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LAKE COUNTY CA - SIMPLY PARADISE
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Lake County is California's family recreation and getaway destination. In Lake County you'll find friendly communities, attractions, outdoor recreation, activities, beautiful rural scenery, and the best air quality in the state (as determined by the California Air Resources Board).

Lake County is home to Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake within California and possibly the oldest lake in North America. The elevation for Clear Lake is 1,326 feet. Blue Lakes, Lake Pillsbury, and Indian Valley Reservoir are the county's other major bodies of water. The region is rich with historical and cultural resources, as well as recreational opportunities.

Within Lake County are two incorporated cities, the county seat of Lakeport and Clearlake, the largest city, and the communities of Blue Lakes, Clearlake Oaks, Clearlake Park, Cobb, Finley, Glenhaven, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville, Loch Lomond, Lower Lake, Lucerne, Middletown, Nice, Spring Valley, Upper Lake, and Witter Springs.

Fun for all ages is found in annual community events, festivals and fairs. In addition, visitors may enjoy concerts, sporting events, car shows, casinos, farmers' markets, special presentations, and exhibits.

Adventurous visitors will enjoy Lake County's national forests and other public lands with trails for hiking, dirt biking, off-highway vehicle riding, rock and stone collecting, and bird watching, plus areas for hang gliding, fishing, and hunting. Local parks and two state parks offer trails for hiking. Exhibits and programs about the region's culture and history are maintained and presented by rangers and docents at Clear Lake State Park and at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

History and genealogy buffs will find several "treasures" at the two county museums, the Lake County Museum in Lakeport and the Lower Lake Historical Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake. There are also numerous state and local historical landmarks identified throughout the county.

Art lovers will find the work of local artists displayed in many places including galleries, civic buildings, restaurants, banks, and other businesses. Arts and crafts exhibits are featured at many of the community events held through the year. There is also a number of antique shops throughout Lake County.

Area wineries with tasting rooms include Guenoc and Langtry Estate Vineyards and Winery, Ployez Winery, Steele Wines, and Wildhurst Vineyards. Winery events often feature wine tasting, art, and music.

Stargazers and astronomers will enjoy a trip to the Taylor Planetarium & Observatory in Kelseyville. Operated by the Lake County Office of Education, the observatory presents lecture and slide programs, and visitors may participate in telescope viewing of the stars and planets.

Outdoor recreation include the many watersports enjoyed at the county's lakes and streams, plus hiking, soaring, skydiving, and bicycling. Five golf courses, including one championship 18-hole course, are located in the county.

With over 100 miles of shoreline, Clear Lake is a popular spot for watersports enthusiasts. Visitors enjoy fishing, swimming, sailing, wind surfing, parasailing, waterskiing, boating, and riding jet skis. There are 11 free boat launch ramps around the lake that are open to the public. Individuals may rent boats and personal watercraft from many businesses around the lake.

Aboard the Clear Lake Queen, a three-story replica of a paddlewheel steamboat, visitors may enjoy leisurely sightseeing tours and dinner cruises on Clear Lake.

Anglers will enjoy testing their luck on Clear Lake, known as the "Bass Capital of the West." Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, and rainbow trout can be found in the county's lakes. Fishing boats can be rented, and many stores and facilities around the lake specialize in fishing equipment. Numerous fishing tournaments and derbies are held through the year.

Car racing fans can enjoy competition between winged midgets, modified, street and mini-stocks when the Northern California Racing Association presents races every Saturday night, beginning in April and continuing into October, at the Lakeport Speedway at the county fairgrounds.

Visitors looking to spend a couple of nights or longer vacation can choose from ample accommodations ranging from basic camping facilities to cozy bed-and-breakfast inns and full-scale hotels. Several resorts around Clear Lake, on Cobb Mountain, and at Blue Lakes feature self-contained cabins and cottages.