Vacation Spot in California

The mountains and the trees are really just stunning, there are plenty of places to drive, to hike, kayak, or ride your bike; it's a very friendly place to the outdoorsy types. If you like the ocean, well, it's right there, too, for fishing, surfing (bring a wetsuit, that water is cold) or just hanging out on beautiful Northern California beaches.

Old Town Eureka is quaint, lots of nice shops, and good food to be had, from seafood to Italian. You can sit at a cafe and watch the locals go by, shop, go to an art gallery or two, even have some great microbrewery beer at the Lost Coast Brewery. Go just a little bit north to Arcata (home of Humboldt State University) to catch a very liberal, very fun, unique little town experience.

If you like a little gambling, there's at least two Indian casinos within easy easy driving distance. Like most California coastal towns, the off-seasons of fall and spring tend to give better weather. Bring a sweater and enjoy yourself!

My favorite place to go is the Northern California Coast, preferably in November or December. If you time things right, you also will hit the heaviest time of year for the whale migrations. Of course, the coast is freezing cold at this time, so it is essential to rent a hotel room with an oceanview balcony.

The good news is that during the off season, you can rent the nicest, most expensive hotel rooms for a very reasonable cost. You can visit little local restaurants and have the place almost entirely to yourself.

Watching the stormy seas is beautiful, and at places like the California Coast, you are not missing anything since it is cold water year round. Another beautiful coast that I enjoyed in it's storminess was in Brittany, France. The rocky coasts and cliffs were beautiful.

Another great thing about Knott’s Berry Farm is that they also have a water park called Soak City. My favorite is the river rafting ride, the ride is a bit rough and you will end up getting soaked. There is also a wave pool and many slides if you prefer something a bit more gentle.

If you love theme parks you will love Knott’s Berry Farm! They offer something for each family member to enjoy. This is my favorite vacation idea.

It has scenic beaches and great restaurants, including many with ocean or bay views. There is also a fantastic stable just north of Half Moon Bay, on Hwy. 1 where you can rent horses and enjoy a picturesque ride on the beach.

The weather on this part of the coast, south of San Francisco, is usually very temperate. This is not the place to go if you are into bikinis, it is usually too chilly. However, if you enjoy a cool, misty morning wearing a sweatshirt, warm, sunny afternoons, and beautiful sunsets in the evening, it is perfect.

We hiked on trails during the day, accompanied by deer and squirrels. The hikes often took us to higher elevations where we could view the entire island, and sometimes see the California shore.

We took kayaks out in the ocean and rowed our way partially around the island, enjoying the beautiful inlets, rock formations and natural beauty that Catalina had to offer. A couple sea lions were playing near us and with great speed swam directly under our kayaks. That’s as close as I have ever been to a swimming sea lion. Even the boat ride to and from Catalina Island was a beautiful voyage. I highly recommend Catalina to anyone who wants to relax and enjoy nature.

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