Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to California! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to California.
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You could spend six lifetimes exploring California. No other state in the country has as many natural or tourist attractions as California does. It has more national parks than any other state (currently nine), some of the largest cities in the country (e.g. Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco), and an 840-mile long coastline. California has more wineries than any other state...by a landslide. The state also has the lowest point in the U.S. and the tallest point in lower 48 states. California also has the largest trees in the world (sequoias and redwoods). Throw a pin on a map of California and you could probably spend a week exploring just that area.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN CALIFORNIA
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in California? Here are my choices for the top 10 attractions or experiences in California, in no particular order:
✮ Gaze at the tallest trees in the world in Redwood National Park
✮ Tour some of the amazing museums of Los Angeles (e.g. the Getty Center)
✮ See the largest trees in the world in Sequoia National Park
✮ Walk the trails of Yosemite Valley within Yosemite National Park
✮ Drive the Big Sur highway along the California coast (US-1)
✮ Visit the hottest and driest environment in North America in Death Valley National Park
✮ Hit the slopes at one of the world-class ski areas near Lake Tahoe
✮ Head to the the premier family destination of Disneyland
✮ Drink your way through a few wineries in Napa Valley and/or Sonoma Valley
✮ Relax at any one of California's fantastic beaches
✮ Visit some of San Francisco's most famous sites (e.g. Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge, etc.)
If I could select only one place to visit in California, I would choose Yosemite National Park. The granite domes and mountains are breathtaking.
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN CALIFORNIA
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in California. I believe each of these attractions should be on your California bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern California / Northern Coast (including Crescent City, Eureka, Klamath, and Redwood National Park)
✮ Avenue of the Giants - a 31-mile paved scenic drive that parallels US-101 through the Redwoods region; "the finest forest drive in the world"
✮ Crescent City - a small city known for its rugged beaches, historic lighthouses, and as a key gateway to the Redwoods region
✮ Drive-Thru Tree Park / Chandelier Tree, Leggett - one of several trees in California that you can drive through; this one is small vehicles only
✮ Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Weott - features the world's largest remaining contiguous old-growth forest of Coast Redwood trees
✮ Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Crescent City - famous for its old-growth redwood trees
✮ Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg - the best botanical gardens in northern California; includes attractive coastline views
✮ Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Orick - famous for its sandy beaches, scenic drives, hiking trails, redwood trees, and an elk herd
✮ Redwood Highway (Highway US-101) - the primary driving route through the Redwoods region
✮ Redwood National Park - known for its huge old-growth coast redwood trees, dense forests, scenic drives, and rugged coastline
✮ Trees of Mystery, Klamath - a tourist attraction featuring a giant Paul Bunyan statue, unique redwood trees, and a sky canopy trail
✮ Wineries in Mendocino County - there are more than 500 wineries in this county; this area is known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Northcentral California / Northeastern California / Shasta Cascades
✮ Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail - an excellent 25-mile unpaved rail trail from Susanville to Westwood that includes tunnels and trestles
✮ Bolt's Antique Tool Museum - a small but comprehensive museum with 12,000-plus tools on display
✮ Burney Falls, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Burney - an exceptional 129-foot waterfall that stems from an underground spring
✮ Castle Crags State Park, Castella - features impressive granite towers and 28 miles of hiking trails, including some with Mt. Shasta views
✮ Feather Falls, Plumas National Forest - an outstanding 640-foot waterfall; the trail is unfortunately CLOSED as of 2022 due to fire damage
✮ Lake Shasta Caverns - a tourist attraction that combines a boat ride and a guided cave tour
✮ Lassen Volcanic National Park - known for its volcanoes, meadows, and geological features (incl. steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud)
✮ Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake - a volcanic park that features lava-tube caves that you can enter (bring a headlamp!)
