Napa Valley Vineyard

San Jose, at the south of San Francisco Bay, is the heart of California’s Silicon Valley. The county seat of Santa Clara County and California’s third largest city, San Jose has a diversity of attractions. As the Capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose is a mecca for the technology industry. In addition, families enjoy visits to the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. Sports fans find the excitement of San Jose State University Spartan football at Spartan Stadium, and San Jose Giants baseball at San Jose Municipal Stadium, while culture and the arts dominate at Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and the San Jose Museum of Art.

It’s the season for hockey - catch the excitement of the NHL as the San Jose Sharks take the ice at the HP Pavilion at San Jose. Join family and friends on West Santa Clara Street in San Jose, north of I-280, through April 7. The Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings for the last regular season home game.

Thirty-miles south of San Jose travelers find the bohemian beach community of Santa Cruz. Set on the north end of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a classic California community centered on life on the beach. The Arboretum at the University of California Santa Cruz hosts its most popular event in spring. 2012 Hummingbird Days are March 3 and 4, the annual celebration in honor of the arboretum’s resident hummingbirds returning from Mexico

Spring also brings another much-anticipated Santa Cruz County event. The 26th Annual Santa Cruz PaddleFest is March 16 through the 18, 2012. PaddleFest takes place off Lighthouse Point in the famous surfing waters of Steamer Lane. Enjoy watching novice to expert paddle surfers compete in the amazing Santa Cruz surf. Kayak surfers, wave skis and stand-up paddleboard competitions are featured with finals on day three. Join the fun and festivities with the Santa Cruz surfing community at PaddleFest.

The city of Monterey is 45-miles south of Santa Cruz along California State Highway 1. A drive on highway 1 takes travelers through California’s cities of Capitola, Aptos, Watsonville and Marina, all wonderful places to stop and enjoy. Travel directly to Monterey on a flight to Monterey Peninsula Airport. However you get to Monterey, you are visiting a historic and well-known California city.

Must-see destinations for visitors to Monterey are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman’s Warf and a walk down Cannery Row. Monterey County Fairgrounds hosts a west coast Mardi Gras Celebration on February 18, 2012. Enjoy an evening of fun with the renowned Persephone’s Bees.

The well-known Monterey Jazz Festival hosts top student musicians in the 2012 Next Generation Jazz Festival. The three-day event is March 3 through April 1 at the Monterey Conference Center. Come enjoy up and coming jazz musicians from middle school through college age compete for ten performance spots in the 2012 Monterey Jazz Festival this fall.

Los Angeles International Airport

Welcome to Los Angles and 2012. Foodies, this is your season - 2012 dineLA Restaurant Week is here. Here’s your chance to try those new restaurants on your list. Los Angeles restaurants like Dal Rae, Picca and Vermont Kitchen are among over 300 participating restaurants. Travel throughout Los Angeles County and enjoy locations like Baleen Los Angeles overlooking Redondo Beach’s Portofino Marina, Gaetano’s Restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance, or classic California cuisine at Jer-Ne Restaurant + Bar in Marina del Rey. Hollywood’s Loteria! Grill for Mexican fare, GO Burger or Grub are near attractions like the Sunset Strip, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

There’s no better place to hangout than L.A. Live. Surrounding the STAPLES Center and Nokia Theater, L.A. Live is filled with entertainment, nightclubs and restaurant options. Now is the time to take in a Los Angeles Clippers or LA Lakers game at the STAPLES Center – arrive early, stay late and enjoy the fun. Start at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street and let loose from there. Hockey fans don’t miss the LA Kings on the ice also at the STAPLES Center. After hosting the 2012 People’s Choice Awards, the Nokia Theatre brings in Martina McBride, Lenny Kravitz and Steve Harvey among the many concerts and performances.

Don’t miss taking the kids to Universal Studios Hollywood for the Studio Tour tram ride to Skull Island, and King Kong 360 3-D. Don’t tell ‘em, but you’ll end up in the middle of a 3-D Battle between King Kong and a giant T-Rex. Check out backlot sets and Universals’ Special Effects stage and see behind the scenes of your favorite TV shows and movies.

