17-Mile Drive
If you can't score a tee time at Pebble Beach, the 17-mile drive through the Del Monte Forest in Monterey is a good substitute. The route winds along the Pacific Coast, offering gorgeous views and the opportunity to see sea lions and otters sunning themselves on the beaches. The trek is also home to the iconic lone cypress from the Pebble Beach logo and provides views of the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and the Links at Spanish Bay. After making the drive, be sure to stop in the boutiques and cafes in Carmel, just south of the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?pageName=_17_Mile_Home
Lake Tahoe
A four-hour drive from San Francisco, Lake Tahoe provides plenty of year-round outdoor opportunities. During the summer, tourists can take advantage of boat tours, water sports and hiking in the hills around the lake. In the winter months, a number of resorts in the area offer some of the best skiing in California. Resorts generally open in November, with skiing available through the early spring. For gamblers, South Lake Tahoe is home to several casinos just over the Nevada border.
http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com/
Hearst Castle
The Hearst Castle, located on California's central coast about 250 miles south of San Francisco, is the former home of William Randolph Hearst that is now open for tours. The structure features 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms and 127 acres of gardens. The outdoor Neptune Pool is one of the tour's highlights and offers views of the main home, ocean and surrounding mountains. The Hearst Castle hosts night tours in November and December when the mansion is adorned with holiday decorations, but be sure to reserve your spot because the winter tours are quite popular.
Hearst Castle
750 Hearst Castle Road
San Simeon, CA 93452-9741
(805) 927-2020
http://www.hearstcastle.com/
About The Author
A former sports and lifestyle reporter at the "Daily Nebraskan," David Green is a writer who has covered a variety of topics for daily newspapers. He was selected by the "Los Angeles Times" to participate in the Jim Murray Sports Writing Workshop. Green holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska.
