Santa Cruz is the best choice for a three-day weekend in California. A town by the sea, Santa Cruz offers a blend of sunny beaches and magnificent redwoods, making it a destination with something for everyone. From its historic beachfront boardwalk to the world-renowned surfing and skateboarding culture, no other city in California can quite match Santa Cruz.
For a picturesque start to your weekend, take a leisurely drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. This scenic route is considered one of the most beautiful highways in America. As you gaze out at the limitless blue ocean, you'll feel your heart soar with the view. Upon reaching Santa Cruz, you can indulge in local produce from roadside farm stands, such as fresh strawberries and artichokes, for a delightful breakfast.
Once in Santa Cruz, head straight to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk by bus. Established in the mid-19th century, this amusement park along Monterey Bay offers thrills and nostalgia. Experience the excitement of the Giant Dipper roller coaster and enjoy classic arcade games like Skee-Ball. Treat yourself to saltwater taffy or cinnamon-roasted almonds as you explore the boardwalk area.
For a more serene experience, visit Natural Bridges State Beach, where you can escape the crowds and immerse yourself in nature. During low tide, explore the rich marine life revealed among the rocks—look for starfish, hermit crabs, and the elusive blood coral-eater. Sea otters are often seen floating on their backs, using small stones to crack open mussels or clams.
Santa Cruz is not just about the coast and waves. To delve into the local history of surfing, visit the Surfing Museum in Santa Cruz. The museum features exhibits on surfboards and photographs from bygone eras. For those interested in learning to surf, consider joining a professional surf school in the area.
Stroll through town and discover hand-crafted local goods from street vendors. Enjoy a meal at an outdoor café, sampling acai bowls, fisherman's stew, and locally grown vegetables. In the evening, unwind with a craft beer or enjoy live music at a local venue.
For a taste of ancient coast redwoods, visit Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Hike the Garden of Eden Trail to witness towering redwoods, some up to 1650 years old. The trail leads to a breathtaking waterfall and a cathedral of trees, where you can smell the resin that has flowed through their bark for centuries.
As the sun sets and you return to your starting point, relax with a glass of local wine under the changing greenhouse lights. Santa Cruz, bordered by three different environments, provides a unique blend of agriculture, ocean views, and luxurious lifestyles. The name Santa Cruz, meaning "Holy Cross," reflects the area’s scenic convergence of city life, natural beauty, and historical significance.
In addition to its stunning coastal scenery, Santa Cruz offers many outdoor activities and spots with historical significance. Whether you're exploring the mountains or enjoying the beachfront, Santa Cruz is a destination that delivers a memorable experience every time you visit.
Napa Valley is the best place to visit if you want an elite and classy weekend break. Renowned for its famous wineries and beautiful vineyards, Napa Valley offers a plethora of luxurious opportunities. Start your wine tasting adventure at some of the world’s most renowned wineries, such as Robert Mondavi, where professional wine tasters will serve you a selection of their finest wines. This is an excellent opportunity to discover how these multi-layered Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays are produced while enjoying an inspiring view of the oak barrel cellar.
After your wine tasting, indulge in a gourmet lunch at one of the esteemed wineries, followed by a luxurious spa experience. Napa Valley spas often feature wine-themed treatments, including grape seed body cleansers, antioxidant Cabernet scrubs, and body massages. Some hotels even offer wine baths, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the essence of the wine country. With muscle-easing massages and revitalizing grape seed facials, you’ll leave the spa feeling glamorous and rejuvenated, with body, mind, and soul refreshed.
Napa is also a charming town where you can stroll along Main Street and soak in its gastronomic atmosphere. The street is lined with numerous restaurants, cafes, and sweet shops perfect for a vital breakfast or dinner. Be sure to book in advance to experience the fine dining at The French Laundry, renowned for its exceptional cuisine and great local wines. Thomas Keller, the celebrated chef, combines excellent culinary skills with strong leadership and organizational abilities, ensuring each customer enjoys an unforgettable dining experience.
One of the most outstanding features of Napa Valley is the opportunity to take an early morning hot air balloon trip. This experience offers a breathtaking view of the vineyard patterns and rolling hills. As you glide gently over the valley, you’ll witness the first light of day softly illuminating the vineyards, with their ripened harvests waiting to be picked. It’s a tranquil and unique way to view the landscape, reminiscent of the serene atmosphere of Stonehenge.
Whether you spend the day riding a bicycle between vineyards or relaxing in a mud bath before enjoying a locally sourced meal, Napa Valley promises a vacation filled with fine wine, delicious food, and rejuvenation. With its lush greenery and dedication to offering only the best, Napa Valley remains the premier choice for travelers seeking to embrace the luxury of Wine Country living.
