Adventure Traveling Guide

Carmel Beach, Calif.
Location: 54 miles south of Santa Cruz
Hidden by cypress groves and set against the waters of the electric-blue Pacific, this cozy crescent of fine white sand has played muse for writers, artists and romantics like Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Ansel Adams. Gallery-hop along cobblestone sidewalks and flower-filled courtyards en route […]

 Point Bennett, Channel Islands, Calif.
Location: 40 miles southwest of Santa Barbara
Pods of bottlenose dolphins vault through the air as your boat approaches the Channel Islands. Point Bennett, at the westernmost tip, is as far from California freeway culture as you can get. Home to newly pupped seals and sea lions and 145 unique […]

Mill Valley, Ca
West Point Inn is the perfect destination for the traveler looking for a rustic experience; a 2-mile hike is required just to reach it.
The Inn features stunning vistas of San Francisco, the Marin Headlands and the East Bay from atop Mt. Tamalpais. Televisions are non-existent, cell phone use […]

Big Sur, CA
Ventana Inn sits on more than 200 acres of pristine California wilderness with more than 300 miles of hiking trails nearby. Featuring luxe beds, spa tubs, private decks, fireplaces and flat-screen TVs, it’s tempting to spend the day wrapped in a bathrobe and ordering form room service.

Vacationing to Santa Barbara soon? Try the Sustainable Vine Wine Tour. It’s a six-hour, behind the scenes look at organic winemaking. You’ll learn about water-saving vineyard techniques and biodynamic practices. And, all of the tours are run on biodiesel, of course. The cost is $125 and includes tastings, lunch and transportation around the Santa Barbara […]