✮ McCloud Falls, Shasta-Trinity National Forest - take a hike on the McCloud River Trail to visit three excellent waterfalls
✮ Mount Shasta - one of California's premier mountaineering destinations; you can see a great viewpoint from CA 97 in the town of Mt. Shasta
✮ Pluto's Cave, Klamath National Forest - bring a headlamp and hike into a lava tube cave
✮ Potem Falls, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
✮ Sacramento River Trail - an excellent 12-mile paved rail trail along the Sacramento River
✮ Subway Cave, Lassen National Forest - explore a 1/3 mile lava tube off CA 89 near Cave Campground (30 min north of Lassen Volcanic NP)
✮ Sundial Bridge, Redding - a beautiful cable bridge for walkers and cyclists that spans the Sacramento River; one of CA's most unique bridges
✮ Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding
Napa and Sonoma Wine Country (including Napa, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma)
✮ Armstrong Redwood State Reserve, Guerneville - features a temperate rainforest with a small grove of coast redwood trees
✮ Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga - visit a 107-room Tuscan-style castle
✮ Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center - exhibits, art, and sculptures related to the famous cartoonist (e.g. Charlie Brown/Snoopy)
✮ Guided bike tours in Napa Valley - several companies offer excellent guided cycling tours of various areas of Napa Valley
✮ Healdsburg - a small city that serves as a major wine country destination; it has many boutique hotels, shops, and fine dining
✮ Hot air ballooning in Napa - one of the very best places in the U.S. for hot air balloon rides; several operators are in the area
✮ Napa - a medium-sized city at the southern end of Napa Valley, which is the winery/vineyard capital of the U.S. (> 400 wineries!)
✮ Napa Valley - a world-famous wine-producing region with beautiful rolling hills and more than 400 wineries
✮ Napa Valley Wine Train, Napa - take a three-hour, 36-mile long train ride that typically stops at several wineries along the way
✮ Oxbow Public Market, Napa - an attractive shopping market with many different food vendors
✮ Russian River - a river with different sections that are popular for whitewater rafting, canoeing/kayaking, and tubing
✮ Safari West, Santa Rosa - a large, private wildlife preserve with guided safari rides; features nearly 900 animals from 90 unique species
✮ Sonoma - a small city with many fantastic wineries/vineyards; the city is also known for its spas and its historic downtown area
✮ Sonoma Valley - this fantastic alternative to Napa Valley has more than 400 of its own wineries
✮ Sonoma Zipline Adventures, Occidental - an excellent aerial adventure park with zip-lining
✮ Sonoma Coast State Park, Bodega Bay - a top-rated state park that offers beaches, rock bluffs, headlands, natural arches, and secluded coves
✮ St. Helena - a small city in the northern section of Napa Valley known for its boutique shops and wineries; the "Main Street of Napa Valley"
✮ Wineries in Napa Valley - there are more than 400 wineries Napa Valley, California's most famous wine region; just north of San Francisco
✮ Wineries in Sonoma Valley - there are more than 400 wineries in California's second most famous wine region; just north of San Francisco
✮ Yountville - a very small city that is considered the top culinary destination within the Napa Valley region
San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area
✮ Alamere Falls, Point Reyes National Seashore - take a long hike to see a 40-foot waterfall that dumps directly onto a Pacific Ocean beach
✮ Alcatraz Island, San Francisco - take a ferry to visit America's most famous prison; book reservations month in advance (they always sell out)
✮ Asian Art Museum, San Francisco - an art museum that claims to have "one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world"
✮ Cable Cars of San Francisco - take a ride on the world's last manually-operated cable car system; a quintessential San Francisco experience
✮ California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco - one of the largest and best natural history museums in the U.S.; aquarium & planetarium too
✮ Chinatown, San Francisco - visit the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest Chinatown in North America; outstanding food!
✮ Computer History Museum, Mountain View - arguably the best computer technology museum in the U.S.
