California, the third largest State in the United States, boasts of a Mediterranean climate, sunny beaches and grand cities. Rather than the ‘standard city tours’, one should explore various unexploited getaways along the Pacific Coast. One such place is Point Reyes, 30 miles west of San Francisco. The seashore here is most strikingly beautiful, offering an endless variety of activities for visitors of all ages. The area’s wide-open spaces, winding roads, lush forests and scenic vistas, make for a memorable vacation. The pristine beaches of Point Reyes are some of the most spectacular on the entire Californian Coast. This ‘foggiest place’ in California also boasts of a lighthouse, where visitors can go all the way up and experience the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean lashing against it.
As we move further south we cross the beautiful towns of Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay and the famous 17 Mile Drive (home of pebble beach, wonderful cliff homes and a lone Cypress tree). Carmel is another quaint storybook town, with a wonderful beach that can get crowded during the tourist season. Further down, is a little fishing village called Morro Bay, also known for the presence of a large rock at the harbour; the rock is the remnant of a dormant volcano. Going ahead on Highway 101 we reach the very picturesque town of San Louis Obispo, which is also a College town with a pedestrian-friendly downtown shopping district; a creek runs through the middle of the town. One can stay at the famous Pismo Beach, the only beach in southern California on which you can drive! Here you can enjoy Hummer rides, bi-plane rides, surfing and beachcombing.
A trip to the Californian Riviera, Santa Barbara, is a must. It is well-known for its Spanish architecture, palm trees and a year-round pleasant climate. The streets are named after the central characters of the famous soap ‘Santa Barbara’. California is truly an experience, a lifestyle…a state of mind
