Visiting A Winery – 5 Ways to Avoid Learning Anything

Next time you visit the wine country, hire yourself a big limousine and follow these simple guidelines:

1. Plan your day around visiting as many wineries as possible.

2. Go to the same wineries everybody else does. After all, those are the popular wineries to go to, and they’re more than ready to put a wine glass in your hand.

3. Don’t listen to the tasting room staff, and be especially sure not to ask them too many questions. They’re not paid enough to be knowledgeable professionals.

4. Have a strong desire to self-medicate. Start your wine tasting early in the day, and get sideways by noon.

5. Get your exercise! Walk back and forth from the limo to the tasting room, and repeat often.

Now THAT’S your kind of wine country vacation, right? Many others just like you think so, too. Aren’t you glad you’re not alone?

Be sure to keep the above guidelines handy, and refer to them often.

A Word to the Wise

Dear reader, as you may have guessed, the 5 guidelines above only apply to April Fools. For the rest of us who might consider ourselves to belong to the greater majority of responsible wine-loving adults, tasting wine is an experience to be savored and discussed, appreciated and remembered.

To tour a series of wineries to get a buzz is not what the wine-tasting experience is all about. Wine is food! And like the pleasure that comes from eating your favorite cuisine, wine can provide a similar allure. Food and wine, as many know, complement each other well. As with food, if you choose to taste wine, do it because you truly enjoy tasting it. But unlike food, don’t go to a tasting room because you’d rather be drinking a lot of wine. Instead, stay home! But be responsible there, too.

If you would maximize your visit to the wine country, let us then provide contrast to the above guidelines and consider what will allow your wine country vacation to be a memorable experience – not just a sideways tour.

5 Ways to Maximize Your Wine-Country Experience

Call it wine country appreciation. Or, call it self-appreciation. In either case, if you would choose to truly benefit from a trip to the wine country, here now are five responsible guidelines signified by letters, instead of numbers, to differentiate from the list above.

A. Plan your day around visiting the wine country, not just its wineries.

There are a whole host of wonderful opportunities to be found in the wine regions of the world, whether you’re touring the famed Bordeaux region, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, or the up-and-coming Amador County area west of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. A visit to these wine regions can include a number of historical, cultural, educational, heritage, and active outdoor pursuits. Quite often, having a local guide can dramatically enhance the personal growth aspects of vacationers.

Gaining appeal with today’s travelers are tours ranging from culinary education classes that take place in spectacular settings to wellness retreats that offer exercise and nutrition counseling as well as superb pampering. Or, if you desire to be more active, you can find tours that offer a few days of exploring the flora, fauna, and scenic vistas of local open spaces, then a superb meal with wine tasting. Travelers are increasingly booking such tours, and they are trending heavily toward booking them online on a myriad of tour and travel websites.

B. To properly enjoy your wine-touring experience, choose your winery destination carefully.

Visitors are often drawn to the popular wineries that are located alongside the wine country’s main arterial routes; for instance, Highway 29 in the Napa Valley. And yet those are the areas in which you’ll find the greater share of vehicle traffic, especially during the summer tourist season. Of course, the traffic isn’t just cars, limousines, and tour buses. After you get off the bus or out of your car and into the winery, you’ll often wait in long lines of human traffic just to taste a wine or two. Ironically, this can defeat the purpose of Guideline A.

Many wineries and lodging operations offer better service and better vacation deals for your dollar during off-peak seasons. As a result, you’ll find that you get to linger longer at a restaurant or have a conversation with a winemaker that goes beyond the merely casual. Having the time to relax and not compete with other tourists on your vacation can dramatically augment not only your sense of well-being, but also your wine knowledge and your social network.

In addition, there are many family-owned wineries that are real treasures. It’s easy to overlook them, but once you make the effort to seek them out, you’ll often be rewarded with an experience that will have you telling your friends about them. You may even find the winegrower getting off his tractor to take you for an impromptu tour of his vineyard or winery operation. Of course, he might have you consider purchasing a case of his wines for his trouble. But then, you may also find that you’re not paying nearly the premium that you’ll pay at the more popular wineries along the main wine roads.

