"California: One of my Favorite States! " a California Travel Page by kikita

If I didn't live in Florida, California would be the place to hang my hat! I've been there twice on vacation--the first time 4 years ago, the last time in the summer of 2001, and both trips were stupendous! The first time, we flew in to San Diego and drove to the Lawrence Welk Resort in Escondido, part of the mountainous region around San Diego. It was one of the most beautiful resorts I've ever experienced & has all possible amenities you could ask for. Although it was hard to pull ourselves away from this stunning spot, we managed to visit San Diego, La Jolla, the Coronado Hotel, several monasteries (including San Juan Capistrano, which is my favorite), and the wonderful art, natural science, and other museums in San Diego. We also drove to Los Angeles (my daughter and niece loved it, I was much fonder of San Diego) and experienced Rodeo Drive and Hollywood. Another place we visited was Santa Barbara...I'm sure we saw other places, but I have forgotten. In San Diego, the world-famous zoo was nice except it was really hot that day and the animals were not out and about. Still a nice experience. Right near the zoo, there is a STUPENDOUS complex of museums and other attractions that you do not want to miss. You also want to make sure to take a day cruise to Catalina Island--to die for! After a week in the south, we drove up the Pacific Hwy. and spent a night in San Jose. From there, we drove up to the NE section of the state, near Yosemite National Park, where I had a second week reserved in a cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains. While there, we discovered the natural sequoia forest that dates from antiquity, spent a day in Yosemite, actually saw BEARS around our cabin, and crossed over into Nevada for a look at Lake Tahoe (incredible!) and a little gambling, shopping, and great dining. The last 3 days of our trip we spent in San Francisco, which we all loved & want to return to! Fisherman's Wharf, China Town, riding the trolley, Lombard Street (the most "crooked" street in the world), and a cruise to Alcatrass (still gives me goosebumps)...these are some of the things I remember enjoying. We loved the street performers (they were better than some people that I've paid good money to see in a more traditional setting!), and being entertained by a mime while waiting for the trolley was a new treat. I still like New York's Chinatown the very best, but San Francisco's was a really neat experience too. Basically, this is a city where you just can't go wrong...it is picturesque, distinctive, and full of things to see and do. Make reservations early if you plan to go to CA and especially cities like San Diego and San Francisco! Things book up fast!

My second trip to California was in July / August of 2001. My daughter, mom, and I decided we would return to the San Diego area this time and just spend a full 2 weeks there. The first week, we stayed at a gorgeous resort in Ramona (up in the mountains near San Diego). It had a killer spa, numeous tennis courts, a pool that made you feel you were framed by mountains, incredible views, lots of activities, and we were truly pampered...a total disconnect! To tell you the truth, we spent the whole week there, enjoying the resort. The second week, we headed to San Diego and stopped on the way at the coolest shopping and gaming place that is Native American owned and features incredible outdoor art and top designers all the way down to more affordable retailers...yes, you guessed it...we shopped 'til we dropped! In San Diego, we did all the touristy things, also returning to some of the places we had really enjoyed during our first trip. I loved the climate, the people, the fact that there are both mountains and beach (although the water was too cold for me---I am used to the much more tropical Atlantic!) My brother had recommended we venture across the border and visit Tijuana...just a skip and a hop away from San Diego. I had heard that this might not be a good idea, so I skipped this, considering it was just 3 women and my understanding is Tijuana can be rowdy. For those much more adventurosome than I, Tijuana nightlife may prove a good option.