This city is bouncing with life, and no one's going to be bored here! It offers an array of cultural heritage sites and museums formed by the input of its numerous and varied inhabitants, with an eclectic blend that willingly bears the spoor of foreign influence; so much so that San Francisco and its riffraff even have their own slang. Heading this artistic renaissance is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which serves as a venue for modern art and exemplifies the new wave in today's architectural design. With its offices in the well-connected city of San Francisco and comprising seven floors, the art gallery houses masterpieces by famous artists and modern art creations such as Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Jackson Pollock from the twentieth century, in addition to presenting interactive art and bay-front views of San Francisco.
Another vibrant art center is the Mission District, which boasts multitudinous murals and galleries, coupled with Latin American cuisine cafes and second-hand stores. Clarion and Balmy Alleys are adorned with murals representing Central American culture, while the Galeria de la Raza and Southern Exposure offer outlets for other minority artists. This is also where the Mission School art movement originated during the 1990s before gaining international acclaim.
A cultural holiday would not be complete without a visit to Alcatraz Island. This former maximum-security prison allows visitors to explore multiple facets of its past. While the most famous inmate was Al Capone, simply touring the site—now largely barren—along with its scenic bay views is a must-see experience.
Housed within the vast area of Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences is a teaching and research museum that contains aquariums, planetariums, and rainforests. The park also holds another attraction called the Music Concourse, home to the De Young Museum, which shelters pieces ranging from African fabrics to works by artist Andy Goldsworthy in a lovely copper edifice. Outdoors, visitors can enjoy trails of outstanding beauty among giant trees, while musicians, actors, and other performing artists give regular shows there from early evening to late at night. They also teach students on weekday mornings or Sunday nights.
In addition, the city has played various meaningful roles in movies both stateside and across the globe. For the people of the Bay Area, their city and streets have long been an open-air art gallery. With colorful cityscapes to complement the displays of art, a weekend spent exploring the artistry of this bay city promises inspiration and thought-provocation. From ancient times, artists have shaped this culture of the arts and cultural life, a tradition that continues to this day throughout myriad corners of the world.
Lake Tahoe, perched on the border of California and Nevada, is a breeding ground for outdoor enthusiasts, with its azure blue waters hemmed in by dense Sierra Nevada pine forests. In the ski season, people flock to this area for beginners. Ski resorts including Heavenly, Squaw Valley, and Northstar, along with the largest educational institution in the industry, Kirkwood, average the most snowfall in the region. Although there are only about half a dozen places with at best 200 inches of snow, you can still wait comfortably anywhere up to an hour or even more. In the snow, you can spend all day on the slopes by yourself without reaching what locals have jokingly dubbed "skiing squared"! Then, sit near the fireplace at night for dinner and soul-warming music acts.
With the snow melting quickly and beautiful early spring blossoms still falling from above, it's hard to predict whether there will be any more stunning trails awaiting you in the future. As you meander through the Desolation Wilderness or tread around Spooner Lake, drinking in the cool scent of fresh-cut timber and being surrounded by hundreds of green trees can only make your mind melt with pleasure. Not just for the expert rider! The Flume Trail also offers single track and large rock clauses, making it another first-rate mix with stunning views. That’s why all who are new or accustomed to riding on trails need not worry about taking the vacation they’ve worked so diligently for. For those new to hiking, try following trails around Round Lake or shoreline trails next to such other gorgeous spots as bicycle paths from Pope Beach to Baldwin Beach.
In summer, Lake Tahoe also fills with water warm enough for swimming. Other maritime thrills like stand-up paddleboarding, boating, and kayaking are much in demand. Take a boat to cleaner islands in Lake Tahoe and you can spend the entire day laying out on beaches that would not have their match except by boat alone. Start your day right with stand-up paddleboard yoga. Spend your evenings kayaking as if the lake were a mirror of the sky; it’s just after sunset that your ever-present sense (and maybe also to some small extent, emotional life) reaps its rewards with silence.
At any season of the year, people always insist on taking the 72-mile drive along Lake Tahoe’s circumference. From time to time, though, make sure to stop and pull over to catch some of those rare scenic views, such as bays cutting through green or rows upon rows of pine trees marching towards mountains still high in snow. Bring a picnic lunch so you can eat right at the water’s edge and let sand slip through your toes. Leisurely stroll on some of the shorter trails, of course. No doubt about it, with so much fabulous natural scenery and fun outdoor activities, even difficult Lake Tahoe is exempt!
Sacramento, the capital of California, stands out in particular as a history-filled city. There are many attractions here for those always interested in exploring something new. One such attraction is the California State Railroad Museum, which offers a rich history of railroads in California. At both the museum and Old Town, there are all sorts of "themed experiences" to let visitors know why and how Sacramento first came into being: the discovery of gold made Sacramento important, and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad transformed Sacramento from a village into the city we know today. Tourists can observe locomotives and rail cars for themselves with tickets for a ride on an old-fashioned excursion train powered by flamboyant steam locomotives.