✮ Exploratorium, The, San Francisco - an excellent science, technology, and art museum; located on Pier 15
✮ Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco - a famous artisan food marketplace
✮ Fisherman's Wharf / Pier 39, San Francisco - the most popular tourist area in San Francisco has many shops and restaurants, plus seals
✮ Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco - an iconic, world-famous red-orange colored suspension bridge that you can walk or drive across
✮ Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco - a huge urban park with excellent views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge
✮ Golden Gate Park, San Francisco - a rectangular urban park with gardens, trails, museums, and more; south of the Golden Gate NRA
✮ Guided food tours in San Francisco - San Francisco is a dining destination, and several companies offer guided food tours
✮ Guided sightseeing tours in San Francisco - there are several companies that over guided sightseeing tours in San Francisco
✮ Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco - visit the oldest public Japanese garden in the U.S.; located within Golden Gate Park
✮ Legion of Honor, San Francisco - an excellent art museum in Lincoln Park known for its ancient and European art
✮ Lombard Street, San Francisco - walk or drive on what is likely the most crooked street in the world (it has eight consecutive turns!)
✮ Marrakech Magic Theater, San Francisco - a historic historic speakeasy with live entertainment (including magic shows)
✮ Mosaic-tiled stairways in San Francisco - there are several decorated staircases in the city to find and walk up (e.g. 16th Avenue & Moraga St.)
✮ Mount Tamalpais State Park, Mill Valley - offers some of the best hiking close to San Francisco; many excellent scenic views
✮ Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley - see the closest redwood trees to San Francisco; the park has several miles of hiking trails
✮ Oracle Park, San Francisco - a great MLB ballpark; home of the San Francisco Giants
✮ Painted Ladies, San Francisco - a row of pastel-colored homes on the eastern side of Alamo Square Park; beautiful views of the city
✮ Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco - an iconic Roman/Greek-like structure in the Marina District
✮ Point Reyes National Seashore - features 100 square miles of beaches, lagoons, and forested hills; don't miss the Cypress Tree Tunnel
✮ San Francisco - a major city known for its diverse culture and food; attractions include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and cable cars
✮ San Francisco Cable Car Museum, San Francisco - a free museum with exhibits on, and examples of, San Francisco's iconic cable cars
✮ San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), San Francisco - one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the U.S.
✮ Sausalito - a small city that looks like a "Mediterranean fishing village"; famous for its views of San Francisco and its houseboat communities
✮ Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo - a large amusement park with more than 40 rides (including 10 rollercoasters)
✮ Stanford University, Stanford - tour one of the most beautiful college campuses in the U.S.
✮ Twin Peaks, San Francisco - a small park offering fantastic, elevated views of San Francisco
✮ Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco - a museum that celebrates the life and legacy of the famous Disney founder
✮ Winchester Mystery House, San Jose - tour a "beautiful but really bizarre" 160-room Victorian mansion
Central Valley: North (including Sacramento)
✮ American River Bike Trail (aka Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail) - an excellent, 32-mile long paved rail trail from Old Sacramento to Folsom
✮ Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Arnold - one of the best places in California to see giant sequoia trees
✮ California State Capitol Museum, Sacramento - take a guided tour of the state capitol building
✮ California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento - this is arguably the finest railroad museum in the U.S.