C. The tasting room staff earn their pay, and they do it out of passion. Let them guide you.

The wineries aren’t in business to attract more tourists. They’re in business because they have a clear understanding of the needs of their customers. If you’re not the world’s greatest wine expert, don’t worry! You’re among friends. Learning is why you traveled to the wine country in the first place, and winemakers and their staff love to talk about what they do. Listen, and ask questions. If you should visit more than one winery, ask the same questions. You’ll enhance your understanding by the answers you’ll hear, and what’s more, you’ll be delighted that you asked.

D. Be fully aware of your experience. Participate in it, and find yourself enchanted by it. Don’t desensitize yourself to the magic of the wine country.

“The advantages of wine touring are beautiful scenery and a new learning experience. The disadvantages are that there’s not enough wine.”

This author has actually read the above statement in a review by a supposedly-serious wine expert. I’ve heard similar quips from the lips of the not-so-pleasantly plowed. While I might agree with the “advantage” half of that statement, the desired outcome of your wine tour should be a quality experience, not a quantity experience. Wine touring is not meant to be a dormitory-style competition.

Therefore, pace yourself. Pour the wine you no longer want into the proper receptacle, usually a spit bucket. Spit the wine into the bucket if necessary – it’s perfectly acceptable within the context of tasting wine. But nobody likes a drunken tourist – not the winery staff, not the patrons, and especially not the wine country police.

E. To properly enjoy the wine country, get out of the land yacht and explore your surroundings.

Bring your hiking shoes with you, and find a local trail. Or, if you prefer to connect to your new surroundings on a deeper level, hire a guide. The reasons that grapes do so well in the wine country are often the same reasons why most areas surrounding the wine regions of the world offer a number of marvelous outdoor experiences. You’ll find that a walk in the redwoods, an expansive mountaintop view, a remote meadow full of wildflowers, or a glimpse of a bobcat on the trail can heighten your wine country experience in sensational ways.

Plus, the exercise and the fresh air you’ll get from your outdoor excursion will build your anticipation of those fine meals and exquisite wines that you came to the wine country for. They are the reward for your physical efforts, they balance your intrinsic desire for deeper understanding, and they make your vacation complete.

Copyright 2006 California Wine Hikes

Ther is more to California than LA and if you have a chance to see Northern California…do so.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

More Vacation In Redwood Articles

Visiting A Winery – 5 Ways to Avoid Learning Anything

Next time you visit the wine country, hire yourself a big limousine and follow these simple guidelines:

1. Plan your day around visiting as many wineries as possible.

2. Go to the same wineries everybody else does. After all, those are the popular wineries to go to, and they’re more than ready to put a wine glass in your hand.

3. Don’t listen to the tasting room staff, and be especially sure not to ask them too many questions. They’re not paid enough to be knowledgeable professionals.

4. Have a strong desire to self-medicate. Start your wine tasting early in the day, and get sideways by noon.

5. Get your exercise! Walk back and forth from the limo to the tasting room, and repeat often.

Now THAT’S your kind of wine country vacation, right? Many others just like you think so, too. Aren’t you glad you’re not alone?

Be sure to keep the above guidelines handy, and refer to them often.

A Word to the Wise

Dear reader, as you may have guessed, the 5 guidelines above only apply to April Fools. For the rest of us who might consider ourselves to belong to the greater majority of responsible wine-loving adults, tasting wine is an experience to be savored and discussed, appreciated and remembered.

To tour a series of wineries to get a buzz is not what the wine-tasting experience is all about. Wine is food! And like the pleasure that comes from eating your favorite cuisine, wine can provide a similar allure. Food and wine, as many know, complement each other well. As with food, if you choose to taste wine, do it because you truly enjoy tasting it. But unlike food, don’t go to a tasting room because you’d rather be drinking a lot of wine. Instead, stay home! But be responsible there, too.

If you would maximize your visit to the wine country, let us then provide contrast to the above guidelines and consider what will allow your wine country vacation to be a memorable experience – not just a sideways tour.

5 Ways to Maximize Your Wine-Country Experience

Call it wine country appreciation. Or, call it self-appreciation. In either case, if you would choose to truly benefit from a trip to the wine country, here now are five responsible guidelines signified by letters, instead of numbers, to differentiate from the list above.

