Page 14 - 2022-2023 Travel Guide to California

DISCOVER
BY DON GEORGE
CALIFORNIA DREAMING
The Golden State is both a special place and a special state of mind
YOSEMITE VALLEY
There may be no California landscape
more iconic than Yosemite Valley, with
its soaring granite cliffs and waterfalls
cascading more than 2000 feet to the
forests and meadows on the valley
floor. Yosemite was first protected in
1864 when President Abraham Lincoln
signed the Yosemite Grant, and it
became a national park including the
surrounding forests in 1890 thanks to
the tireless efforts of John Muir and
others. Some four and a half million
people visit each year.
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, beachcomb 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.
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 commen-
surate compassion thrives. Californians
want to learn about the planet’s diverse cul-
tures and creations, near and far, and they
care about issues from education to
equality to environmental stewardship.
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, concerts
Call of the Wild
The state also offers an extraordinary diver-
sity of wild places and experiences. Within
a morning’s drive, most Californians can be
at the ocean’s edge, in the middle of a red-
wood forest, at the foot of a granite peak or
in the stark splendor of a desert. For one of
the world’s most dramatic four-day
camping trips, try hiking Half Dome in
Yosemite National Park. Spend the first
night on the valley floor. On day two, hike
up halfway and pitch your tent in Little
Yosemite Valley. Grunt your way to the awe-
inducing peak and back to your campsite
on the third day, and then descend to your
car on the fourth. Cooking under the stars
in the pine-scented night and falling asleep
to the lullaby of the rushing Merced River
will make memories you’ll never forget.
North to south, east to west, California
NATHAN ZULLIG/SHUTTERSTOCK