What California Resort Town Best Suits You?

Whether you enjoy hiking, fine-dining, water sports, lazing on the beach, culture, or a great night-life, Santa Barbara has something for you. Santa Barbara is sometimes referred to as the American Riviera. Its beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, and colorful culture make Santa Barbara a premier resort destination. World-class accommodations and dining await its many visitors.

Located south of Monterey and Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a humble seaside village with a few small shops and cafes -- at least that's the cover story. In truth, this pricey town has plenty of designer stores, gourmet eateries and upscale art galleries that cater to its wealthy residents (like Clint Eastwood).

Stretching for more than 30 miles along the Pacific and Highway One, Malibu has achieved almost mythological status among California beach towns. Hollywood stars and top athletes live in oceanfront homes here, under an elegant veil of privacy on long strands of beach, and enjoy front-row seats for surfing and unforgettable sunsets.

Just over the bridge from San Diego is a small, tree-lined beach haven known as Coronado. The 'island,' as many locals call it, is really a peninsula connected to the mainland by a neck of land named the Silver Strand. Crown City, as it is called (Coronado means 'crowned one' in Spanish), regards itself as a friendly, small town of wide leafy streets lined with Victorian homes and Californian bungalows.

Located just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, Catalina Island welcomes visitors all year. Getting to Catalina is easy, it's just an hour by boat and as little as 15 minutes by plane or helicopter. In general, Catalina is California's only real island resort, which makes it stand out as a very popular tourist attraction.

Tahoe is the largest lake in California, and is notable for being particularly deep, cold, and clear, and for having dramatic Alpine surroundings. It lies across the California/Nevada border, and the most spectacular approach is from Carson City on the Nevada side, via US 50 which climbs up a steep winding valley to 7,300 feet.