A. Plan your day around visiting the wine country, not just its wineries.

There are a whole host of wonderful opportunities to be found in the wine regions of the world, whether you’re touring the famed Bordeaux region, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, or the up-and-coming Amador County area west of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. A visit to these wine regions can include a number of historical, cultural, educational, heritage, and active outdoor pursuits. Quite often, having a local guide can dramatically enhance the personal growth aspects of vacationers.

Gaining appeal with today’s travelers are tours ranging from culinary education classes that take place in spectacular settings to wellness retreats that offer exercise and nutrition counseling as well as superb pampering. Or, if you desire to be more active, you can find tours that offer a few days of exploring the flora, fauna, and scenic vistas of local open spaces, then a superb meal with wine tasting. Travelers are increasingly booking such tours, and they are trending heavily toward booking them online on a myriad of tour and travel websites.

B. To properly enjoy your wine-touring experience, choose your winery destination carefully.

Visitors are often drawn to the popular wineries that are located alongside the wine country’s main arterial routes; for instance, Highway 29 in the Napa Valley. And yet those are the areas in which you’ll find the greater share of vehicle traffic, especially during the summer tourist season. Of course, the traffic isn’t just cars, limousines, and tour buses. After you get off the bus or out of your car and into the winery, you’ll often wait in long lines of human traffic just to taste a wine or two. Ironically, this can defeat the purpose of Guideline A.

Many wineries and lodging operations offer better service and better vacation deals for your dollar during off-peak seasons. As a result, you’ll find that you get to linger longer at a restaurant or have a conversation with a winemaker that goes beyond the merely casual. Having the time to relax and not compete with other tourists on your vacation can dramatically augment not only your sense of well-being, but also your wine knowledge and your social network.

In addition, there are many family-owned wineries that are real treasures. It’s easy to overlook them, but once you make the effort to seek them out, you’ll often be rewarded with an experience that will have you telling your friends about them. You may even find the winegrower getting off his tractor to take you for an impromptu tour of his vineyard or winery operation. Of course, he might have you consider purchasing a case of his wines for his trouble. But then, you may also find that you’re not paying nearly the premium that you’ll pay at the more popular wineries along the main wine roads.

C. The tasting room staff earn their pay, and they do it out of passion. Let them guide you.

The wineries aren’t in business to attract more tourists. They’re in business because they have a clear understanding of the needs of their customers. If you’re not the world’s greatest wine expert, don’t worry! You’re among friends. Learning is why you traveled to the wine country in the first place, and winemakers and their staff love to talk about what they do. Listen, and ask questions. If you should visit more than one winery, ask the same questions. You’ll enhance your understanding by the answers you’ll hear, and what’s more, you’ll be delighted that you asked.

D. Be fully aware of your experience. Participate in it, and find yourself enchanted by it. Don’t desensitize yourself to the magic of the wine country.

“The advantages of wine touring are beautiful scenery and a new learning experience. The disadvantages are that there’s not enough wine.”

This author has actually read the above statement in a review by a supposedly-serious wine expert. I’ve heard similar quips from the lips of the not-so-pleasantly plowed. While I might agree with the “advantage” half of that statement, the desired outcome of your wine tour should be a quality experience, not a quantity experience. Wine touring is not meant to be a dormitory-style competition.

Therefore, pace yourself. Pour the wine you no longer want into the proper receptacle, usually a spit bucket. Spit the wine into the bucket if necessary – it’s perfectly acceptable within the context of tasting wine. But nobody likes a drunken tourist – not the winery staff, not the patrons, and especially not the wine country police.

E. To properly enjoy the wine country, get out of the land yacht and explore your surroundings.

Bring your hiking shoes with you, and find a local trail. Or, if you prefer to connect to your new surroundings on a deeper level, hire a guide. The reasons that grapes do so well in the wine country are often the same reasons why most areas surrounding the wine regions of the world offer a number of marvelous outdoor experiences. You’ll find that a walk in the redwoods, an expansive mountaintop view, a remote meadow full of wildflowers, or a glimpse of a bobcat on the trail can heighten your wine country experience in sensational ways.

