Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Located just 92 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is a popular getaway for city residents looking for an escape to this community's south-facing sunny beaches. For travelers who have never been to California, Santa Barbara offers the perfect blend of contemporary beach culture and spectacular coastal scenery that the state is famous for. The nearby University of California at Santa Barbara adds a youthful exuberance to the city and dogs are welcome at several beaches and parks. Fun activities include gourmet tours of over 80 different wineries, surfing, hiking, or scuba diving and charter tours. The Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau offers numerous sample itineraries, lodging accommodation referrals and a fun "101 Free Things to Do" list of activities for the region.
Baseball player Joe DiMaggio called San Francisco the "friendliest city in the world," and the the 15.4 million visitors who walked the city's hilly streets in 2009 likely agree. The people, geography and diverse lifestyles in this city of less than one million inhabitants make it one of the most visited and beloved coastal cities in the world. For summer travelers seeking escape from seasonal heat elsewhere in the country, the ideal time to visit is in July, when dense fog rolling in from the Pacific Ocean keeps this region cool. Travelers seeking warmer weather are advised to visit between September to November, when San Francisco typically enjoys an "Indian summer" with temperatures hovering in the low 70s for a few weeks.
Located in the region between San Francisco and the Oregon Border, California's North Coast is remote and far removed from the congestion and contemporary culture of the rest of the state. The drive to see it is long, but the rewards are great and include ancient redwood forests, dramatic rugged coastline and quaint fishing villages. But leave your bikini at home because the North Coast is cold and blustery throughout the year. To get there, fly into San Francisco International Airport and rent a car for the seven hour drive north. Allow at least two weeks to drive to the Oregon border. For vacationers with less time, a visit to the rustic beaches in Marin County can provide a small taste of what lies further up the coast. Travelers with more time should explore the fertile farmlands and vineyards of Marin and Sonoma Counties, then head up Highway 101 to experience the coastal forests of Humboldt and Del Norte counties and visit Crescent City, which was cited as one of the 20 prettiest towns in the U.S. by Forbes Traveler in 2009.