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| Upper Yosemite Falls: Yosemite National Park |
West Coast Hotspots and must-sees
Eugene, Oregon: Referred to as “Emerald City,” Eugene is the second-largest city in the state and home to the University of Oregon. Forget Victoria — “university town” takes on a whole new meaning here. But there’s stuff here for non-partiers too. The city’s slogan is “A great city for the arts and outdoors.”
Cannon Beach, Oregon: Nine miles of beautiful beaches, bluffs and cliffs. Hike the trails down to the beach and impressive rock formations at Ecola State Park. Keep your eyes peeled for the resident elk herd.
Big Sur, California: Tap into your inner bohemian in these verdant hills above the coast.
Joshua Tree, Southeast California: Hiking, camping, climbing, general soul-searching are all possible in this 790,636-acre park, which encompasses both the Mohave and the Colorado Deserts. To top it off, there are also surreal geological formations and cacti gardens.
Point Reyes Station, California: The perfect place to stop, grab a bite and sample the local flavour. The Point Reyes National Seashore also offers great hiking.
Cayucos, California: Great surfing and unreal eats at a price that won’t break the bank.
Bodega Bay, California: An inlet near San Francisco that was the setting of Hitchcock’s The Birds. Not surprisingly, this place is fantastic for bird-watching.
Leavenworth, Washington: Save yourself the airfare and get a taste of Germany outside Seattle at this Bavarian village in the Cascade Mountains.
Reno, Nevada: Not ready for Las Vegas? Get your feet wet with some cotton-tops in Reno, “The biggest little city in the world.”
