Straddling the Nevada-California border, South Lake Tahoe is a glamorous resort town with casinos, fine dining, and shopping at the base of the mountain.
Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are a pair of parks to save for winter. The contrast between the redwoods and the snowy landscape is spectacular.
California is home to both the lowest point in North America (Death Valley) and the highest peak in the lower 48 (Mount Whitney). And you can see them both on the same day.