Los Angeles has a variety of trails to get you outside in the beautiful California climate - stretch those legs and take a walk. Check out fantastic views of the Hollywood sign along the Runyon Canyon Loop to summit at Cloud’s Rest. This is an off leash area for dogs, so don’t leave your best friend behind. The West Trail Loop at Griffith Observatory is another great trail for views of the LA Basin. Will Rogers State Park in Santa Monica is easy to reach off Sunset Boulevard. Be sure to take the trail to Inspiration Point for the most spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains.

The California Science Center is a must-visit destination for families visiting Southern California. Located south of downtown Los Angeles in historic Exposition Park conveniently off the Harbor Freeway. Extended through March 11, the Weingart Gallery hosts 1001 Inventions. The exhibit showcases the scientific contributions of the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization. Science in Toyland is another wonderful interactive exhibit featuring the Kids Construction co, Tournament of Tops and the Domino Challenge. The California Science Center offers interesting and innovative exhibits for all ages.

Mojave National Preserve

California’s desert region is delightful. You can pick your palm – Palm Springs, Palm Desert or Twentynine Palms, this is the season to visit. Southern California’s desert weather is ideal for a hike; Palm Springs’ Indian Canyons, the Randall Henderson Trail in Palm Desert and Joshua Tree National Park near Twentynine Palms are great places to explore. The Coachella Valley Preserve less than 15-miles from Palm Springs has trails for all levels of experience surrounded by the natural flora and fauna of Southern California. If your visit includes a Thursday, don’t miss VillageFest in downtown Palm Springs. Every Thursday evening Palm Springs transforms into the Palm Springs Street Fair.

It is winter and spring in the desert, the best time of year for a visit. Palm Springs hosts a full calendar of signature events. February brings McCormick’s Classic Car Show & Auction, the Tour de Palm Spring Bike Race, and Modernism Week. The Palm Springs Convention Centre hosts events for the 2012 Dinah Shore weekend, one of the most popular lesbian events of the year. In April, Palm Springs hosts the White Party, the largest gay dance music festival. Dinah Shore weekend in Palm Springs is March 27 through April 2, and the 2012 White Party is April 6 through 9.

Music fans are happy in 2012, as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is scheduled for two consecutive three-day weekends. Join the fun and festivities April 13 through the 15 and April 20 through the 22. Hosted at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, multiple genres of music are featured along with art installations and light shows. Less than 10-miles south east of Palm Desert, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival line-up includes the Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr Dre, and Snoop Dogg, among the many performers.

The community of Palm Desert is full of art, culture and fine restaurants. As part of its dedication to public art, Palm Desert hosts a Public Art Documentary Film Series. The 2012 Palm Desert Public Art Documentary Film Series is in the fourth season, offering public art related film screenings to residents and visitors. Screenings are held the third Thursday of the month through April. See “The Rape of Europa” March 15, and the final screening on April 19 is a series of short films.

The Palm Desert Campus of California State University, San Bernardino is home to Indian Wells Theatre. The theater is home to Cabaret Theatre West and their 2012 season. Theater enthusiasts enjoy performances of Hoorah for Hollywood, Hoorah for the USA, weekends in March, and Broadway Tonight, weekends in April. Venture out to Indian Wells Theatre for a wonderful evening of theater featuring talented California and Palm Desert actors.

Sacramento Bridge Welcomes Visitors

Sacramento, the heart of California’s Capital Region, is filled with the history of the legendary California Gold Rush. Home to California’s state government, Sacramento now draws visitors for a variety of pursuits. Sports fans now flock to to Raley Field, Power Balance Pavilion and Sacramento State’s Hornet Stadium. Seekers of the arts find luck at the Sacramento Convention Center Complex at venues like the Sacramento Community Center Theater and Memorial Auditorium with performances of the Sacramento Ballet, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sacramento Opera. The neoclassical California State Capitol anchors Capitol Park and is also home to the California State Capitol Museum.

Riches still abound in Sacramento and California’s gold rush country.

The 2012 Sacramento Beer Week is on the calendar for February 24 through March 4. Featuring a variety of events and activities throughout Sacramento at Pubs and breweries, Beer Week culminates with Capital Beerfest and Sacramento Brewers Showcase, at Cal Expo on February 25. Featuring more than 70 local and regional brews, an indoor beer garden and plenty of food and entertainment. Designate a driver and celebrate the 3rd Annual Sacramento Beer Week.