Plus, the exercise and the fresh air you’ll get from your outdoor excursion will build your anticipation of those fine meals and exquisite wines that you came to the wine country for. They are the reward for your physical efforts, they balance your intrinsic desire for deeper understanding, and they make your vacation complete.

Copyright 2006 California Wine Hikes

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Places to Go Western Riding

Horseback riding vactions are a time of the year that horse lovers look forward to, whether its with the whole family with kids included or just the two of you. Here we will talk about a few vacation spots to take your horses to, or if thats not possible rent the horse, saddle and tack right there. Either way you will have a great western riding experience.

Walden Creek Stables in the Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee is our first stop. This riding stable has five hundred acres with one-hundred horses and fifty riding cowboys to keep the action going for seven days a week, and that includes Christmas Day. So you can pretty much plan a trip here all hear round complete with saddle and tack. This Stable has horses for every level of horsemanship so there are no worries there. Not only do they have several trails to choose from but on special nights there is a Wild West Show with live entertainment.

Now lets jump on over to Wyoming where jumping in the saddle all tacked up and riding horses is just about second nature. Bitterroot Cattle Roundup is a great place to learn to ride in some of the most beautiful country you’ll ever see. The Bitterroot cattle graze on the adjacent national forest land from July to October. Guests who ride well enough can help the cowboys with the work of herding the cows into the mountains the first week of July and rounding them up again in the last week of September, known as the “roundup”. The cattle are spread out over fifty square miles of high mountains, forests, clearings and river valleys. When you return to your log cabin each evening, you’ll have a nice cozy bed waiting for you.

One of the most awesome places in the world is in the Grand Canyon located in Utah and Arizona. Grand Canyon Winter Pastures is one of the few stables that allows you to ride your horse down in to the canyon all saddled up with pack horses. This trip is not to be confused with infamously tedious donkey rides. This is a rigorous horse pack trip into some of the canyon’s least frequented drainages. Often riders need to dismount in order to lead their horses throught hazardous spots. Checking your saddle and tack often is the norm on this trip to make sure all is secure. The groups are small and everyone must be willing to pitch in around camp. The scenery alone is worth the trip.

Now we find ourselves in California at the Redwood Coast Ride stable. This ride goes everywhere from sandy beaches of the Pacific to the majestic redwood forests in northern California. Your riding guide has twenty-five years experience as a riding instructor. I would say a beginning rider might want to take a few lessons before trying this ride, although it is certainly more tame than the Grand Canyon adventure above.

So far we haven’t talked that much about beginner riders or lessons. At Medicine Hat Trail Ride in Carthage, MO, you can find a place to do both. You start off by learn how to groom and prep a horse for riding to putting on all the tack, then on to the trail for an hour long lesson that is relaxing and educational. While riding, you learn all the little signs of reading a horses disposition with the position of his ears and a swish of his tail. Great for kids and adults alike.

Pastor Todd Lundberg working a dry ice experiment.
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Sampling Immaculate California Romantic Sites

After a weeklong busy schedules and tiring goals to meet all through the week, finding some time over the weekend or holiday to spend with your date or wife is the best thing you can do to a person who deserves it. To build your love with the gift of presence means being there when you are wanted and trying as much as you can to find time to date your mate. The best thing is to find a superb California dating site and have a good time.

You can start with an exploration of the art scene in you area and if you want to get out off town, Sonoma county will do fine. An art trail will give you a rare chance to meet with local artists, see what they are doing in their studios as you learn the huge creative experience and processes that govern their techniques. You can have an art created for you as you learn about this art and receive hands-on demonstrations. If you are passionate about art, going to the epicenter will make your dating world a better place to be.

Another California dating site is Santa Rosa, where the excellence of the place can have you enjoying your time. If you are entrepreneurs, or you are your own businesses, the city offers you a chance to mix pleasure and business. The daily excursions and nightlife is enough to make feel nice.

If you want to be in the middle of business districts and great recreational facilities, Sonoma County is the perfect place for a perfect weekend. You are just fifty-five miles from San Francisco and just thirty from the Pacific Ocean. It makes it accessible to immaculate spots for vacation and recreation. You can have it with your mate as you add more joy and fun into your relationship.