✮ Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento - the oldest art museum in the western U.S.; known for its extensive collection of Californian art
✮ Jelly Belly Self-Guided Factory Tours, Fairfield - take a free, 40-minute tour of how Jelly Belly jelly beans are made
✮ Mercer Caverns, Murphys - one of several show caves in central California that offer guided underground tours
✮ Moaning Cavern, Vallecito - one of several show caves in central California that offer guided underground tours
✮ Sonora - a very small inland city known for its "historic downtown charm", gold rush history, and access to nearby outdoor recreation
Lake Tahoe area
✮ Boat tours on Lake Tahoe - boating is very popular on Lake Tahoe
✮ Casinos in South Lake Tahoe - there are several casinos in the Lake Tahoe area
✮ Desolation Wilderness - an outstanding wilderness area just wester of Lake Tahoe that offers exceptional hiking and backpacking
✮ Emerald Bay State Park, South Lake Tahoe - excellent hiking, biking, and water sports in what is often called the best section of Lake Tahoe
✮ Heavenly Ski Resort, South Lake Tahoe - the largest ski area in the Lake Tahoe region; one of the best ski resorts in California
✮ Kayaking on Lake Tahoe - kayaking on this beautiful lake is a very popular activity
✮ Kings Beach State Recreation Area - a small but attractive and popular beach on the northern end of Lake Tahoe
✮ Kirkwood Ski Resort, Kirkwood - one of several excellent ski areas in the Lake Tahoe region
✮ Lake Tahoe - the second deepest lake in the U.S.; surrounded by outstanding biking, hiking, skiing, 4x4 driving, and other outdoor recreation
✮ Lake Tahoe Balloons - offers excellent hot air balloon rides with views of Lake Tahoe and nearby mountains
✮ Mount Tallac - take a challenging hike to one of the best views in the Lake Tahoe region
✮ Northstar California Ski Resort, Truckee - one of several excellent ski areas in the Lake Tahoe region
✮ Palisades Tahoe, Alpine Meadows - one of several excellent ski areas in the Lake Tahoe region
✮ Pope Beach, South Lake Tahoe - a popular public beach on the southern shores of Lake Tahoe
✮ Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster - a popular mountain coaster at the Heavenly Mountain Resort on the CA/NV border
✮ Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort, Soda Springs - supposedly the largest cross-country ski area in North America
✮ Rubicon Trail - a world-renowned, 22-mile long challenging 4x4 driving route; not to be confused with the nearby Rubicon Trail hiking trail
✮ South Lake Tahoe - a small resort city on the shores of Lake Tahoe that offers access to outstanding outdoor recreation (including skiing)
✮ Sugar Bowl Resort, Norden - one of several excellent ski areas in the Lake Tahoe region
✮ Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center, Truckee - one of the best places to go cross-country skiing in California; more than 60 miles of trails
✮ Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks, Tahoe City - a fun aerial adventure park with zip-lining
✮ Truckee - a "bustling mountain town" near Lake Tahoe that has nearby access to several fantastic ski/snowboard resorts
Western Sierra Nevada (including Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park)
✮ Ansel Adams Wilderness - a large wilderness area that offers exceptional hiking and backpacking in alpine and sub-alpine terrain
✮ Boyden Cavern, Sanger - guided tours of an underground marble cave
✮ General Sherman, Sequoia National Park - take a short walk to see the world's largest tree (as measured by volume)
✮ Glacier Point Road, Yosemite National Park - a scenic national park road leading to outstanding views of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome
✮ Half Dome, Yosemite National Park - a large, stunningly beautiful granite dome that strong hikers and rock-climbers try to ascend
✮ High Sierra Camps - a series of 9 rustic lodging facilities in the mountains (5 of which are remote and require hiking or horseback riding)
✮ John Muir Trail - a world-famous, 211-mile hiking trail from Yosemite Valley to the 14,505' summit of Mt. Whitney; permits are required
✮ Kings Canyon National Park - known for its sequoia trees, deep valleys, alpine scenery, and 5-star hiking and backpacking trails
✮ Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park - take a short walk up a large granite dome-shaped monolith for spectacular views
✮ Sequoia National Park - features the world's largest trees, including General Sherman; outstanding hiking and backpacking trails
✮ Tioga Road, Yosemite National Park - an exceptionally scenic but seasonal paved road north of Yosemite Valley; typically open June-Sept
✮ Yosemite National Park - one of the premier national parks of the U.S.; features granite monoliths, sequoia trees, and towering waterfalls
✮ Yosemite Valley - the heart of Yosemite National Park and where most visitors spend their time; walk or cycle around to see the waterfalls
Eastern Sierra Nevada
✮ Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Inyo National Forest near Bishop - drive a scenic paved road to the home of the oldest trees in the world
✮ Ansel Adams Wilderness - a large wilderness area that offers exceptional hiking and backpacking in alpine and sub-alpine terrain
✮ Bodie State Historic Park, Bodie - visit a preserved California gold-mining ghost town; I would argue this the best ghost town in the U.S.