Get ready for spring-cleaning and summer fun at Cal Expo’s March events. The 2012 Sacramento Home & Garden Show March 2 through the 4. The following week, the Sacramento Boat show & Offroad Extravaganza is held March 8 through the 11 - the Sacramento RV Show is also the same weekend. Get the latest ideas for sprucing up your home and then pick your toys for a summer of California fun – all at Sacramento’s Cal Expo.

The University of California, Davis, the largest campus in the University of California system, sits 15 miles west of Sacramento. A hub of activity for the community of Davis, UC Davis is home to the Mondavi Center, UC Davis Pavilion, Aggie Stadium and UC Davis Medical Center. Sports fans are in luck throughout the school year with UCD Aggies Athletics hosting a variety of sporting events.

Music lovers, the UC Davis Department of Music presents the UC Davis Jazz Bands at the Mondavi Center on March 7 and the UCD Symphony Orchestra performs “On Our Way to Spain," on March 11. April brings a diversity of performances from Bettye LaVette on April 13 and Florence and the Machine on April 18, to the Lyris String Quartet and Baroque Ensemble from UCD on April 28 and 29. A visit to Davis rewards with a variety of entertainment options.

To the northeast of Sacramento, the city of Roseville is located along I-80. A burgeoning suburb of Sacramento, the 20-mile commute is simple, but can get congested during rush hour. Travelers are sure to notice Roseville’s 80-foot tall red sculpture. Located in Roseville Sculpture Park, the sculpture, titled “Cosmos” was a gift to the community of Roseville and symbolizes unity.

Napa Valley Vineyard

California’s Napa County and Sonoma County, arguably the most well-known wine producing regions of the state, are in “Cabernet Season.” The cool winter weather means the grapes are harvested and it's time to enjoy tastings in the Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley and Russian River. Ackerman Family Vineyards, Canard Vineyard and William Hill Estate Winery are a of Napa’s wineries ready for visitors. Rodney Strong Vineyards hosts the 23rd Annual Wine & Chocolate Fantasy in February, and Barrel Tasting in March. Napa’s Silverado hosts Silverado & Hog Island Oysters in March. This is a great season to visit California wine country.

The wineries of the Russian River Valley host the 34th Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting early March. Join this northern Sonoma County 2012 tasting event, the weekends of March 2 through the 4 and March 9 through the 11. Wine enthusiasts, this is an event for you, with a total focus on wine. Bring a picnic and enjoy more than 100 Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley wineries.

Foodies, mark the week of February 27 through March 4 for 2012’s Sonoma County Restaurant Week. Santa Rosa and Sonoma County’s most popular restaurants create special three-course "prix fixe" menus showcasing their best offerings. Sonoma County Restaurant Week is a great way to try new restaurants at affordable prices. Sonoma’s premier wine selection and farm fresh food make restaurant week especially delicious.

Santa Rosa, home of Snoopy creator Charles M. Schulz, honors the popular comic strip at the Charles M. Schulz Museum. Located on the corner of Hardies Lane where Shulz’s art studio and the Redwood Empire Ice Arena are located. Load up the family for a trip to the museum – 2012 kids get in free days are February 4 and April 7.

Through April 1, enjoy the exhibit “ Hit the Road Snoopy!” The show includes 56 original Peanuts comic strips featuring Snoopy’s most famous road trips. Along with the exhibit, “Snoopy Come Home!,” the full length animated feature film, runs concurrently. The Charles M. Schulz Museum is a must see in Santa Rosa.

The 2012 Napa Valley Marathon and the annual Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa 5k Fun Run are on the calendar for March 4. Celebrating the 34th running of the marathon, a satellite Napa Valley Marathon is held in Afghanistan for diploid military. The California race begins on Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga, with the finish in downtown Napa near Vintage High School.

A hub for cultural events in Napa, the Napa Valley Opera House has been a focal point for entertainment for over 130 years. On the corner of Main Street and First Street in Napa, the opera house hosts world-class performers along with the Napa Valley Symphony. Look for the 2012 Mozart Festival April 14 through the 22. The NVS collaborates with artists from around the country to host concerts and education on the life and music of Mozart.

California's Coastal Rain Forest

Spring is just around the corner in the Shasta Cascades region of Northern California. It's the season for snowshoeing through Lassen Volcanic National Park; cross-country ski seemingly endless trails around Lassen Peak; and for a climbing challenge try Avalanche Gulch on Mount Shasta. On the coast, Mendocino County, with Fort Bragg at the center, offers eateries stocked with fresh-caught seafood and local produce. Redwood State Park is just outside the door for visitors to Crescent City and it is whale migration season off California’s north coast. Premier outdoor adventure awaits, from the dramatic coastline and redwood forests to the peaks of the Trinity Alps.