If there is any place in the world where anybody can have a good time away from noise and the city, it is a feel of nature. Any California dating site with such a connotation is perfect for your romantic excursion. Dating in such a place will give you one of the best chances to enjoy the beginning of a very fulfilling private time.  Lake Sonoma is such a place. With 17,700 acres of reserve land, you can escape from any stress and tiring experience and enjoy a quiet time with your mate.

You can find a shady, quiet spot, for instance under a tree as you sketch your partner or lie down. Walking down the tranquil canopy of alder, madrone, redwood, bay and redwood trees with bring you and your date in contact with nature.  You can also go bird watching, hiking or just swimming. If you have never been at a natural site for recreation, I bet your partner and you have one of the best chances to make the most out of the chance as you pledge your love to your mate and love in a very exquisite California dating site.

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Anniversary Trip In and Around Sausalito

Just 15 minutes north of San Francisco, you’ll find the charming bayside town of Sausalito to fill out your Road Trip Planner. Sausalito is picturesque with a great waterfront area. There are houseboats and flower-lined side streets, quirky stores and plenty of places to dine, most with a view of the bay. It’s also very near the Redwoods (Muir Woods, about 8 miles), a couple of beaches within 20 minutes (Muir Beach, Stinson Beach), Angel Island & Tiburon just a tad north, and of course, San Francisco about 15 minutes south.

You’ll find a broad range of hotels to suit your budget. Consider indulging yourself at the Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa (0-5/night) that’s right on the waterfront (street side) and where every room has a view of Richardson Bay. Another good option is The Inn Above Tide, which sits right over the water (5 to 25/night). Both hotels are on Bridgeway, the main street in Sausalito. If a less expensive hotel fits your budget better, add one of the following hotels to your road trip planner: Hotel Sausalito (a bit of French Riviera on the park in Sausalito) starting at 5 or one of the others in the low 0s/night range.

Sausalito attracts visitors from all over the world as evidenced by the amount of different accents you overhear as your stroll along the waterfront. And yet, Sausalito manages to retain that “hidden gem” feeling. Another standout was the number of exclamations, “Wow! Look at that skyline!” Pictures were taken in abundance, and deservedly so.

Another favorite activity to add to your road trip planner is to rent bicycles in San Francisco, then plan a full day where you ride from San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge, coast into Sausalito, even venture further north into Tiburon if you’re so inclined, then take the ferry back to San Francisco from either Sausalito and Tiburon. I snapped a photo of the last ferry leaving Sausalito showing that the majority of passengers came with bikes.

Below are some examples of the things you can do in this area. Adding these to your road trip planner will give you a varied (and full) vacation!

Day 1 – Sausalito’s Waterfront: Bridgeway is the main thoroughfare but on the next street up the hill, Caledonia, you’ll find a movie theatre, an historic hardware store, antique shops, dining spots, and art galleries. Definitely worth a visit. A travel tip: You can get free wireless in and around the library. You’ll also find free wireless in a few of the coffee shops on Bridgeway.

Day 2 – Muir Woods: There are many hiking options available to experience the California Redwoods, from an easy 1/2 hour stroll to a strenuous 4.5 uphill Ocean View loop. While there, I spotted a number of bus tours that went to Muir Woods: www.SFShuttletours.com, Tower Tours, www.city-sightseeing.us.

Day 3 – Alcatraz Island: We lucked out with a docent connection who gave us a private tour so we got to experience a unique Alcatraz! He took the stairs two at a time to show us Al Capone’s cell, the Birdman’s cell and also where Clint Eastwood stayed during the filming of the movie, Escape From Alcatraz. For the public tours, the ferry takes up to 300 passengers at a time and when you arrive, the group is split into three groups of 100, each led by a docent. The ferry is located near Pier 39 so you can easily make a day of it between the Pier activities and shops and Alcatraz. A travel tip: Save $ by parking after 4 p.m.; you can even find some free parking on Bay Street (which Ts onto the Embarcadero).

Day 4 – The Lighthouse Cafe is a small dining establishment with 5 tables and 8 bar chairs. They are open from 6:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. and while we were there, all the tables were kept full. There’s a saying, “When in Rome…” so I went for the Copenhagen Burger with remoulade. Tasty! Then it was off to Muir Beach for some primetime kite flying. A travel tip: Games People Play on Bridgeway in Sausalito has a large inventory of cool kites (I picked up an 18-foot frog kite but there are others that are more than 60-feet long!).

