We have just returned from three wonderful and very different weeks in California.

We started off in Point Arena at GEVC Lighthouse Pointe - a very remote area about three hours north of San Francisco on the northern coast. We chose this as the place to start off as it seemed the best place to relax after a busy schedule at home.

We were in a small modular that looked like a little log cabin. We found it to be much roomier than expected with a well organized floor plan.

The furnishings were quite luxurious, and we enjoyed marble counter tops in the kitchen, free in room wireless connection and nearly a thousand TV channels to choose from!

There was a full size fridge and dishwasher. There were fourteen identical units like this with about twenty-five more expected within a year.

We enjoyed a drive through the majestic redwoods and along the rugged northern coastline. The Point Arena Lighthouse is just up the road from the resort, and is filled with tales of history.

We climbed the 145 steps to the top and enjoyed the view! This piece of land boasts about being the closest US soil to Hawaii!

There were very few shops here, and the closest grocery store was about ten miles north in Manchester. When we travelled south we found Gualala and a bit further on was Sea Ranch.

This is an area of several hundred luxury homes where man is blended with nature. There are no painted houses, no gardens, lawns or sidewalks. All very interesting!

Balboa Park Botanical Building

Mountain tram overlooking Palm Springs