Can someone recommend a beautiful location (and time of year) to shoot in the U.S. that I can take a flight to and stay 3 days and no more. The location must not be climatically challenging--that is, minimal driving, not freezing or scortching weather, no fanged critters or armed bandits. I have a day job so my photo safaris are limited to weekends. Need somewhere both simple but breathtaking. I live in los Angeles, so the closer the better but am willing to trek far (by plane that is).
I live in LA and am up in either the the western Sierra or the Owens Valley at least twice a month, overall. I know the area rather well.
If you're anywhere in S. California and you haven't yet driven up the 395 to, say, Lee Vining (at least), you're not doing yourself any favors. The eastern Sierra and it's escarpment is one of the most photogenic places on Earth. Easy to get to, LOTS of ways up in the mountains in a vehicle, relatively cheap hotels/eats, no bandits, incredible changing light conditions, Mt. Whitney, the bristlecones, Highway 168 out of Bishop, the Inyos, the Owens Valley, Owens Lake, the Owens River, ghost towns.....
Let me know if you have any questions.
On edit: don't forget the Salton Sea, Joshua Tree NP, the various dunes of S. California, the Channel Islands NP, The Mojave, Death Valley, etc....