Rob Lowe isn't just an actor and a surfer. He's a skier, golfer, equestrian enthusiast, fisherman, sailor, hiker, biker…the list goes on and on. So it's no wonder that he chose to make California's Central Coast his home. Not only for it's natural beauty, but also because it's smack dab in the middle of everything.
FACT: One of the most popular "California Dreams" is to rent a convertible in San Diego and drive all the way up the coast, past San Francisco into the North Coast and Redwoods National and State Parks.
Did you know? California has an adventure for everyone. Here's 4 "out there" ideas:
Hike and camp the 80 miles of unspoiled coastline north of Mendocino known as California's Lost Coast 
,
climb the tallest mountain in the lower 48 ,
mountain bike Mt. Shasta , or
have a close encounter with a 90-foot Blue Whale in Southern California's Channel Islands .
When our bus (yes, we traveled by bus for this two week TV shoot) pulled up to our location in Johnson Valley, we felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. But what we were really in the middle of was Cougar Buttes, an amazing desert playground perfect for 4-wheeling, hiking, climbing, camping and…mountain biking.
FACT: The AMGEN Tour of California is an amazing way for cycling enthusiasts to see some of the most beautiful parts of the state, from the High Sierras to the Central Valley to the stunning Southern California coastline.
Get all the details here.
Did you know? California's mountain resorts become a mountain biking paradise in the summer with organized trail systems, parks and obstacle courses. Check out the mountain biking experiences in
Mammoth ,
Big Bear , Lake Tahoe and
Mt Shasta .
When the snows start to melt in the Sierras, California's rivers get wild. We shot our rafters on the South Fork of the American River in
California's Gold Country . The big, splashy rapids have deceptively intimidating names like Satan's Cesspool and Hospital Bar but the expert guides made the trip an absolute blast.
Did you know? One of the many rafting trips in the area, O.A.R.S. offers 1, 2 or 3 day Craft Beer and Wine Tasting trips combining high-adrenaline whitewater rafting with gourmet campfire meals and microbrews or fine wines.
Check it out here.
Many ways to get wild
Here are 4 more ways to go wild in California.
1. Get nose-to-nose with the wild animals at the
San Diego Zoo Safari Park .
2. Defy gravity (and your better judgment) on the giant rollercoasters at
Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles.
3. Feed your need for speed and NASCAR at the
Auto Club Speedway racetrack in the Inland Empire.
4.
Zip line your way across Catalina Island.
A wintery mountain view on the
Fall River in the middle of summer?! It's not a riddle, it's our fly fishing scene, shot in the
Shasta Cascade region of California. It was the end of June, but snow still covered the peaks of Mount Shasta. The Fall River has some of the best trout fishing in California, evidenced by the fact that our fly fishing guide kept hooking them in the middle of our takes!
FACT: The Pacific is home to some monster fish including Yellow Tail and Blue Fin Tuna. Sport fishing excursions out of Dana Point Harbor in Southern California are a great way to test your skills at landing a big one (or telling classic fish tales.)
Find details here.
Did you know? Good fishing means good eating at the Mendocino County Crab and Wine Days in January.
Check it out here. No, we didn't go kayaking on the moon. This lunar landscape is Mono Lake, in the eastern end of California's
High Sierra . The water in the lake is too salty for any fish, but brine shrimp thrive here, making it a great nesting habitat for millions of migratory birds. On this trip, we had to carefully navigate our kayaks to avoid disturbing two huge Osprey nests. The Dr. Seuss-like limestone towers emerging from the water are called tufas.
FACT: The "American Galapagos" is a common nickname for the
Channel Islands National Park ; 8 islands located 25 miles off the central California coast. Boat trips leave from Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Did you know? You can explore another underwater world around Catalina Island - see giant kelp, golden garibaldi, purple starfish and playful seals from your own private submarine.
Read more here. It's no secret that Hollywood, Malibu and Santa Monica are prime locations for star sightings. But for those seeking the more celestial kind, step one is to leave the city lights behind. Luckily, with so many national and state parks, campgrounds, cabins, eco-resorts and nature retreats in California,
star gazing opportunities are never far. We found our desert spot with the help of Desert Adventures Eco-Tours at Metate Ranch near Palm Springs.
FACT: California has 279 state parks, which add up to 1.3 million acres of pristine wilderness to explore.
Click to check out more outdoor adventures in California
Did you know? One of the most dramatic desert landscapes in California is just a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles in Red Rock Canyon State Park. Brilliant wildflowers and cooler temperatures make spring a favorite time to explore these amazing red rock formations.
Go from the lowest point in the U.S. to the highest in one trip! Check out this 5-day Mojave to Mt. Whitney itinerary Some spots are so special, they shouldn't be too easy to find. Crowley Hot Springs in Mammoth Lakes is one of those spots. A quick internet search will get you some hints and GPS coordinates that will lead you to these natural pools of steamy water set against mammoth views of the Sierras.
FACT: Get to Mammoth in record time! Daily flights to Mammoth from Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco are making it easier than ever to visit this incredible year-round destination.
Did you know? Calistoga, California, in the Napa Valley, is known for its restorative hot springs and mud baths. World-class spas built around the magical waters, near-by wineries and a charming town make this an incredible destination just off the beaten path.
Read more. Talk about good timing! We arrived in Temecula, a fertile wine country two hours east of San Diego, just in time for their annual
Balloon & Wine Festival held at Skinner Lake. Hundreds of brilliant balloons ascended at sunrise, filling the brilliant blue sky. Temecula has more than 30 wineries. It's also a great golf destination with 9 beautiful courses, including "Journey" the challenging Arthur Hills-designed course at Pechanga Resort and Casino.
