Page 14 - 2014 Travel Guide to California

DISCOVER
BY DON GEORGE
California Dreaming
The Golden State is both a special place and a special state of mind
PACIFIC OCEAN
The world’s largest ocean, the fabled
Pacific, embraces California’s entire
western boundary. It’s a place to
dream, to ponder life’s possibilities and
endless mysteries, and a place to play.
Surfers ride the sea’s prodigious waves;
sailors ply her waters; boogie boarders
and body surfers splash in her surf;
kayakers explore her coves and shore
breaks; children of all ages wade in her
froth and comb her beaches. Life
happens on the edge of the Pacific,
where the sun shines, and sets in
ethereal colors.
THE SEDUCTIVE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
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.
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, con-
certs 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. Cali-
fornians want to learn about the planet’s
diverse cultures and creations, near and
far, and they care about issues from edu-
cation to equality to environmental
stewardship.
Call of the Wild
The state also offers an extraordinary
diversity of wild places and experiences.
Within a morning’s drive, most Califor-
nians can be at the ocean’s edge, in the
middle of a redwood forest, at the foot of a
12 2014 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
IRINA MOS/SHUTTERSTOCK