This hub is a response to a question about the best weekend getaways in California. Before we take a look-see at all the wonderful retreats in the Golden State, you might want to think about what a getaway means to you. Far as I'm concerned, a getaway is a state of mind, rather than a destination. You see, for somebody from LA, a getaway might mean a trip to the mountains, or the wine country, or the Vegas strip. For someone living in San Francisco, a getaway might mean a place where there are no cellphones or blackberrys (or venture capitalists), like a fishing trip at a lonely retreat in the Sacramento Delta, or a relaxing weekend on the Point Reyes Seashore.

Conversely, if you suggest a getaway in Sequoia to someone from a nearby small town like Visalia, well...They don't cut down Oaks over there, but they sure can use the chainsaw on you. For them, a getaway might mean a shopping and dining trip to LA or San Francisco or San Diego - In other words, a getaway from the getaways.

So take it as you will, I'll try to list five getaways which cater to people who want to getaway from different things, or places.

So here we go. First, my personal favorite retreat. Donner Lake,Truckee. I've been to a lot of retreats and holiday destinations, and none of them comes remotely close to matching the absolute peace and quiet, not to mention the hauntingly beautiful landscape, that you get in and around the Donner Lake area. Maybe it's something to do with the morbid history of the place, or maybe tourists find it a bit too 'quiet', considering that the ski slopes of Lake Tahoe are real close, and most of the crowd ends up there. Which is actually an advantage, because what we're looking for here is a weekend getaway. And there's no better place in the whole of California, with the majestic Sierra Nevada towering in the mist, and Donner Lake shimmering and the lonely calls of the birds - This is a virginal retreat. Even the hotels are stuck in a time wrap, no bells and whistles - And this is not some rebuilt period faux facade we're talking about. A couple of Inns and hotels here are really just like that, and have been, for decades.

You'll enjoy an amazingly simple stay - Hang around the Lake, where there's lots to do in summer, incuding fishing and water sports and beach BBQs. Do some hiking on the trails, catch up on the history of the Donner Party at the Emigrant Trail Museum and the Pioneer Monument, put up your feet in the evenings in front of a roaring fireplace, a real solid dinner and a couple of drinks and a nice book, and you'll sleep like a log and wake up all refreshed in the fresh and bracing mountain air. You can go down to Lake Tahoe and live it up, come back to Truckee, enjoy another relaxing evening and night, and then leave the next day - A completely new and refurbished you.

Web links: Donner Memorial SP, Truckee hotels, hiking maps

Photo credit - Peter DaSilva for The New York Times. Next on the list is the Point Reyes Seashore. Now I don't say nature is at its charming best here, more than any of the other spectacular sights in California, but its pretty darn good, with hundreds of varieties of migrating birds and other wildlife, some great walking trails and sweeping views of Inverness Ridge. But the key selling point of the park is the lack of cellphone coverage, so you might as well leave your electronic gizmos at home. If you want a quick getaway from San Francisco, can't think of a better place than Point Reyes. Leisurely breakfasts, sleep with the stars twinkling at you and when you're face to face with the unconcerned deer or a turtle swimming lazily just under the surface of a crystal clear pond, you'll wonder what all the fuss about tech startups and web 2.0 is all about. This is life as it should be.

Web links: 36 hours in Point Reyes, Point Reyes hotels

The next one on the list, I guess would be for people who want to getaway to the urban watering holes. Now, I'm also mindful that said urban hotspot should be attractive enough for everyone, including jaded Los Angeles residents, to be able to have a fun time. There's only one place that fits this description perfectly - San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. Its a great place to hang out, with an incredible vibe, and it really, really wakes up after the sun goes down. The nightlife here is something you'll really enjoy if you're fond of Vegas. Great dining, fantastic shopping, trendy and upcale hotels, and the best time to visit is when there's a Padres game on at PETCO Park, which brings the already happening Gaslamp Quarter into an absolute state of frenzy. Some of the hotels, like the Omni San Diego, San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter and Hard Rock Hotel, have rooms with views of the stadium, and special baseball packages and baseball themed suites. And there's plenty of sightseeing to do in the day, if you can get over the previous night's hangover.

Web links: Gaslamp After Dark, San Diego hotels, Attractions

I'm really running out of steam here and I don't want to leave this for another time, so I'll have to wrap this up quick. The last two spots get taken by Yosemite/Sequoia and a spa vacation in the Coachella Valley, maybe Desert Springs or Indian Wells. Neither Yosemite nor Sequoia need any introduction or descriptions, so I hope you can make do with the links. As far as a spa outing in the desert is concerned, you might want to take into consideration the fact that resorts here offer absolutely quality amenities, including natural mineral water spas and pools, championship golf courses and absolutely down to earth rates. Irrissistible combination, I'd say.