Redding at the heart of Shasta County is the largest city in the region. Redding is the ideal place to check into one of two Best Western hotel locations and venture outdoors to enjoy Shasta National Forest or Lassen Volcanic National Park. Travelers along Interstate 5 north in the Sacramento Valley also find Redding a convenient stopover.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park has kicked off the season – northern California boarders and skiers are set through April. Enjoy night skiing at Mt. Shasta, evenings until 9PM, with two chairlifts running. Smaller but equally fun, Stover Mountain Ski Resort near Chester is another great option for winter skiing.

Sportsmen get ready, the 2012 fishing season opens April 21. Bass and trout fishing doesn’t get much better than Shasta Lake. Formed by the Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake is a premier fishing spot in the Shasta Cascades. The Sacramento River, running through Shasta County is an ideal fly-fishing destination. From a drift boat or the shore, the trout and steelhead are plentiful.

California’s Olive City, Corning, is 50-miles south of Redding on I-5. With an abundance of services for travelers, if you are looking for a Corning hotel, Corning’s Best Western hotel is convenient with clean, comfortable accommodations. Known for the Olive Festival in August and home of the Queen Olive, be sure to stop by the “Olive Pit” before you leave town for a sample. With time, checkout Lucero Olive Oil on Loleta Avenue in Corning for a mill tour and olive oil tasting.

Ukiah, the commercial center of Mendocino County, is located on US 101 at the southwest end of Mendocino National Forest.

Vichy Springs, three miles east of Ukiah, has drawn travelers to Ukiah for over 150 years. Featuring naturally carbonated hot springs, Vichy Springs is a wonderful place to relax in the peace and quiet of Mendocino County’s beautiful outdoors. Located on 700 acres, the location is ideal for soaking, hiking and taking it easy. Don’t miss the 30-minute hike to Chemisal Falls on Little Grizzly Creek and refresh yourself with a dip in the water.

Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco, CA

2012 is a new year and you’re in San Francisco. Can‘t get a better start to the year than California’s San Francisco Bay area. From the tried and true Fisherman’s Wharf and a ride on the Cable Cars to a tour of Alcatraz and visit to Chinatown, San Francisco is an ideal place to visit. It's always the “Summer of Love” in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood; the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge never gets old; and the shopping around Union Square is always fabulous. A flight into San Francisco International Airport and a quick 15-mile drive up US-101 and you’re in the heart of the city.

Sample the best of San Francisco culinary offerings and Bay Area wine’s at the 11th Annual Wine and Wishes. The 2012 event held February 4 benefits the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation with the city’s top epicurean talents. Held at City View at Metreon, featured chefs include students from the California Culinary Academy and local chefs from Poggio, One Market and Lafolie among the favorites.

Joggers, runners and serious athletes join the fun of the 29th Annual Kaiser Half Marathon and 5K Fun Run for a morning jaunt February 5, 2012. The early morning start is 6:30 am for a run through Golden Gate Park and a finish across from the Pacific Ocean on Martin Luther King Drive at the west end of Golden Gate Park.

Fans of A Cappella vocals mark March 10 on the calendar for the 2012 Bay Area Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival. The Festival features the best vocal harmonies from San Francisco, Northern California and the surrounding regions. Hosted by Brass Farthing, the 2011 Bay Area Champions, the festival takes place at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.

Basketball fans are just a hop across San Francisco Bay for Oakland’s Golden State Warriors action. Take I-80 across the Bay Bridge and down the Nimitz Freeway for the 20-mile drive to Oracle Arena. Northeast of Oakland International Airport, Oracle Arena hosts Golden State games through the 2012 season, ending in April with the Warrior’s hosting the Hornets on the 24 and the Spurs on the 26.

Escape the hustle and bustle of San Francisco and Oakland with a getaway to Pacifica. Just 15 minutes south of San Francisco on California Highway 1 south, Pacifica is west of SFO on California’s Pacific coast. The Pacifica Municipal Pier is a wonderful fishing pier, however winter is the season for crabbing – and no fishing license is required.

