Page 16 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to California

DISCOVER
CALIFORNIA
DREAMING
The Golden State is both
a special place and a
special state of mind
BY DON GEORGE
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 three and a half to four 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.
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
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
cultures and creations, near and far, and
they care about issues from education to
equality to environmental stewardship.
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
offers a lifetime’s worth of such experi-
ences, from Mount Shasta to the Channel
Islands and Anza-Borrego State Park, Death
Valley to Big Sur. It’s a natural wonder.
Activities and Exhilarations
If you want to actively explore these wonders,
SIMON DANNHAUER/SHUTTERSTOCK
14 2025-26 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA