From north to south, California, the "promised land," offers a visitor many changing perspectives. By wandering through California from Oregon to Mexico, visitors to this state of golden opportunities can see the natural wonders of the Pacific Ocean with its coastal towns like Mendocino and Monterey, national parks including, Lassen Volcanic, Redwood, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Yosemite, and the thriving metropolises of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, Los Angeles (Tinsel Town), or historic San Diego with its famous San Diego Zoo. When the California visitors want to relax, the wine country of the Sonoma and Napa Valleys offer scenic beauty as well as excellent food, shopping, fine lodging, and, of course, wine.

Outdoor adventures can choose between a wide variety of four-season activities from skiing in Lake Tahoe and surfing in the Pacific near La Jolla to hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, bicycling, and mountain climbing in the Sierras. History abounds for the travelers who follow the El Camino Real to study mission architecture or the trails of the Forty-niners of the gold rush era.

Traveling east to west, California visitors leave Nevada and can visit Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve, play golf in Palm Springs and Palm Dessert or at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach near the Pacific Ocean. Besides visiting Disneyland in Anaheim and Sea World in San Diego, visitors can enjoy professional sports in every season or visit the cultural events and museums like the San Francisco Symphony and the Getty Museum. If shopping is an interest, visitors can shop until they drop on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

The Big Sur, south of San Francisco from Carmel to San Simeon, where the mountains push into the Pacific Ocean, is a beautiful place to visit during any season. While winding through the area on California Route 1, visitors can traverse through valleys shaded by giant redwood trees. Although it is sometimes crowded in the summer, the rugged beauty of the Big Sur is also worth the trip in spring, fall, and winter when the crowds are thinner. Naturalists and eco-tourists, who visit the Big Sur in the winter, can see whales, elephant seals, sea otters, and monarch butterflies. Visitors to the Big Sur can stay in cabins, campgrounds, RV parks, and historic inns in Deetjen’s or the Post Ranch Inn. While in the Big Sur region, travelers enjoy the hot springs at Esalen Institute  and the Sykes Hot Springs  where you can park at the Big Sur Ranger Station. You may want to also visit the McWay Falls with the beach and cove, and the state parks for hiking. The Big Sur region is a perfect place for a quiet retreat or conference.