✮ Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes - see beautiful geologic formations and Rainbow Falls (one of CA's best waterfalls)
✮ Hot Creek Geologic Site, Mammoth Lakes - see interesting thermal features including blue pools of boiling hot water and small geysers
✮ Inyo National Forest - an enormous and gorgeous wilderness park that offers some of the finest outdoor recreation in the U.S.
✮ John Muir Trail - a world-famous, 211-mile hiking trail from Yosemite Valley to the 14,505' summit of Mt. Whitney; permits are required
✮ John Muir Wilderness - a 650,000-plus acre wilderness area in Inyo and Sierra National Forests; offers world-class hiking and backpacking
✮ Mammoth Lakes - a mountain town with excellent scenery, hiking, and skiing/snowboarding; gateway to Devils Postpile National Monument
✮ Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes - California's highest lift-served four-season resort; offers excellent skiing and mountain biking
✮ Manzanar National Historic Site, Independence - visit the site of a World War II Japanese internment camp; take note the camp itself is gone
✮ Mono Lake, Lee Vining - a saline lake famous for its tufa formations and excellent bird-watching
✮ Mount Whitney, Lone Pine - take a day hike or backpacking trip to the highest point in California (also the highest point in the lower 48)
Central Coast (from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz; includes the Big Sur Highway, Carmel-by-the Sea, Monterey, and Santa Barbara)
✮ 17-mile Drive, Monterey - a scenic toll road on the Monterey Peninsula that features dramatic coastal cliffs, beaches, and many coastal views
✮ Asilomar State Beach, Pacific Grove - features a scenic beach and rocky coves; close to the northern gate of 17-Mile Drive
✮ Bubblegum Alley, San Luis Obispo - some will say this place is gross, but this is a 70-foot long alley of chewed bubble gum; add your own!
✮ Carmel-by-the-Sea - a very small beach city with many boutique shops, art galleries and restaurants; gateway to US- 1 / the Big Sur Highway
✮ Channel Islands National Park - take a boat/ferry to visit the "Galapagos Islands of California"; a rare island wilderness
✮ Getty Villa, The, Malibu - see Greek and Roman art in a re-created Roman seaside home
✮ Giant Dipper, Santa Cruz - an iconic wooden rollercoaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
✮ Hearst Castle, San Simeon - take a guided tour of an opulent 165-room estate that sits on 127-acres; one of the best mansion tours in the U.S.
✮ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton - one of the best places to see redwood trees in central California
✮ Huntington Beach Pier, Huntington Beach - one of the longest ocean pieces on the West Coast (1,850 feet long)
✮ Huntington State Beach, Huntington Beach - a popular beach in "Surf City USA"; includes a portion of an 8.5 mile paved beach-side trail
✮ Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur - take a short walk to see 80-foot tall McWay Falls drop into beautiful Big Sur coastal scenery
✮ Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo - a world-famous hotel with 110 uniquely themed guest rooms (including a cave and jungle room)
✮ Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara - tour a Spanish mission from the late 1700s
✮ Montana de Oro State Park, Los Osos - a beautiful coastal park with rugged cliffs and 7-miles of undeveloped shorelines; great hiking trails
✮ Monterey - a small coastal city famous for its aquarium; has boutique shops and historic buildings; gateway to US- 1 / the Big Sur Highway
✮ Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey - this aquarium is consistently rated as one of the top 5 aquariums in the U.S.
