I like them all. I live pretty close to the ocean, so going to the beach is nothing foreign to me. I’ve been many times and I love going each time I go. It’s beautiful, I love the warmth (I’m not talking Ocean Beach in SF…bleh…), and even though I’m not a big surfer or anything, it was fun the few times I’ve tried it. Part of the reason San Diego is one of my favorite places in the world.
It’s always a competition as to which place I like visiting more, Carmel or Lake Tahoe (my family has houses in both places and so we visit them frequently and I love going to both places). However, I can say that I’ve essentially decided that Lake Tahoe is the closest thing there is to a perfect place on Earth, so even though I love Carmel and Laguna Beach and San Diego, the lake is #1. But it’s really close. Really close. :)
I just savor the pine forests, the boats, the mountain biking, it’s all excellent.
As for rivers, I thoroughly enjoy rafting and inner-tubing down them. :)
California is a great place to live because it has plenty of all three!