You might just need to tack on a few more days to your road trip planner because both Angel Island and Tiburon are also worth exploring while you’re in and around Sausalito.

A Better Place to Live?

Do you want to escape the long commute and the stressful life of a big city? Do you want to enjoy the gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains almost everyday of the year?

We have the perfect answer for you – Redding, CA -centrally located in the beautiful northern California, within 2 hours from Sacramento, 4 hours from San Francisco and 4 hours from Reno, NV.

Discover why this area has been called a “wonderland” for almost a century and is one of the country’s most beautiful regions.

What does Redding have too offer?

Breathtaking vistas, towering volcanoes, magnificent waterfalls, dense forests, pristine lakes, 30 miles of walking/hiking trails, 33 public parks, 2500 hotel rooms, 200 restaurants, 12 major shopping destinations, two enclosed malls, nine major shopping centers, a factory outlet center and a warm welcome!

Interested in fishing? We have the best spots all over Shasta County, just ask us and you’ll get the best fishing locations.

From mountain climbing, camping, house boating, hiking, cycling, hunting, canoeing, water rafting, caverns, skiing, snowboarding, golfing, horseback riding, when it comes to outdoor recreation Shasta has it all.

Families who crave recreation in the great outdoors, high-country scenery, and sightseeing in historic towns can spend a lifetime of vacations in the Shasta Cascade area.

Have you heard about the magnificent Sundial Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava and completed in 2004? The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding, California.

To learn more about Redding, visit: http://www.reddingcommunity.com

Come and visit us!

Mt. Shasta – From Golf to Skiing to Spirituality

One visit to the Mt. Shasta area in California will convince you that it is truly a vacation destination that will appeal to almost anyone, from golfers to skiers, and yes, to those seeking a more spiritual path.

Mt. Shasta is home to, well… Mt. Shasta, a 14,179-foot volcano, the second-highest peak in the Cascade Range. Yeah, it’s big. And beautiful. And, some claim, home to a vortex which attracts “New Age” types. A drive down Mt. Shasta Blvd. in Mt. Shasta City reveals a vast array of spiritual shops and assorted healers. You can buy singing bowls and tuning forks, divination tools, yoga supplies, vibrational sprays and magical jewelry. You find can all types of spiritual healers, such as those offering psychic hypnotherapy, reflexology, Reiki and energy work, vibrational healing and massage. If you’re into mineral baths, you can drive a few minutes north of Mt. Shasta City to Weed, where you’ll find therapeutic mineral baths at Stewart Mineral Springs (530-938-2222).

Those of you wishing to take vortex tours are definitely in luck, as there are numerous guided tours to choose from, including Shasta Vortex Adventures, which offers Mt. Shasta Guided Tours all year round. You can choose from guided hikes, healing earth journeys, bus tours and winter outings, such as snowshoe, cross country or telemark ski outings. Call them at 530-926-4326 for more information.

For those seeking outdoor activities and adventure, Mt. Shasta does not disappoint, no matter what season in which you’re visiting. During the warmer months you can hike or visit the many lakes which dot the area, including, of course, Lake Shasta, 10 miles north of Redding, the second largest lake in California, after Lake Tahoe. Shasta Lake is a very popular destination for boating, water-skiing, camping, and fishing. They also claim to be the houseboating and wakeboarding Capital of the World. Lake Shasta is also home to the Lake Shasta Caverns, which is open all year round. In order to view the underground caverns, visitors are taken on a 15-minute catamaran cruise across Lake Shasta, where they then board a bus which carries them up a mountainside, more than 800 feet above the lake, where the caves are accessible. All this for only ; for those 3 to 15. Call 1-800-795-CAVE for more information.

If the size of Lake Shasta is too overwhelming for you, as it was for me during one visit, you might want to visit a smaller lake near Mt. Shasta City, Lake Siskiyou, a 430 acre recreational and sailing lake, which offers some of the best bass and trout fishing in Northern California. You can purchase a cheap day pass and swim, picnic or rent pedal boats, or you can rent RV or camping space, or a cabin at Lake Siskiyou Resort and Camp (1-888-926-2618). The resort is open April 1st – October 31st and is very family friendly, with a great swimming area, sandy beach, and nightly movies in an outdoor amphitheater. The lake is actually closer to Mt. Shasta than Lake Shasta, and you can swim with the beautiful snow-covered mountain looming in the backdrop.