Pacifica offers amazing hiking trails, including the seven-mile waterfront trail linking Sharp Park Beach, Rockaway Beach and Pacifica State Beach. Golden Gate National Recreation Area also extends into San Mateo County around Pacifica. Destinations like Milagra Ridge, Mori Point and the Phleger Estate offer excellent opportunities for outdoor adventure and sightseeing.

San Simion Pier

The central California coast, from Monterey Bay in the north, anchored by Santa Cruz and Monterey, south to Ventura is ready for spring. Santa Barbara, north of Los Angeles is home to UCSB. The University of California, Santa Barbara campus is located on more than 1,000 acres on the central California coast. A hub of education, activity and culture for Santa Barbara, USSB is an integral part of the community. The roar at the Thunderdome, UCSB’s Events Center, can be heard through March as Gaucho basketball runs and guns through the season. UC Santa Barbara’s baseball team is busy with its 2012 schedule including 27 home games. Join Gaucho’s baseball at Ceasar Uyeseka Stadium through May.

A highlight of the season is the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, drawing award-winning films from across the globe. The 2012 SBIFF honors include; Viola Davis as the Outstanding Performer of the Year, Christopher Plummer with the Modern Master Award and Martin Scorsese with the American Riviera Award.

In conjunction with the 27th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, popular Santa Barbara restaurants join the festivities with Film Feast. Bars and restaurants are offering special three-course menus for pre and post screening tastings. This is the season for a visit to Santa Barbara and The American Riviera.

Just ten minutes from the Monterey Peninsula Airport, Carmel, or Carmel-by-the Sea, is a storybook community just south of Monterey Bay. A temperate year-round climate, casual California atmosphere and dog-friendly attitude make Carmel a delightful place to visit. The nearby Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of America’s best public golf courses, is one of the host courses for the 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

April 2012 brings the Fifth Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival to Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula. From April 12 through the 15, Pebble Beach is the place to be for exquisite food and wine. With wine tastings, celebrity chef dinners and demonstrations and after hours partying, this is the weekend for foodies to visit Carmel.

The Big Sur International Marathon, April 29, 2012, finishes the CA Highway course in Carmel. An amazing course for runners, the Big Sur International runs from Big Sur to Carmel, with smaller runs beginning at various points along the course. Events include the rocky Point 10.6 Miler, the Pt Lobos 9-miler and kids 3k and 1.5K runs. Spectacular scenery along California’s central coast and mild temperatures make a great combination for runners this spring.

A drive down California’s Highway 1 is known for its majestic views and beautiful scenery. Spring is an ideal time to get behind the wheel for a drive down the Cabrillo Highway through Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Los Padres National Forest. Must stop destinations like San Simeon’s Hearst Castle are worth the delay. By the time you reach Morro Bay, it may be time for a rest. Enjoy your favorite water recreation activities in Morro Bay, spend the night at one of Morro Bay’s three Best Western hotels and be ready to head south for the end of a central California coast adventure.

San Diego's Coronado Island Bridge

San Diego’s neighborhoods, suburbs and neighboring communities are a traveler’s paradise. Beaches from Coronado’s Silver Strand, Mission Beach and Mission Bay to Torrey Pines and Del Mar, and up to Carlsbad and Oceanside are San Diego County’s calling card. Sports fans pick your season – the San Diego Chargers, the Sand Diego Padres, and hockey and soccer fans don’t forget the San Diego Gulls and San Diego Sockers. Family fun doesn’t get better than SeaWorld San Diego, Belmont Park on Mission Beach and LEGOLAND in Carlsbad. Enjoy a sunny winter getaway to Southern California and San Diego this season.

Mardi Gras comes to San Diego’s Gas Lamp Quarter in February. Rain or shine, the party goes on with multiple stages of entertainment, a masquerade parade and beads everywhere. Hosted by the Gaslamp Quarter Association, the 2012 San Diego Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp comes Tuesday February 21.

Pure Southern California - the San Diego Sports Commission and Wahine Beach Volleyball Club host the 2012 Champion the Beach volleyball camp and beach volleyball tournament March 12 through the 16. Mission Bay is the spot to be for this girl’s only event, featuring training sessions and competitive tournament.

