Celebrity Cypress

Among the many expressive trees along the 17 Mile Drive near Monterey, the Lone Cypress (above) is a stand-out, famous enough to be featured more than once in Wikipedia.

Big Sur

After all that technology, back to nature. Here’s a scenic view of Big Sur, one of California’s perennial sweet spots along Highway One.

Wet Feet

Even if you don’t like cars or golfing, Pebble Beach near Monterey is definitely worth a visit, with its long stretches of sandy beaches where the Pacific Ocean (on nice days) gently waves hello to the California coast.

Coastal Grass

No, not that kind of grass, even though this is California. Simply some weeds along Highway 1, glowing in the afternoon sun.

Dolphins Under Palm Trees

Santa Barbara is very fond of dolphins. They’re everywhere in this glamorous resort town just north of Los Angeles – most prominently in the form of a fountain by the pier. I liked these dolphins best as a silhouette against the blue sky, but I wish the sun had been a little further to the west; that would have allowed me to take a couple of steps to the left, separating the dolphin from the palm tree. Oh, well, can’t have it all, not even in sunny California.

Hippie Camper

What could be more Californian than a battered up but sunny VW camping bus, carrying a mountain bike and decorated with a sticker that says, "Teach Peace"? Now, where did we put the weed...?

Morro Bay

Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, a little south of Hearst Castle, lies Morro Bay, a quaint fishing village with an ugly power plant (not pictured) and a very photogenic harbor. Morro Rock, an ancient volcanic plug, is the town's landmark and a protected State Reserve.