Close to Lake Siskiyou you’ll find Mount Shasta Resort, home to a championship golf course, as well as luxurious cabins and a day spa.

Skiers will delight in skiing Mt. Shasta at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, where you’ll find 31 trails on 425 acres of skiable terrain. Night skiing is also provided on 14 trails and 3 lifts. The terrain level of difficulty is 20% beginner, 55% intermediate, and 25% advanced. There is also a cross country ski and snowshoe center for those wishing something other than downhill skiing. And for beginners, the ski park offers ski, snowboarding and telemark lessons.

Whether you’re looking for a place to get pampered, a place to enjoy the outdoors, or a place to explore the metaphysical, Mt. Shasta does truly have it all.

The Finest Monterey Hotels.

Monterey is among the famous tourist destination in the United States. It also features some of the finest hotels.

Monterey is one of Northern California’s beautiful coastal districts with moderate climate perfect for vacation. The natural beauty and the rich history of the place is one of the reasons why millions of tourists around the world travel all year round to witness the beauty of nature.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Conference Center together with historical museums, beautiful gardens, shopping malls, virgin forests and a wide variety of recreational parks are the most visited places in the city.

It is an ideal place for business, leisure and family vacation. You can also find excellent accommodation with their hotels. These Monterey Peninsula Hotels offers visitors wide choices of rooms from affordable to the most luxurious accommodation depending on your budget. Bring along your friends or families to explore the magnificent view of nature and enjoy any activity of your choice.

The Monterey Bay Inn is located amidst the scenic views of Northern California. It is a perfect getaway since it is situated in a peaceful surrounding rich in marine life. The hotel is also nearby some of the attractions such as Fisherman’s Wharf and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

A complimentary breakfast is served every morning right at the guestrooms. The hotel personnel also provide tour schedules which can be arranged according to specific travel plans.

The hotel is a four storey structure with 47 guestrooms. It comes with king sized beds, comfortable beddings and sets of bathrobes. The guestrooms are also equipped with modern amenities such as cable TV, in room safe, mini bar, coffee maker, CD / DVD player, toiletries, daily housekeeping and other essentials. Hotel guests are also provided with binoculars so they could enjoy whale watching while in the comfort of their rooms.

While enjoying your stay in the hotel, you can have a lot of activities to choose from such as sailing, cycling, canoeing, scuba diving, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, surfing and horse back riding.

Other hotel amenities include onsite spa, conference rooms, business center, fitness center, function rooms, complimentary newspaper, patio, massage rooms and safety deposit box at the lobby area.
Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa

This hotel and spa is a perfect choice for travelers who want to escape from the busy life of the city. The property is designed with a European perfectly located nearby sea water where cool breeze with alluring sandy beaches awaits the guests.

Guests of the hotel can enjoy different activities such as kayaking, golfing, sailing, scuba diving, canoeing and whale watching. Enjoy different attractions such as the Maritime Museum, Walk to Fisherman’s Wharf and the Old Town Monterey.

The Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa boasts its 2009 Mobil Four Star Award being given only to hotels that provides excellence in service and accommodation.

The hotel has 10 luxury suites and 290 deluxe rooms. The guestrooms are furnished with Biedermeier style furniture. It also includes the finest beddings for maximum comfort. Guestrooms are provided with amenities which include colored TV, entertainment system, hair dryer, coffee maker, and telephone with fax, mini bar, robes and refrigerator.

The hotel features a spacious spa located at the rooftop that provides guest the best revitalizing treatment. Spa services available are facial raps, massages and the exclusive Monterey Bay Salt Glo treatment. A whirlpool tub is also available and excellent for relaxation. It also features a fireplace and sun deck where dining can be served.

A fitness center equipped with modern equipments is also available for any fitness program. The in house fitness instructor is readily available to provide assistance for any exercise needs.

