10-Nights Splendours of the West: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Francisco & More — CALL

Sacramento, California's, role in the gold rush of the mid-1840s gave the city its nostalgic charm, but that's just a part of this capital city's appeal. Although historic Old Sacramento re-creates the city's gilded history, modern Sacramento's high-rises, high-tech industry and burgeoning art scene reflect its lively contemporary style.

Sacramento's weather is pleasant most of the year, except the hot and dry dog days of summer. That fact, together with the city's location at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers, creates plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Activities include white-water rafting and kayaking on the American River, bicycling and running on the spectacular American River Parkway, and boating and fishing on nearby Folsom Lake.

The Mammoth Lakes area is notable because it gets an unusually large amount of snow compared to other peaks in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, which lies in the Inyo National Forest. This has made Mammoth Mountain one of the premier ski destinations on the West Coast.

The ski area is built on the north side of Mammoth Mountain, located in the volcanic Long Valley Caldera. Mammoth, as it is known to most, has more than 3,500 acres/1,400 hectares of skiable terrain, serviced by 28 lifts. The mountain rises to an elevation of 11,053 ft/3,368 m.

The top of the mountain has challenging chutes and open mogul runs. There are three main terrain parks branded "Unbound" at Mammoth. Unbound Main, located adjacent to Main Lodge, is one of the major attractions of the ski resort. Many of the top professional snowboarders practice and compete in the 18-ft/5.5-m and 22-ft/7-m super pipes. http://www.mammothmountain.com.

Mammoth Mountain also has one of the longest ski seasons in North America, which usually runs November-June. Mammoth receives an average of nearly 400 in/1,016 cm of snow per season. Cross-country skiers will find miles/kilometers of groomed trails from Tamarack Cross Country Center and the Mammoth Lakes Nordic Trail System. Other popular winter diversions include snowmobiles and tubing.

In the summer months, the ski gondolas are used by mountain bikers and tourists who wish to get a spectacular summit view of Long Valley Caldera directly to the east and Sierra peaks to the west, south and north. The area also draws golfers and fishermen looking to catch some of the lakes' trout.

When you're ready to take a break from activities, nearby attractions to explore include the Obsidian Dome—a huge dome of volcanic glass—and Devil's Postpile National Monument, featuring huge basalt columns. http://www.visitmammoth.com.