For the extreme athlete San Diego hosts the 2012 SuperSeal Triathlon March 18. Not for casual athletes SUPERSEAL features an International Triathlon Distance with 1500-meter swim, 40K bile and 10K run. The 5th annual SuperSeal course is set on beautiful Coronado Island off downtown San Diego. There is no better setting than Coronado and Silver Strand State Beach for this Southern California event.

Take I-5 north from San Diego and forty miles later you’ll be in the charming coastal communities of Oceanside and Carlsbad. The kids love the trip - just off I-5 in Carlsbad is LEGOLAND California. Remember the park is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but Sea Life Carlsbad Aquarium is open if you’re there. From Miniland USA to Fun Town and Pirate Shores, LEGOLAND offers fun for the entire family.

Carlsbad hosts a full schedule of events; from January’s Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon to the 2012 Kia Classic at La Costa LPGA event, there is something for everyone. April brings the 2012 Carlsbad 5000, the world's fastest 5K. Join the fun April 1 for the 27th running of the Carlsbad 5K. Runners enjoy a beautiful seaside course including two miles on Carlsbad’s Pacific beach. The finish, in the heart of downtown Carlsbad, is fun for everyone with the Health and Fitness Expo, beer garden and refreshments and the amazing location.

Enjoy Palm Springs Golf Courses

East of Los Angeles, southern California’s Inland Empire is considered by many to be part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. Commercial and cultural centers of Ontario, Riverside and San Bernardino are hubs of activity for residents and visitors. San Bernardino’s historic California Theater of Performing Arts, hosts music and theater in the beautifully preserved and restored Spanish – Moorish influenced theater building. In Riverside, the University of California, Riverside ARTSblock covers a gamut of arts with the Barbara and Art Culver Center for the Arts, The California Museum of Photography and Sweeney Art Gallery. There is plenty of fun to keep visitors in the Inland Empire.

Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Arena has a full schedule of events from sports to entertainment. The Ontario Reign lights up the ice for hockey fans with regular season play through March. Catch the Reign’s last 2012 home games against the Alaska Aces March 24 and 31.

March 2012 brings the newest American Indoor Football team to the field at Citizens Business Bank Arena. 2012 marks the inaugural season for the Ontario Warriors, with the first home game on March 4. Regular season play includes six home games in Ontario. Be sure to catch a season-1 Ontario Warriors game – the last home game is May 20 against Sacramento.

San Bernardino County’s Auto Club Speedway is located 10 miles east of Ontario in Fontana. Conveniently reached by I-10 and I-15, ACS offers racing fans the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience each month. Take the wheel of a real stock car and drive the track with a real NASCAR champion. NASCAR fans head for the track March 23 through the 25 for the Auto Club 400, Southern California’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Spring and summer in southern California is an ideal time to visit the Temecula Valley. Sixty miles south of Ontario on Instate 15, travelers reach Temecula and Southern California’s wine country. Winterfest events end in February, but March brings the start of Temecula’s Springfest. Spring events begin with World of Wine 2012, March 3 and 4. Make an early spring visit and enjoy a tour of more than 30 Temecula wineries.

Have some good ol’ fashioned fun at Old Town Temecula Western Days in May. 2012 Western Days are May 19 and 20. Set in historic Old Town Temecula, festivities include live country music, Western performances and a Chili Cook-Off. Bring friends and family to enjoy the High Noon Shoot Out and have some fun learning calf roping. A great summer getaway, join the fun in Temecula.

Spring and summer mean baseball; the San Diego Padres affiliate Lake Elsinore Storm open the 2012 season April 4. Take a short drive 15-miles north of Temecula to Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium. Enjoy baseball, America’s quintessential summer activity, into September in the Temecula Valley.

Yosemite National Park

It’s the season for planting in California’s central valley. One of America’s most productive produce regions runs over 400-miles between the Sierra Nevada’s and the California coastal mountains. This is the season the central valley grower’s focus on celery, bell peppers, peas and radishes. The fragrant smell of mint, oregano and tarragon soon fills the California air. From Redding and Sacramento in the Sacramento Valley to Fresno and Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley agriculture reigns.

Tulare, 45-miles south of Fresno on the Golden State Highway, welcomes the world’s largest agriculture expo in February. Tulare’s International Agri-Center hosts the 2012 World Ag Expo mid-February. This year’s event marks the 45th anniversary of the Ag Expo and features over 1,600 exhibitors showcasing the latest agriculture products. The International Agri-Center is the place to be for growers.

