May I suggest that you join a photography "meet-up group? Go to http://www.meetup.com. Type in your desired activity, the distance you are willing to travel, and your ZIP code. You will be provided with a list of photography meet-up groups within your designated distance.

I live in Long Beach CA. On Saturday, January 07, two of my meet-up groups are going to the Coronado Butterfly Preserve in Goleta CA, where thousands of Monarch butterflies winter-over. Read more here:
http://www.meetup.com/digcam-113/events/43670512
and here:
http://www.meetup.com/SoCal-Photo-Explorers/events/43671622