LA Times: Top 15 California Destinations

For whatever it's worth here is what LA Times writer Christopher Reynolds believes to be the "not-so-obvious but oh-so-essential sites" within "our" "Golden' State". (I add quotation to 'our' and 'Golden State' for comedic effect and parodic inflection)... (maybe even some angry sarcasm).

1. NATIONAL STEINBECK CENTER Salinas, Monterey County
2. THE COLD SPRING TAVERN San Marcos Pass, Santa Barbara County
3. CORONADO BEACH, WITH GRUNION RUNNING Coronado, San Diego County
4. SANDPIPER GOLF CLUB Santa Barbara County
5. HIDDEN VALLEY Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside& San Bernardino counties
6. THOUSAND ISLAND LAKE Ansel Adams Wilderness, Inyo National Forest
7. SEA RANCH Sonoma County
8. TOMALES BAY Marin County
9. MONTANA DE ORO STATE PARK San Luis Obispo County
10. LITTLE PETROGLYPH CANYON Naval Air Station - China Lake, Kern County
11. THE BATHS AT ESALEN Big Sur, Monterey County
12. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 46 San Luis Obispo County
13. GENERAL GRANT TREE Kings Canyon National Park, Tulare County
14. THE INN ON MT. ADA Santa Catalina Island, Los Angeles County
15. DRAKESBAD GUEST RANCH Lassen Volcanic National Park, Plumas County

(Take a moment to appreciate the fact that I have collected these links for you so you dont have to click through 15 separate pages on LATIMES.com just to see the friggin list.)