SAN DIEGO

The city of San Diego lies in the southwest corner of California, 120 miles (193 km) south of the city of Los Angeles and 20 miles (32 km) north of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego is known worldwide as one of the best tourist destinations. San Diego is also a location for cutting-edge businesses for telecommunications, biotechnology, software, electronics, and other major industries.

San Diego is renowned for its idyllic climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches and a dazzling array of world-class family attractions. Popular attractions include the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Sea World San Diego and LEGOLAND California. Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in the U.S., is home to 15 museums, numerous art galleries, beautiful gardens, the Tony Award-winning The Globe Theatres.

Received from my penpal Eileen in Philadelphia

PISMO BEACH

Pismo Beach is in the heart of California’s scenic Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s legendary Pacific Coast Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 101. Pismo Beach is a classic California beach town with traditional seaside activities and 21st-century amenities. It offers small-town charm, Mediterranean weather, clean air, friendly residents and miles of pristine, uncrowded beaches. It’s a great place to get away from the crowds and relax at a leisurely pace.

Looking south toward Pismo Beach, you can also see the great dunes that march for miles to Pt. Sal

Pismo Beach in a Clamshell

• Walk on the historic Pismo Pier
• Lunch at a casual clam café
• Explore Pismo Beach on surrey bikes
• Relax on the beach while Matthew and Kaci ride the waves!
• Wine tasting at a downtown tasting room
• Dinner at a seafood restaurant with fantastic ocean views
• Watch live theater and vaudeville acts at the Melodrama (we can cheer the hero and hiss the villain!)

For more information visit Pismo Beach, CA Official Website  

NOURLANGIE ROCK

Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage-listed national park covers almost 20,000 square kms and is 253 kms east of Darwin the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. More than one-third of all bird species recorded in Australia live in Kakadu National Park; as do more than 60 mammal species, 117 reptile species, 1,700 plant species and at least 10,000 insect species.
Nourlangie Rock is a looming ancient escarpment of slowly eroding red rock creating sheer cliffs rising above the Kakadu wetlands. The sacred site is the keeper of one of the best local collections of Aboriginal rock art and a gateway to some of the most amazing views in Kakadu. The paintings provide a fascinating record of Aboriginal life over thousands of years. With paintings up to 20,000 years old, this is one of the longest historical records of any group of people in the world. Nourlangie Rock is significant to Aborigines as home of the Lightning Dreaming.

Nourlangie Rock, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia 

Private swap with Gloria from Northern Territory