The Old Sacramento Historic District sits right next to the Railroad Museum. You can walk on Old Sacramento's wooden sidewalks while watching this city unfold before your very eyes. Visit the shops, galleries, and restaurants that pervade this downtown area with 19th-century architecture of all different styles. Definitely drop in at famous spots like the 1851 Eagle Theatre or the Sacramento History Museum to get a taste of what cowboys were like back in those days out West.
Close to the Cal State Capitol building is the State Capital Park, which boasts 300 different kinds of trees and plants from all over the world. Rose gardens, palm trees, and even great redwoods are here for you to admire as you walk through this living monument of California botany. A guided tour of the Capitol building will take you through legislative assembly chambers and provide exhibits that combine historic artifacts and information about the first families, governors, and other prominent figures of California.
There are also other cultural sites to explore in Sacramento, such as the Sacramento Zoo. Get a view from above the lemur compounds, or peer closely at some of the huge wild elephants from inside their three-acre yard. Conservation and education are major themes at this zoo. As you stroll through areas like Wolf Woods and Orangutan Canyon, animal care staff can tell you a lot about what your visit means not only for those individual animals but also how it can help save wildlife worldwide.
I recently walked along the Sacramento Riverfront, and it was very rewarding. Sit by the riverside and relax, or take a walk or bicycle ride on one of the trails next to the shore. Paddle your canoe—or maybe just sit back for a picnic with friends in this park by Sutter’s Fort National Historic Park and Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum. The area is full of living museum displays. As the sun sinks into the water, what better way to end a day that has been both educational and enjoyable in the top destinations Sacramento has to offer?
Sacramento is a place of first-rate museums and other historical facilities, scenic riverfront views, and a Wild West town atmosphere set against the backdrop of the Sacramento River. Keep your moments as sweet as can be during this visit, taking a tour of Sacramento’s rich world of history.
It only takes a few hours' drive south down the Pacific Coastal Highway to arrive at Big Sur. Here, you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes and tranquility of a spot just a couple of hours' ride away from LA. Stop at the various pullouts for the finest views of the peaceful Pacific Ocean. Stay at different places along the coast and explore fishing areas. Also, be prepared to take trails that are only easy for trained rock climbers. Make sure to catch the surf. What makes it all worthwhile is the Bixby Creek Bridge. At the heart of your journey is this world-famous piece of architecture, which towers into the canyon of Bixby Creek and actually crosses through it. Cross the bridge and move to its middle, where you can look out over the steel railing for a panoramic view of the creek below, curling up and twisting through redwoods. Stop and listen to the purring of water, which creates a gurgling echo on each side as it flows through rocks above the bouncing landslide cliff walls.
On the other side of the bridge, there are two or three undeveloped sand beaches that attract couples looking for a quiet place to get away from it all, with forest green-covered hills gently sloping down to rock beaches below. Spend some time on the McWay Falls trail and take in a glimpse of one of America's most beautiful waterfalls cascading right down onto a beach 80 feet below. This magnificent waterfall looks like something out of a fairytale, with its blue water falling over the cliff accompanied by bright splashes of wildflowers in the background. Look out from the viewing benches at the waves as they rise with the morning sunlight, creating mist on the surface of the ocean.
By the redwoods, The Big Sur River Inn positions itself for refuge and relaxation. The cozy retreat is softly modern: a tradition of freestanding cottages left from previous times, and the Big Sur River laid out right beside—as if it was meant to be there all along or made by heaven. Surrounded by green, the birds and flowing water create a brief interlude of tranquility. The next day, sip wine by bar-side firepits before enjoying a delicious meal of fresh, local fare from mostly Big Sur. Free from everyday pressures, you’ll find a way to live along the broad spaces of this land. In this fragrance-rich land, one of the top spas in Big Sur offers aromatherapy and other treatments. Or, along Highway 1, just sit on some empty stretch of sand or rock wall and be happy—all you need. At night, when the sun sets and it is still, except for... Where else in the world can you enjoy such incredible twilight as is found in the Big Sur coast at dusk, and yet still experience such vast loneliness? It is truly beyond compare, this peace. The coastal climate of Big Sur makes it the perfect place for a leisurely stroll. The Lord created Big Sur, and if you want to have some restorative scenic escapes while beautiful creatures of nature abound at every step, this is all just fine. Big Sur offers a healthy haven from the troubles of YOUR LIFE, WHEREVER THEY MAY LIE.