✮ Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail - an excellent, 18-mile long, coastal paved rail trail from Pacific Grove to Castroville
✮ Morro Bay - a small coastal city famous for its ancient volcanic mound (Morro Rock); "the Gibraltar of California"
✮ Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz - a tourist attraction featuring demonstrations of "gravitational anomalies"
✮ Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove - a scenic drive along the coastline near Monterey; "a free version of the famous 17-mile Drive"
✮ Pacific Coast Highway / Big Sur (US-1) - many would say this is the best coastal drive in the U.S. (although the Oregon Coast competes)
✮ Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach - one of the most famous public golf courses in the world
✮ Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur - one of the best and most popular beaches in the Big Sur region; includes a natural sea arch
✮ Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur - one of the best places to go camping on the Big Sur coastline; has redwood trees and hiking trails
✮ Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, San Simeon - a popular place to see large groups of elephant seals in the wild
✮ Pismo Beach - a small coastal city famous for its beaches and ocean scenery; hiking, surfing, and ATVing are all popular activities here
✮ Point Lobos State Reserve, Carmel-by-the-Sea - features beautiful hiking trails, rocky cliffs, and fine coastal views
✮ Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, Simi Valley - one of the top presidential museums in the U.S.; includes a Boeing 707 aircraft
✮ Santa Barbara - a medium-sized coastal city famous for its beaches and Mediterranean-style architecture; gateway to the Channel Islands
✮ Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Santa Barbara - take a quick look at what some call the "most beautiful government building in the U.S."
✮ Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara - a great medium-sized zoo near the ocean
✮ Santa Cruz - a medium-sized coastal city known for its beaches, seaside amusements, and its youthful/hippy spirit
✮ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk & Amusement Park, Santa Cruz - a mile long old-fashioned boardwalk and seaside amusement park
✮ Solvang - a very small Bavarian-themed city with many boutique stores and restaurants; the "Danish capital of America"
✮ State Street Promenade, Santa Barbara - the heart of downtown Santa Barbara with a 10-block pedestrian/tourist walkway
✮ Whale watching tours from Monterey, Moss Landing, or Santa Cruz - each of these towns offer excellent whale-watching boat tours
✮ Wineries in Paso Robles Wine Country - there are more than 200 wineries in this region
Central Valley: South (including Bakersfield and Fresno)
✮ Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Lancaster - considered the "most consistent place in the state to see blooms of California poppies"
✮ Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno - take a guided tour of a hand-built network of underground rooms, courtyards, and passageways
✮ Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area, Hollister - one of the best places in the state for ATV/OHV riding
✮ Pinnacles National Park - known for its rock towers, spires, sheer-walled canyons, spring wildflowers, and talus caves
✮ Vasquez Rocks Natural Area, Agua Dulce - a high desert park known for its interesting rock formations; popular for rock climbing
Central and southern deserts of California (including Palm Springs, Borrego Springs, and Death Valley National Park)
✮ 4x4 driving in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - the largest state park in California has amazing 4x4 driving trails
✮ 4x4 driving in Death Valley National Park - the 4x4 driving trails in this national park lead to many spectacular remote destinations
✮ ATV/OHV-ing on the Imperial Sand Dunes - one of the best places in the state for ATV/OHV riding
✮ Alabama Hills, BLM Land - a land of rounded rocks, natural arches, and eroded hills in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains
✮ Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs - a desert park that offers interesting geology and some of the best 4x4 driving trails in CA
✮ Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park - visit the lowest point in North America; best visited from November-April due to high heat
✮ Cabazon Dinosaurs, Cabazon - a classic roadside attraction featuring two gigantic steel-and-concrete dinosaur statues
✮ Coachella Valley Preserve, Thousand Palms - a nature park near Joshua Tree known for its hiking trails and palm oases
✮ Crowley Lake Stone Columns, Bishop - take a 4x4 drive and then a short hike to visit fascinating rock columns on Crowley Lake
✮ Death Valley National Park - a large and notoriously hot desert park with barren and inhospitable landscapes; outstanding 4x4 driving trails
✮ East Jesus, Niland - a "junk art park" made by a variety of artists
✮ Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch, Oro Grande - an art park with tree-shaped sculptures made from glass bottles and other recycled items