Sports fans get ready for March Madness in Fresno. The Save Mart Center at Fresno State hosts the 2012 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Championship March 24 and 26. Also home to Fresno State University men and women’s basketball regular season play. The Save Mart Center regularly fills with the excitement of basketball this time of year.

Runners and cyclists mark May on your calendar for the Eye-Q California Classic Weekend. Fresno hosts the 2012 California Classic May 17 through the 20, with the bike ride on Saturday and half-marathon on Sunday. Runners enjoy the course, which winds through Fresno’s Chaffe Zoo, the Tower District and finishes in downtown Fresno at Chukchansi Stadium. The ride is the only one in California that closes down a freeway. New in 2012, the 10-mile section of the ride on California State Freeway 168 is timed, and a King and Queen of the Freeway are crowned.

Merced, 60-miles northwest of Fresno on Highway 99, is a gateway to Yosemite National Park. Spring is an ideal time to visit, with cool weather sans summer crowds, Yosemite is delightful. Merced hosts the 2012 MERCO Cycling Classic March 1 through the 4. Visit for the classic and see the excitement of world-class bike racing. New for 2012, a Masters 35+ Stage race is added – bike racers don’t miss the MERCO Classic.

Anchoring the south end of California’s central valley, Bakersfield is coming alive for spring. Join the trill of the 2012 Western Street Rod Nationals at Kern County Fairgrounds. Bakersfield hosts the NSRA Western Nationals April 27 through the 29. Racing fans and car enthusiasts alike, enjoy this weekend in Bakersfield. May is the time for music lovers to visit Bakersfield. California State University, Bakersfield hosts the 2012 Bakersfield Jazz Festival May 11 and 12. Enjoy this Bakersfield “Rite of Spring” at the CSUB Amphitheatre.

Disneyland - Anaheim, CA

Happy New Year Orange County. From San Clemente and Dana Point north to Anaheim and Sunset Beach Orange County communities are welcoming 2012 with events, activities and fun. It’s the season for a Southern California getaway and Orange County is quintessential California. With four convenient airports – LAX, Long Beach Airport and Ontario International Airport are nearby alternatives to Orange County’s John Wayne International Airport. The OC’s world famous attractions are ready and waiting from Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure and Knotts Berry Farm to Newport Beach’s Fashion Island and Laguna Beach. Southern California’s beautiful weather just adds to the delight of a winter getaway to Orange County.

With a full calendar of events and activities, Newport Beach is a favorite destination for Orange County travelers. The 2012 Newport Beach Jazz Party in February, is the 12th annual festival for Southern California jazz fans. March brings the Toshiba Classic to the Newport Beach Country Club for golf enthusiasts. With sunny skies and temperate winter temperatures, Newport Beach makes a great getaway this time of year.

It is the season for Newport Beach whale watching cruise. Now through April, the California Grey Whale migrates back north to its summer feeding grounds. Newport Beach communities from Mariner’s Miles off Pacific Coast Highway 1 and Cannery Village at the end of Newport Boulevard, to Lido Island and the Balboa Peninsula, offer whale-watching excursions. Fishing charters into the Pacific are also plentiful for a classic Newport Beach experience.

Laguna Beach, located  one mile south of Newport is another delightful Orange County destination. One of Southern California’s premier beach destinations, Laguna Beach is a must for art and nature lovers. Stretching along seven-miles of prime California coastline, Laguna offers more than 20 beaches and pristine coves to explore. The Laguna Craft Guild hosts Sunday afternoon arts fair on the plaza of Laguna’s Main Beach. Check out the arts and crafts February 12 and 6, and March 11 and 25 and enjoy a sunny Sunday in Laguna Beach.

East of Newport Beach two miles is the Orange County city of Costa Mesa. Recognized as a focal point in Southern California for performing arts and entertainment, Costa Mesa is home to the Orange County Theatre District. Conveniently located off Interstate 405 or the 55, visitors enjoy performances in Segerstrom Hall and Founders Hall, South Coast Repertory and the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater.

Classical music fans, enjoy the Tchaikovsky’s Adagio for Strings and the Pacific Symphony February 23 through the 25: Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto with Korean pianist Joyce Yang and the Pacific Symphony March 1 and 3; or Mendelssohn Piano Trios with Philip Setzer, David Finckel and Wu Han – all at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Costa Mesa is the place for world-class entertainment.