attractions and activities to satisfy the desires of every one who visits.
