San Luis Obispo might be better known to travelers for its proximity to beaches or sights like Hearst Castle, but its new focus has it seeing green.

You will gasp, cringe, learn, and perhaps feel a bit of envy.

Along the way you will be immersed in dramatic desert landscapes, careen around mountains plunging into the sea, rest in palm tree-lined oasis towns, and marvel at the marine life.

Just south of L.A., there’s a city where it’s slightly less expensive to live, the traffic is not nearly as terrible, and the people are friendly.

Guadalajara is a Mexican city unwarped by the demands of American tourists, with idyllic year-round weather and world-class eateries at which no reservation is needed.

While the sun and affordability have been bringing droves of people here for decades, there’s a lot of incredible stuff keeping them around.

Zihuatanejo had called to me, like to so many people looking to escape. I wanted a place where I wouldn’t be hassled or hustled, where the culinary traditions remain strong.