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San Marcos California: a Community on the Rise

Situated in Northern San Diego County, San Marcos is one of the fastest growing cities in Southern California. With a prime geographical location, variety of housing options, and abundance of recreational activities, the San Marcos area is a choice destination for both residence and vacation.

San Marcos Homes for Sale in Ideal Location

San Marcos homes for sale are located almost 40 miles north of downtown San Diego, and nine miles east of the famed coastal communities of Vista, Carlsbad, and La Costa. With a population of 63,000 residents, and large areas of uninhabited land, investing in San Marcos homes for sale is a wise choice.

San Marcos homes for sale are centered along Highway 78, connecting Highway I-5 and I-15.

Highway 78 is the most expansive roadway available to San Marcos homes for sale, traveling east to west completely through the city, and then continuing to the Pacific Coastline. Known for its broad selection of home furniture and electronics, many visitors travel along the notable highways, anxious to reach the town of San Marcos.

San Marcos Homes for Sale Encompassed by Thriving Real Estate Community

San Marcos homes for sale vary in price which is effected by several factors. Style, age, and location play a vital role in determining the final price of San Marcos homes for sale. A single-family home in San Marcos currently sells for more than 0,000. A large majority of San Marcos homes for sale consist of average size Mediterranean style houses, centered on large lots.

San Marcos homes for sale offer a wide variety of options, and aim to satisfy every potential buyer. A growing community with ample open area, San Marcos has the potential to create an outstanding real estate community. With the construction of the largest real estate community in San Diego history in the works, the San Marcos area is thriving. Located on the hills of Lake San Marcos in the western section of the city, The San Elijo Hills housing community currently has a ten-year development plan. This community is projected to increase to more than 3,000 housing units, situated on 2,000 acres of open land.

San Marcos Homes for Sale Surrounded by Various Recreational Offerings

San Marcos homes for sale are encircled by a myriad of recreational venues and activities. A perfect area for the kids, San Marcos has two community swimming pools and three golf courses. San Marcos is also has a total of eight parks, with two more currently in construction. The San Marcos community is also home to Old California Restaurant Row, which features an extensive collection of dining options, including a wine bar. Several favorite chain stores are located within the San Marcos city limit, and two large shopping malls are within a reasonable driving distance. With new recreational spots appearing all of the time, the San Marcos area will continue to prosper.

Visit the Golden State of California and Sample the Good Life

California was officially awarded the nickname of ‘The Golden State’ in 1968, due to its long history and association with all things golden – including its famous sunshine! Life in the Pacific Coast state of California happens at a different pace to the rest of the USA. It is the state-wide characteristics of a mild climate, chilled-out residents, beautiful beaches and stunning scenery that prove the big draw to the Golden State for visitors from throughout the world.

The geography throughout the state is very diverse, from the coastal Pacific plains in the west to the mountainous Sierra Nevada, bordering Arizona and Nevada in the east. In between the two is the fertile Central Valley, an important agricultural area for the USA. The Sierra Nevada is home to the spectacular Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, the latter of which contains fine examples of the largest living organisms on earth: the Giant Sequoia. To sample everything that the Golden State has to offer a trip to this area is a must.

Since the influx of initial residents attracted by the Gold Rush of 1849 California has steadily expanded to become the most populous state in the USA. Big cities in the State include San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and the capital Sacramento – home to the interactive Golden State Museum, dedicated to the history of California.

But the city that most typifies the Golden State lifestyle is San Diego. Being located in Southern California affords the city a warmer climate than the State’s cooler northern areas. With great beaches supporting a host of exciting water sports and major attractions within the city all in easy reach, this is the Californian city to visit if you only have time to see one of them.

The eighth largest city in the USA, San Diego offers visitors of all ages enough to keep them happily occupied on a vacation of any length. Surfing is a major activity at the many beaches throughout the region and the culture of its participants has rubbed off on the general population, giving them a relaxed and pleasant demeanor. Palm trees line the streets and the sun shines for most of the year in this idyllic part of California.

Downtown hotels in San Diego are a great place to stay in order to sample the Golden State’s good life. Not only are they in the heart of all the city’s amenities, they are next to the harbour and only a short drive to the beach. You’ll enjoy your stay so much you won’t want to leave.

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