by Moe Zilla

Created on: July 27, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

California is the third-largest state in United States, and it's filled with some of America's best vacation destinations. It's the only state where you can visit a snow-covered mountain, and then visit the beach on the same day! Because California stretches nearly 800 miles from North to South, there's lots of variety, and plenty of destinations to choose from. Senior travelers may have different interests than other vacationers, but California still has plenty to offer.

There's fantastic unspoiled scenery - and some wonderful resorts - around the shore of Lake Tahoe. The temperatures stay cooler in the summer, because it's up in the Sierra foothills, so it's higher in altitude than the sweltering Sacramento Valley.  Because Lake Tahoe is further away from the major metropolitan areas, its prices tend to be more affordable if you're living on a fixed income. And Harrah's has a major showplace hotel there, which usually offers good package deals and special rates on their headlining entertainment acts. (And if you don't feel like traveling to Reno, but you want to gamble, there's a giant new Indian casino resort nearby which offers a state-of-the-art experience.)

Traveling north in California, you'll eventually encounter sprawling agriculture fields and unspoiled wilderness area. But if you're looking for a more cosmopolitan vacation, don't overlook Santa Barbara. This is one of California's best-kept secrets, with beaches that are just as beautiful as anywhere else in the state. But Santa Barbara also features some of the oldest historical buildings in all of California - the old Spanish missions - and there's a wonderful collection of displays at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Santa Barbara's beautiful scenery has made it a secret getaway for the rich - Oprah Winfrey lives here, and Santa Barbara County was the site of Michael Jackson's 2,600-acre Neverland ranch. But because of this, the city has some world-class restaurants and attractions for visitors. For a day with the family, there's even the Santa Barbara zoo. (And for gambling enthusiasts, Santa Barbara Coutny also includes is the Santa Ynez Casino.) 

There's several unforgettable vacation opportunities along the California coast. In both Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, it's possible to take a whale-watching cruise, and see the spectacular animals in their natural habitat. One of the most luxurious possible vacations is a day cruise, and there's several which leave from San Diego, while allowing you to visit the most exotic nearby beaches in Mexico. But if you're worried about getting seasick, you might be happier at a special Northern California destination: visiting the animals at the breathtaking Monterey Aquarium!

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