✮ Joshua Tree National Park - known for its iconic trees, cholla cactus gardens, and interesting (and often climbable) rock formations
✮ Kelso Dunes, Mojave National Preserve - these sand dunes are the most popular destination in Mojave National Preserve
✮ Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, Palm Desert - features many themed gardens and a zoo with more than 500 animals
✮ Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes,
Death Valley National Park - take a moderate hike to the most accessible sand dunes in the national park
✮ Mobius Arch, Alabama Hills - a stunning natural arch featuring amazing views of the Sierra Nevada mountains; popular with photographers
✮ Mount San Jacinto (aka San Jacinto Peak), Palm Springs - one of the most "prominent" mountains in the U.S. (meaning a large elevation gain)
✮ Mount San Jacinto State Park, Idyllwild - features some of the best hiking in southern California; tops out at 10,834-foot San Jacinto Peak
✮ Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs - this is the main strip of Palm Springs; the "Rodeo Drive of the Desert"
✮ Palm Springs - a medium-sized resort city in the desert known for its hotels, restaurants, and golf courses; gateway to Joshua Tree NP
✮ Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs - one of the best aerial tramways in the U.S.; from the tramway, you can hike to San Jacinto Peak
✮ Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs - one of the best aircraft museums in the U.S.; more than 60 aircraft are on display
✮ Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs - a great medium-sized art museum with a small theater
✮ Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park - a very remote dry lake accessible via a 4x4 driving route; famous for its "sailing stones"
✮ Salvation Mountain, Calipatria - a religious folk art project on a man-made mountain; one of California's top roadside attractions
✮ Sky Art Sculptures, Borrego Springs - go exploring to see more than two dozen life-size metal sculptures in a desert landscape
✮ Trona Pinnacles, California Desert National Conservation Area - features 500 towering tufa towers and spires (some more than 100 feet tall)
✮ World's Tallest Thermometer, Baker - a famous 134-foot thermometer visible from I-15 as you travel between Los Angeles and Las Vegas
✮ Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park - drive a scenic paved road to the most famous vista in Death Valley National Park
Los Angeles area (including Anaheim, Malibu, and Santa Monica; see below for the rest of southern California)
✮ Anaheim - a large city southeast of Los Angeles that is home to the Disneyland amusement park and other Disney attractions
✮ Battleship USS Iowa Museum, Los Angeles - a maritime museum that includes tours of a Navy battleship
✮ California Science Center, Los Angeles - an excellent science museum that includes the space shuttle Endeavor
✮ Disney California Adventure Park (DCA), Anaheim - one of two amusement parks of the Disneyland Resort
✮ Disneyland Park, Anaheim - the most-visited amusement park in CA; one of two amusement parks of the Disneyland Resort
✮ Downtown Disney, Anaheim - an outdoor shopping and entertainment district within the Disneyland Resort
✮ Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles - a famous MLB ballpark; home of the Los Angeles Dodgers
✮ Getty Center, The, Los Angeles - a "miraculous arts center compound" known for its art, architecture, gardens, and L.A. views
✮ Grand Central Market, Los Angeles - a popular public market with many food vendors
✮ Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles - the most-visited public observatory in the world; offers live planetarium / astronomy shows
✮ Griffith Park, Los Angeles - a large urban park with excellent hiking trails and views of Los Angeles
✮ Guided celebrity tours in Hollywood - several operators in the area offer various types of celebrity and Hollywood-themed tours
✮ Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles - a very touristy area with many shops, restaurants, and attractions
✮ Hollywood Bowl - one of the finest outdoor concert amphitheaters in the U.S.
✮ Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles - an iconic American landmark and cultural icon/sign; Griffith Park probably offers the best views
✮ Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles - features more than 2,700 sidewalk-embedded stars with names from the entertainment industry
✮ Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino - a tourist attraction featuring a mix of rare books, gardens, and art
✮ Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park - one of California's best theme parks; features more than 40 rides and attractions
✮ Korean Bell of Friendship, San Pedro - a cultural landmark featuring a large bronze bell in a Korean-style stone pavilion
✮ La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, Los Angeles - visit an active paleontological research site
✮ Los Angeles - a major city famous for its museums, celebrity culture, movie/TV production, theatre, and professional sports
✮ Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles - believed to be the largest art museum in the western U.S.
