Ashamed

Every now and then I think of many of the wonderful attractions there are here in my home state of California.
There are so many things to do and places to see, and I am ashamed to admit that I have not done, or seen, the majority of them. Such as the following...

1. Yosemite National Park.
Despite living only a little over three and a half hours from this great national park, I have never come anywhere close to the park.

2. Vikingsholm Castle.
Vikingsholm is one of those little known wonders in Northern California. Anytime I mention to someone "I'd like to go to that Scandinavian Castle up near Tahoe sometime" the response is generally something along the lines of "what the heck are you talking about?". Again, this location is SO close (just a little over two hours drive), yet I've never gone. I think what has deterred me in the past is the idea of the "steep but well defined" 1 mile hiking trail from the parking lot to the actual castle.

3. Point Reyes National Seashore.
It is SO close, two and half hours drive, but I've never been and I have no clue why not. This must be remedied soon.

4. Redwoods National Park.
This site is further away, over six hours, but I'm starting to wonder if I've got something against National Parks.

5. Lava Beds National Monument.
This ones easy. I know why I've never been there... I didn't know it even existed until recently. It does sound pretty awesome though, don't you think?

6. Lassen
I've never been to either the Lassen Volcanic National Park or to the Lassen National Forest.

7. Mono Lake
I really want to go here - I'm thinking I could take some great photos there - all of the images I've seen of the lake are phenomenal.

8. Natural Bridges State Beach
Another place where I think I might be able to get some nice photos.

9. Sequoia National Park
I should go see it, because its there/

10. Death Valley
I would love to go see the spring bloom sometime

11. Big Sur
Isn't it a requirement that every photographer in or near California take a photo of the Lone Cypress at some point?

12. 17 Mile Drive
I've been to the Monterey-Carmel area several times, I have no idea why I've never done this.

13. Solvang
A Danish village right here in California - with my love of Europe, why haven't I been there yet?

14. Joshua Tree
Again, I should go - even if only because I love the U2 album

15. Catalina Island

16. San Diego
The zoo, Sea World - I want to see both.

17. Hearst Castle
One of the biggest tourist attractions in the state, and I have yet to see it. This needs to be remedied.

18. Knotts Berry Farm
I've been to Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Great America - I need to add this one to the list.

19. The California Missions
I've had this draw to photograph all of the California Missions for a couple years now, I don't know why I haven't started yet.

20. State Capital Building
Dude, seriously, its just a 20 minute drive from my house.

21. Golden Gate Bridge
Sure, I've driven across it, but I've never walked across it. I think I need to.

I'm certain that theres a lot more here in California that I should do, these are just the ones off the top of my head.