Situated in the southern tip of California, San Diego features a host of family-friendly amusement parks, including SeaWorld San Diego, Wild Animal Park, Legoland and the San Diego Zoo, one of the largest zoos in the world. Popular shopping, dining and entertainment districts exist throughout the city including the Mexican-themed Old Town region, the historic Gaslamp Quarter and the waterfront Seaport Village. Accommodations in San Diego range from luxury resorts to camp sites on the beach. With an average daily temperature of approximately 70 degrees, San Diego also offers such outdoor activities as surfing, whale watching, bike riding and rollerblading.
Big Bear Lake resides high in the San Bernadino Mountains, just 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The fresh water mountain lake, surrounded by a lush forest, is a popular Southern California getaway destination, drawing approximately 8.5 million tourists annually. The area features two ski resorts: Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. In the summer months, Big Bear Lake offers excellent swimming, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking conditions. The region also features a small zoo and Big Bear Lake Village, an area filled with dozens of shops and restaurants. In terms of lodging, guests can choose from a variety of cabins, hotels, bed and breakfasts, as well as seven campgrounds.
Perched along the northern tip of Monterey Bay, the city of Santa Cruz resides approximately 75 miles south of San Francisco. Dating back more than 100 years, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk remains one of the city's most renowned attractions. The boardwalk features an arcade, a bowling alley, a miniature golf course, more than 20 eateries and 35 amusement park rides, including the iconic 1924 Giant Dipper rollercoaster and a carousel dating back to 1911. The region also plays host to a wharf and sprawling beaches. The city offers first-rate conditions for kayaking, paddling, diving and surfing, a sport for which the area is particularly famous. The town of Monterey, home to the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, is just a 45 minute drive from Santa Cruz as well.
