Issue link: http://globelitetravelmarketing.uberflip.com/i/149733
»DISCOVER California Dreaming by don george The Golden State is both a special place and a special state of mind The seductive state of California SANTA BARBARA With its Mediterranean climate and beautiful coastline, Santa Barbara has come to be called the American Riviera. Spanish colonial architecture and Mission Santa Barbara, founded in 1786, hark back to the city's beginnings and help reveal its storied past. It's also a gateway to Channel Islands National Park, a group of five protected islands about 25 miles offshore. For more on Santa Barbara and California's Central Coast, see pages 138-140. casts a spell on many, and everyone who visits runs the risk of falling in love and never returning home—or rather, making California their new home. Why is that? In part because in a matter of a few days you can attend the world premiere of a play, explore wineries in some of the world's finest wine regions, beach-comb by the ocean, ski in the mountains and immerse yourself in an open-mindedness and open-hearted celebration of life that are simply part of the state's cultural fabric. Call of the Wild The state also offers an extraordinary diversity of wild places and experiences. Within a morning's drive, most Californians can be at the ocean's edge, in the middle of a redwood forest, at the foot of a granite peak or in the stark splendor of a desert. For one of the world's most dramatic four-day camping trips, try hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Spend the first night on the Valley floor. On day two, hike up halfway and pitch your tent in Little Yosemite Valley. Grunt your way to the awe-inducing peak and back to your campsite on the third day, and then descend to your car on the fourth. Cooking under the stars in the pinescented night and falling asleep to the lullaby of the rushing Merced River will make memories you'll never forget. North to south, east to west, California offers a lifetime's worth of such experiences, from Mount Shasta to the Channel Islands and Anza-Borrego State Park, Death Valley to Big Sur. It's a natural wonder. DANIEL OCHOA |FOTOCHOA Cosmopolitan and Compassionate Two qualities that stand out in California are the cosmopolitan quality of everyday life and the extraordinary compassion of the people. There is a mind-stretching mix of cultures here—the sidewalk cafés of Europe, the exotic eateries of Asia, concerts and exhibitions showcasing arts from around the world, and people who have ventured to the far corners of the globe and understand its larger lure. At the same time, nurtured by this worldliness, a commensurate compassion thrives. Californians want to learn about the planet's diverse cultures and creations, near and far, and they care about issues from education to equality to environmental stewardship. 2 0 13 travel guide l ifo r n i a 201 2 8 t ravel guide to cato c al ifo r n i a