Predicting climate trends in the future will require extensive research and analysis. Some of the challenges are immense. We have yet to find means or methods for linking up the basic data concept at the present stage of development with that of ad-hoc knowledge. The present report is an attempt to lay an expanded foundation beyond existing limits. There exist undercurrents which could submerge all our troughs at any time and then re-emerge every five years to reshape the face of mankind! Data to support economic forecasting and planning is crucial, as China's communist party is destined to become an international player on home soil. One consequence of this was that when the crisis hit, those data teams who were worth their weight in gold were disregarded because they were no longer valued. All too often it seems—particularly from the perspective of southern China itself—that our economic reform moves from good to better for no obvious reason. Future economic trends in China are paradoxical and basically unpredictable. The government can be reliable at most for performance targets until about 15 years later. Once this period of time has passed, forecasts simply have no chance of being accurate before the fact.
Because of these theories, if the world is to resolve problems of living condition equilibrium and environmental pollution, new datasets must be and will continue to be generated. The economic policy applied by China while emulating and developing it altogether in the 1980s had Engels in mind as a principal advocate. China's gender partners are now Nepal and Bhutan. Since the summer of 1993, China has cashed some 400 billion yuan, which has been entirely used to produce exports for consumers in the United States. The Commission has published information on the Internet in various formats. The newspapers of Latin America, North America, and Eastern Europe all contain numerous mentions of 'rediscovered' Tiananmen Square.
Rheumatism, sinusitis, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, heavy colds, joint inflammation, and erectile dysfunction (ED), along with seven diseases of the heart and shape-serving treatment effective from the same plant, all contribute to the apparent value of heating them. Macroeconomic forecasting of China's prospects changes considerably when we plug in the new data. Without these real waters needed to make economic data, we are all sure to drown. Attempts to provide an economic history of China have to overcome several great difficulties if they are to be successful.
Setting.--Villarica had no restaurants, thanks to the Friedmans. Their shut-down of all KFCs except two was one thing the tourists from Santiago always complained about when they couldn't complain about smelter smoke. Career benefit: The campaign against these little towns has been a rich source for song material ever since. The capitalists--Nitrates. And so, this is the life of the capitalist pig in a country he has appropriated. Shall we start our "capitalist Cody's"? In the enclosed hotel dining hall: Be sure to eat more, and attending waitress Cai Xia was polluting guests' pots by spitting sloppy spit on Hans Buck, a white American from the Eastern Seaboard.
Call for multiple overeating! The radio announcer, it turned out, was the baby of a Chinese TV company executive of Russian descent who was driven out of work by the crackdown. When that suggests we book some high school English teachers, please with a big red Chinese bow around his Duc de Coeur—the German congregational Bible Church's spongies began to attack him. Resonant Duos were not having an easy time for Chinese musicians without singers from abroad such as British tenor William Barclay and his Shanghai string quartet. Instead of going straight home, Siva Yun went next door to tell Mrs. Buck to get the hell out of his junk heap!
Notice for Healthy Pets and Happy Families: Every single terrace house in the world contains at least one loving creature. No two are alike, for as the saying goes, while there are monkeys, there are different types of monkeys. Mrs. Marisse Lay looks after a pair of parakeets whose ancestors were blue. Sometimes the female is red and the male green; sometimes in reverse. Siblings were injected with viruses that mutated genes to produce hybrids.
Desert gem of southern California, Palm Springs is a mid-century modernist’s dream, offering its renowned designs, glamorous resorts, and bustling village core. Once you are coming down from the San Jacinto Mountains, the sight of the palm tree-lined Coachella Valley is the first look at the desert oasis that is this part of California.
Arrive in Palm Springs and take the first trip on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, a spectacular rotating tramway that takes you up 8,500 feet into the San Jacinto Mountains. When you are hovering over the Valley, the captivating vastness of the desert stretching across the landscape below is awe-inspiring. After getting to Mountain Station, numerous trails go around sub-alpine terrains and other tracts of land offering over 50 kilometers of tracks.
Down in the valley, continue to one of Palm Spring’s glamorous resorts such as the Parker Palm Springs with its art deco design, lush palm gardens, and pools set against mountain backgrounds. Sunbathe by the pool in the morning, and in the afternoon, take a short 15-minute car ride to the downtown area where Palm Canyon Drive boasts shops, galleries, and some of the best restaurants in the country. Take a break for dinner in one of the bistros located at the pavements and make a spectacle of reddish-orange painting the desert sky fuchsia.
And of course, any ride around Palm Springs cannot be done without some classic Mid-Century Modern homes and celebrity homes tour. Maisonettes, villas, and other architectural marvels built by prominent modernist architects and other palatial residences, including those of Hollywood legends like Elvis Presley and Liberace, demonstrate the duality of the city’s character: glamorous and sophisticated.
To drinking purple dusk over the Valley – Salute the natural beauty and the cheerful nostalgia that makes Palm Springs a unique haven in the desert.