Close to mountains and not a long drive to the beach. 

What are you thoughts on mountains vs beach STR investing?

I have a Vacation Rental in a mountain area in Arizona and we try VERY hard to provide an exceptional product. 

Google is in Mountain View CA and they have test facilities 1hr away in San Francisco CA.

Have fond memories visiting the Great Smoky Mountains as a kid and always wanted to invest there, esp after seeing the success of investors like @Tony Robinson and others.

If you are looking east of the mountains wenatchee, tri-cities & spokane are the three major cities I would look at and their suburbs of course. 

Ton of our clients do it in Denver and Colorado Springs (and a few in the mountains).

We have a fire pit at one of our properties in the mountains. 

Although there are Resorts and skiing and waterparks and the likes, they have their own units to sleep or Village is right next door.Camelback, Kalahari, great wolf, Jack frost, blue mountain, Mt.

I too live here in So CA, and although things and property are expensive, it is sure tough to beat the location/atmoshpear, beach, mountains, etc.If you are looking to make good returns on your money, and would want to invest locally if and when you move, I would suggest flipping rather than holding the CA properties (at least in Seal Beach and surrounding expensive areas).