While California’s manmade visual feasts tempt people to visit—think the iconic Golden Gate Bridge reaching across the San Francisco Bay in all its glory or the storied Hollywood sign in the hills overlooking Los Angeles—its natural splendor keeps them coming back for more.
From Northern California’s Muir Woods National Monument, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park and Redwood National Park down to Southern California’s Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks and Joshua Tree National Park, the state is abundantly blessed by Mother Nature.
Lucky for planners, many of these spectacular areas are meetings-friendly for the most inspired group gatherings.
Yosemite National Park
Considered by many the crown jewel of the National Park System, Yosemite National Park features some of the most recognized natural treasures in the world, including granite icons Half Dome and El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
"The park is the size of the state of Rhode Island and is known for dramatic four-season changes," says Kenny Karst, manager of group services at DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite (801.559.4900), explaining the park gushes with water in the spring and is blanketed by snow in the winter.
The park’s beauty is obvious, but it also has brains. According to Karst, the setting and inherent activities available for groups sets it apart as a meetings destination.
"In the spring and fall, groups can participate in team-building activities such as introductory rock climbing courses through Yosemite Mountaineering School, saddle trips of varying lengths from one of three stables, bicycle rides and a stargazing program," he says, adding that during the winter, Yosemite’s landscape opens up for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and snow tubing, among other adventures. "The outdoor activities and vistas are what separate the park from traditional ‘big box’ hotel venues in metropolitan areas," he says.
The Ahwahnee, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite and Wawona Hotel are all Yosemite-based meetings-ready properties with natural surroundings and knockout views.
Mammoth Lakes Area
Like Yosemite, the Mammoth Lakes area once attracted visionaries including Ansel Adams and John Muir. It’s a unique spot, where towering peaks of the Eastern Sierra frame a majestic environment of incredible beauty, according to Mammoth Lakes Tourism.
The area is a four-season charmer that appeals to active groups who like to hit biking and hiking trails in the warmer months and conquer Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (800.626.6684) via skis, snowmobiles or snowshoes during the winter.
"Whether it’s making first tracks down Mammoth Mountain, the delight of a rainbow trout biting your line or just listening to aspens rustling in the breeze, Mammoth Lakes presents an opportunity to forget your cares and reconnect with nature," says Kirk Stapp, former mayor of Mammoth Lakes.
Mammoth Mountain Inn, the Village Lodge and Mountainside Conference Center are among the area’s meetings-ready facilities.
Lake Tahoe
Another four-season, meetings-friendly natural gem is Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in the country. The lake is as pure as it is beautiful, according to Jason Neary, director of sales for the North Lake Tahoe Visitors & Convention Bureau.
"One of the most magical places on the lake is Emerald Bay, home to Lake Tahoe’s only island and the 1929-built Vikingsholm Castle," he says. "It’s a great escape after a long day of strategizing."
Neary and Mike Frye, sales and events manager for the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (representing the South Shore), both say Tahoe provides an endless number of activities and tours for meeting attendees. Options include everything from snowmobiling, lake cruises, golfing and hot-air balloon rides, to a zip up Heavenly Resort’s gondola, which Ski magazine rated the most scenic in the nation year-round.
Among the meetings players joining Heavenly on the South Shore is Aston Lakeland Village Resort, and on the North Shore is the Resort at Squaw Creek and The Ritz Carlton, Highlands, Lake Tahoe.
The Flower Fields
For over 60 years, nature has transformed the rolling hills of North San Diego County into something akin to the field of poppies in The Wizard of Oz.
According to the San Diego North CVB, the nearly 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields (760.431.0352) at Carlsbad Ranch in Carlsbad, is one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world.
The flowers are in a full bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year, from early March through early May. This annual burst of color has become part of the area’s local heritage, and visiting attendees consistently give group tours high marks.
