LocalGetaways.com

The temperature isn’t the only thing dropping in California. The room rates at some of my favorite hotels are hitting rock bottom (see above) as well. Take a look at some of these smokin’ December deals:

I HEART UTAH. Off to Park City tomorrow for 5 days of epic mountain bike riding, plus a test drive of a Lamborghini Huracan 580, whiskey tasting, B52s concert, and spa treatments at Montage Deer Valley. Could a dude be more stoked? Seriously thinking of moving to Park City--it's heaven for us outdoorsy types, and the #1-ranked mountain bike town in the U.S.

The surest sign that summer has started in California is the opening of Yosemite’s Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass, and Monitor Pass. These high-elevation roads close seasonally due to winter snow, and the recent announcement of their opening has officially kicked off Road Trip! season. So in honor of the hard work those Caltrans men and women do to get those passes open, this week’s getaway is one of my favorite California road tripsseven blissful days of exploring the best of La...ke Tahoe and Yosemite. Click below to get your summer road trip in gear. ~ Matthew http://localgetaways.com/7-day-dream-getaway-lake-tahoe-yo/

As a travel writer, one of my favorite things to write about is little-known destinations that most Californians have never experienced. Well, here’s another gem: Lake Oroville. Located 70 miles due north of Sacramento, Lake Oroville is the sleeper summer vacation spot that really does offer something for everyone: houseboating, fishing, biking, hiking, sailing, kayaking, birding, camping, dam tours, and one heck of a lively nightlife scene at the Feather Falls Casino & Lodge.... It’s the perfect Northern California getaway combo: spending a sunny day at Lake Oroville, having dinner at Feather Falls Casino's award-winning microbrewery and restaurant, enjoying an entertaining evening at the casino and live-music venue, and ending with a blissful night’s sleep in one of the lodge's uber-quiet guestrooms, with rates starting at just $79 a night. It's one of the most fun, relaxing, and affordable vacations you can take in California. (I sometimes head up just to see the musical talent that Feather Falls Casino brings to Oroville, including country music stars and some of the best cover bands in the country). Click the links below to start planning your annual summer getaways to Lake Oroville and the Feather Falls Casino & Lodge. Lake Oroville - http://localgetaways.com/lake-oroville-california/ Feather Falls Casino & Lodge - http://localgetaways.com/feather-falls-casino-and-lodge/ ~ Matthew

It's one of the most relaxing and romantic outdoor getaways in Californiafloating down the serene Merced River through Yosemite National Park. Picture yourself basking in the warm sun. Toes dangling in the water. The occasional scenery-inducing sigh when your raft slowly turns to face Half Dome again. And that's just one of my 11 groovy summer getaway suggestions to Yosemite and the Gold Country, one of the best road trips in California.