Going Everywhere You Want to Be in .NET

Maker DataMatrix in .NET Going Everywhere You Want to Be

Unless you have a couple of months to spare for vacation (lucky you!), you re not going to see everything this marvelous, multifaceted state has to offer You know what Don t even waste time trying Frankly, some parts of California are much worthier of your valuable time and hardearned money than others

The destinations in this chapter (shown on the inside front cover of this book) comprise the best of California You discover more about them throughout this book as you plan your trip

The metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area grew by leaps and bounds with the Silicon Valley revolution; even with the dot-com bust, the city and environs have remained coveted real estate The prime draw, however, is still the loveliest and most beguiling city in America, San Francisco (see 11) The city (as locals call it never, ever Frisco ) is smaller than you may expect, loaded with personality in all corners, and pleasant to visit year-round It s also the one destination in the Driving State where you can easily get around without a car If San Francisco is the ultimate urban destination, then the gorgeous Wine Country of Napa and Sonoma counties America s premier winegrowing region (see 12) is the embodiment of pastoral escape These superfertile valleys brim with world-class wine-tasting rooms and some of the country s finest restaurants and inns

The wild and woolly coastal region north of the San Francisco Bay Area (see Part III) offers some of California s most breathtaking scenery It s quiet, remote, and ruggedly handsome, with spectacular nature broken only by the occasional picturesque village Of those villages, none is lovelier than romantic Mendocino (see 13), a postage stamp of a town situated on a majestic headland Rife with elegant bed-andbreakfasts (B&Bs), upscale restaurants, and pricey boutiques and galleries, it s definitely built for two but families with kids find plenty of outdoor activities to occupy them in the surrounding area Beware the weather, though, which can be cold and misty at any time of the year all part of the dreamy Mendocino vibe, aficionados say Mendocino also serves as a good jumping-off point for exploring the regal Redwood Country (see 14), which starts just inland and north of Mendocino The towering coast redwoods the tallest trees on the planet extend all the way to the Oregon border, but you don t need to travel that far to get your fill of their majesty You can follow the scenic 32-mile Avenue of the Giants to the midpoint as a day trip from Mendocino or dedicate a couple of days to the drive, depending on your sightseeing goals

Travel inland from the Bay Area or North Coast and you ll soon reach the Sierra Nevadas, the magnificently rugged, granite-peaked mountain range that defines northeast and east-central California This high-altitude region is so uniquely stunning that such geniuses as Mark Twain and Ansel Adams considered it one of their greatest inspirations The

Sierra Nevadas stirred John Muir to do no less than found the US National Park system Possibly the greatest of the national parks is spectacular Yosemite National Park (see 16), whose natural wonders include such record-setters as Yosemite Falls (North America s tallest waterfall) and El Capitan (the world s largest granite monolith) Beware, though, because Yosemite is the superstar of California s natural attractions, drawing theme-park-worthy crowds in summer but we tell you in 16 how to do your best to lose them Just to the south of Yosemite is the year-round recreational playground resort of Mammoth Mountain, where you can ski from November to July Also in the High Sierras rests the biggest and most beautiful alpine lake in the United States, sparkling Lake Tahoe (see 15) California s finest outdoor playground Come in the winter to ski, in the summer to hike, bike, kayak, sail you name it If you re a history buff and on your way to or from Tahoe, consider taking a day to visit Sacramento, California s capital, or the Gold Country (see 15), the epicenter of California s 19th-century gold-rush hysteria