Visit California's spectacular state parks for less.

Given California's huge budget deficits, who knows what will happen in the future. But California has some of the most beautiful state parks in the country. From Point Reyes to Mono Lake, there are countless opportunities for hiking, swimming, paddling, climbing, biking, camping, surfing, and wildlife spotting.

Most of the parks are free-of-charge if you walk or bike in, and charge a very reasonable parking fee if you drive -- usually between $4 and $14 per vehicle. Once you buy a day-use parking pass, it's good that same day at other parks in the area. So you'll only pay once.

Must-see mansions in Miami.

As a kid, my dream house was Vizcaya, industrialist James Deering's Italian Renaissance villa in Coconut Grove. Often compared to San Simeon, Vizcaya took 1,000 artisans - nearly 10% of Miami's population at the time - five years to build. But unlike Mr. Hearst's castle, Vizcaya enjoys a waterfront location.

Around 1912, Deering purchased 180 acres on Biscayne Bay and hired artist Paul Chalfin to help him create his winter mansion. The two traveled throughout Europe, looking for inspiration and picking up art, sculpture, fabrics, and furnishings. Architect F. Burrall Hoffman was commissioned to design the residence, and landscape designer Diego Suarez was hired to do the grounds.

Vizcaya image Flickr: www.GoMiamiCard.com

Nepenthe -- Big Sur's best-loved restaurant.

In ancient Greece, Nepenthe was an elixir that caused you to forget everything unpleasant. On clear days, the legendary Big Sur restaurant of the same name can have a similar effect.

Few places have such a colorful history, both real and exaggerated. The first bit of backstory involves Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, who bought the place in 1944 when there was nothing on the property but a log cabin. In 1947, they sold the property to Lolly and Bill Fassett who hired one of Frank Lloyd Wright's students to design their vision of a sky-high, open-air pavilion with great views, good food, and dancing.

Big Sur builders Frank and Walter Trotter used local materials for the construction. And Nepenthe opened in 1949. It's been going strong ever since.