Don Nadeau

You want to go to California wine country--and for good reason. Not only will you see the scenic splendor of soft hills covered with vineyards, but you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy the history, architecture, and some of the best restaurants in the U.S. However, since Napa and Sonoma Valleys don't have their own commercial airports, you will need to select among airports nearby, including the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, and the airports in Sacramento (SMF), San Francisco (SFO), and Oakland (OAK).

If you're looking for a motel or hotel base for your visit to Redwood National Park along the northern coast of California, look into Arcata, CA, located just north of Eureka on Highway 101.
You've probably heard of Arcata through media coverage of its Kinetic Sculpture event--a wild race between human-powered amphibious all-terrain works of art, held every Memorial weekend to the appreciative whoops and hollers of the tourists and townsfolk alike.

This year, consider visiting the stunningly gorgeous Humboldt Redwoods State Park, which offers the largest remaining stand of old growth redwoods in the world--more than 17,000 acres. It is also the home of some of the oldest recorded coastal redwood trees, a few of which are more than 2,200 years old.

I bet you didn't know that an acre in Humboldt Redwoods State Park was found to contain a greater density of organic material than found in the Amazon rain forest--according to The Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association and others--actually seven times greater.

For the most fun and convenience in Vegas, stay on the Strip. And don't even think you can't find a room -- with nineteen of the world's twenty-five largest hotels, as well as many other fine hotels, the Strip offers more than 67,000 rooms. (Exception: Plan far in advance if you want to stay on the Strip on New Year's Eve.)

But what you may not realize is that your location on the Strip can make a big difference in how much you enjoy Vegas.