Check out this 3-day Temecula itinerary.
FACT: Temecula is California's southernmost wine country, but it's just 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Days are warm and nights are cool, a combination that can support many varieties typically grown farther north, including Gewürztraminer, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Did you know? A visit to any of California's many wine regions during the fall harvest offers memorable opportunities to participate in old-fashioned grape stomps, exclusive winemaker dinners and even a three-day Harvest Camp.
Learn more. If you love quirky roadside gems, a stop at Bravo Farms Cheese Factory near Fresno, in
California's Central Valley is a MUST. A gourmet market, ice cream parlor, petting zoo, gift shop, restaurant, cheese factory wonderland, it's one of those places you have to experience to understand. And it doesn't get any fresher than the produce at our second stop, the Fresno Farmer's Market.
FACT: Ever seen and underground garden? The amazing subterranean landscapes of the
Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno are a historic landmark.
Did you know? California's Central Valley is one of the most productive farm regions in the world. In fact, it's hard to think of what doesn't grow in California, which is why farmers markets and farm-to-fork dining are such a part of everyday life here. Check out these eclectic culinary experiences to start:
Harvest Farm-to-Table Event, Monterey
Farmers Market Foodie Stroll, Santa Barabara
Eat Real Festival, San Francisco It may look like we cast a tiny ranger, but she's just sitting on a very, very big tree. Her spot among the towering redwoods is in Navarro River Redwood State Park in Mendocino. California's 500-mile Redwood belt runs through the northern part of the state, including groves in Big Sur, Yosemite and Kings Canyon, but the
ultra charming historic town of Mendocino with its dramatic coastline views, organic wineries, eclectic galleries and cozy coffee shops is an amazing place to experience their majesty.
FACT: At 275 feet high and 2,300 years old, The General Sherman is the king of the giant sequoias and the tallest, widest and longest-lived tree on earth. See it in Sequoia National Park.
Click to explore Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Did you know? California is home to the oldest tree in the world. "Methuselah" is a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine that was a seedling when the pyramids were being built, and still grows in the Inyo National Forest in the Eastern Sierras.
Welcome to Steinbeck country, and Steinbeck Winery, where we filmed our horseback riders. Paso Robles, and the surrounding central coast, is considered one of
California's up and coming wine regions . Paso, as the locals call it, is not only known for great wines but for its natural hot springs, spas and for hosting the California Mid-State Fair (named for its location half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco) which is held every July.
FACT: Monterey County is the birthplace of John Steinbeck, and the setting of many of his novels. You can follow in his footsteps at
The National Steinbeck Center and Museum located in Salinas, California.
Did you know? California's central coast is an eclectic mix of rugged and refined. Its untamed coastlines have attracted and inspired writers, poets and artists for decades. In return, the charming and chic artist enclaves that have assembled along the coast inspire some unforgettable road trips (and shopping trips.)
Click for a 6-day itinerary to experience the best of California's Central Coast. We're just going say it:
Yosemite National Park needs to be on your California "bucket list." This truly epic view (and it's just one of thousands of jaw-droppers) is from Glacier Point looking at El Capitan, a towering granite formation carved out millions of years ago by an enormous glacier. Words can't even do this national gem justice. All we can say is thank you John Muir, for fighting for and protecting one of California's most revered treasures, we are forever in your debt.
FACT: California has eight incredible national parks covering 4.1 million acres of diverse eco-systems including deserts, mountains, forests, ocean parks, estuaries and even rain forests.
Click to explore all of them.
Did you know? Most people come to Yosemite to hike, camp and climb in the summer months, but you can actually ski and snowshoe inside the park during the winter season. After a day in the snow, warm up by the fire with a glass of wine at the storied Ahwanee hotel.
Click to explore winter in Yosemite Spend a week on your own floating castle! If you've never been on a houseboat, you're missing out on one of life's great vacations. We launched onto the crystal waters of Shasta Lake, which has been dubbed "the houseboat capital of the world." The water was refreshing, the slide made for hours of fun, and you can even rent a boat with a hot tub on top. As an added bonus, the white summit of Mt. Shasta is always visible from the water.
Click to read more about houseboating in Shasta Cascade
FACT: Shasta Cascade is home to one of the West's most impressive waterfalls.
Click to see McArthur-Burney Falls
Did you know? Lake Arrowhead is a mountain-lake escape just a few hours drive from Los Angeles. Hike around the lake, boat, swim, spa, golf or just hang out in your luxurious lake-view room and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Reunited, and it feels so good! Some of you may remember the first time Rob Lowe showed up in one of our spots, back in 2007. We loved shooting with him so much, we asked him if he'd do it again. This time Rob met us on the shores of Rincon Beach, a world-famous break, which happens to be near his home in Santa Barbara.
Did you know? Rob's riding a J7 surfboard, which is shaped by Santa Barbara local, Jason Feist. Get inside the head of a surfboard shaper with this
cool video from J7 .
As you make your way down California's coast, it's hard not to notice the choice spots where the horizon is sprinkled with the dark outlines of dedicated surfers. With its seemingly endless line up of waves, Rincon beach, near Santa Barbara, is one of those places that attracts surfers like metal filings to a magnet. Some have even called it the number one break in North America. But, if you are looking for more romance and less adrenaline? Ask a local to point you in the direction of Butterfly Beach.
FACT: California is home to many internationally famous surf spots, including Trestles in Orange County, the monster waves of Maverick's near San Francisco, Swami's in North San Diego, and Huntington Beach, a.k.a. "Surf City USA", just to name a few.
Did you know? You can learn the history of hanging ten at the California Surf Museum in Oceanside.
