The California weekend getaway has grown up and blossoms with possibilities these days. With an awareness (or spin, some say) of the earth's climate changes that are happening faster than scientists previously would recognize, a new-found interest or rekindling in things green has made its way into the tourism scene. Not that it ever went out of style. The number crunchers did say a couple years ago that ecotourism was "out".

Call it what you want. The truth is more and more people (including kids), are taking interest in vacations that involve doing something good--something relating to growing things.

Among the top attend such events, home shows come in #1. We list many of these on our calendar of events throughout the seasons, and they are held everywhere in California from the Central Valley to the beach. While tourists don't typically travel far to attend a home show, they do take weekend getaways to experience new gardens and learn about gardening,. In Cambria on the Central California Coast, Gathering of the Gardens is but one event many offered throughout the year for tourists who come to town. Discovering that Cambria exemplifies the practices of growing near the ocean, tourists take notice and sign up for lectures that teach everything from drought resistant flower growing to making a compost box.

The most visited gardens in California are one of the top tourist attractions. Huntington Library & Gardens, The Getty Museum Flower Gardens, Golden Gate Park Japanese Garden and Balboa Park flower gardens in San Diego take top honors for attracting weekend vacationers and day-trippers. Foreign travelers also seek out these places for their longer vacations spent usually between California and Las Vegas.

A seasonal gem that only opens during the summer months offers not only tours of the fabulous gardens, but lectures and special events held throughout the season. Filoli Gardens in Woodside are recognizable for the buildings seen in shows such as Falcon Crest. But the lovely gardens themselves are breath-taking. Located just a short drive from the San Francisco Airport in San Mateo County, if you happen to be in the bay area, do take the time to visit and enjoy the incredible work performed by a huge volunteer base who help a small hired staff maintain the gardens.

In addition to over 20 gardens and arboretums we've posted in our flower section, wildflower and natural gardens viewing is a hot ticket item. People drive to Carlsbad in San Diego County each spring to look at the Carlsbad Flower Fields that put on a colorful show of yellow, red and orange. This springtime delight filled with ranunculus is but one commercial venture that attracts guests for overnight stays (lots of hotels surround the flower fields and Legoland). And in the winter, poinsettias are in bloom, offering displays of reds and pinks. 

Another type of commercial garden you'll find that not only is pleasant to look at but also offers a benefit is the lavender field enterprise. In Atascadero on the Central California Coast, you can visit Green Acres Lavender Farm where the lavender is sold in oils, candles, as a spice for cooking and in other products. The farm hosts summer concert tours, lectures and cooking classes on preparing gourmet meals using lavender. If you've never sampled lavender ice cream or lavender tea, you're in for a treat.

Southern California Gardens offer at minimum a week of exploring. Ranging from desert plants to succulents, roses and other such flowers, Southern California gardens are amazingly varied in their collections and focus. Read more about Southern California Gardens.

From arboretums to commercial growing, garden lectures keep guests abreast of the latest trends and offer ideas on successfully growing plants and flowers in California or wherever you roam. If you think gardens and plants are not popular tourism weekend trips, try this: Drive to Southern California's Joshua Tree National Park to look at the rare Joshua tree that  grows in this dry desert location. Wait till you see all the people who have come to view the Joshua. Or here's another offering. Head to Carmel and Pebble Beach for the 17 Mile Drive. Along the scenic road with many attraction stops and vistas, take a look at the Lone Cypress. This tree is actually trademarked and has appeared on clothing, books, coins, calendars and in movies and commercials. It is one of the most popular attractions along the Central California Coast.

Garden and flower weekend getaways are great fun. If you set your mind to seeing all the public flower gardens, botanical gardens and arboretums in California, it would take you quite a while to complete your task. You could easily spend a year of weekends just scratching the surface of weekend getaways exploring the green side of California.