✮ Malibu - a small coastal city with 27 miles of beachfront; known for surfing, its fishing pier, and as a hangout of the rich and famous
✮ Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Buena Park - one of several locations in the U.S. that offers this highly-rated dinner theater experience
✮ Mosaic Tile House, Venice - a roadside attraction / art project feature a 1940s home that is covered in mosaic tiles
✮ Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles - supposedly the largest natural and historic museum in the western U.S.
✮ Nethercutt Collection, Los Angeles - an excellent auto museum that offers guided tours of more than 250 American and European vehicles
✮ Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena - a great art museum most known for its European paintings and sculptures
✮ Original Farmers Market, Los Angeles - a historic farmers market with more than 100 grocers, shops, food vendors, and restaurants
✮ Paramount Studio Tour, Los Angeles - guided cart tours of one of Hollywood's major film studios
✮ Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles - one of the world's largest and best auto museums; has a collection of more than 400 vehicles
✮ Randy's Donuts, Inglewood - one of the most iconic donut shops in the U.S.; a giant donut on the roof provides a fun photo-op
✮ Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills - three blocks of this street is famous for its high-end designer and boutique shops
✮ Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles - a popular hiking destination in Los Angeles that offers fantastic views of the city
✮ Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica - a lively beach pier with a small amusement park (Pacific Park), good fishing, and great views of the beach
✮ Santa Monica State Beach, Santa Monica - a popular, three-mile long sandy beach
✮ Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia - a large and highly-rated amusement park with a whopping 20 roller coasters
✮ South Bay Bicycle Trail - a 22-mile paved path that mostly travels along the beach from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance County Beach
✮ Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica - a three-block long pedestrian zone with more than 80 shops and several restaurants and bars
✮ Trail Canyon Falls, Angeles National Forest - a photogenic 40-foot waterfall located about 1 hour north of Los Angeles
✮ Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City - a large and famous film studio and theme park; one of California's most popular attractions
✮ Venice Beach and Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice Beach - an eclectic and popular beach with many recreational activities
✮ Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles - a gorgeous (inside and out) concert hall designed by the famous architect Frank Gehry
✮ Warner Brothers Studio Tours, Burbank - take a guided tour through the famous film studio
✮ Zuma Beach, Malibu - one of the best beaches in LA county (some would say it is the best)
Southwestern California / Southern Coast (see above for Los Angeles and below for San Diego)
✮ Avalon - a small tourist town on Catalina Island with Mediterranean-style architecture, beaches, boutique shops, and boat tours
✮ Big Bear Lake - a small mountain town about 2 1/2 hours east of Los Angeles; famous for its log architecture and ski/snowboard resorts
✮ Catalina Island (aka Santa Catalina Island) - take a boat to visit the most popular island in the Channel Islands; includes the city of Avalon
✮ Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour, Avalon - offers an excellent zip-lining experience
✮ Dana Point - a small coastal city known for its beaches, water sports, surf culture, and whale-watching; gateway to Catalina Island
✮ Flower Fields, Carlsbad - a seasonal attraction featuring 50 acres of blooming ranunculus flowers
✮ Heisler Park, Laguna Beach - a beautiful coastal park with beaches, walking trails, tide pools, and sections of rocky coastline
✮ Laguna Beach - a small coastal city with beaches, art galleries, excellent SCUBA diving and snorkeling, and plenty of tourist/boutique shops
✮ Legoland California Resort, Carlsbad - one of three major LEGO-themed amusement parks in the U.S. (there are two are in FL and NY)
✮ Lions, Tigers and Bears, Alpine - offers guided educational tours of an exotic animal and big cat rescue sanctuary
✮ Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano - visit a historic Spanish mission from the late 1700s
✮ Queen Califia's Magical Circle, Escondido - a colorful outdoor sculpture park featuring several mosaic-covered sculptures
✮ San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido - a large natural environment zoo; the sister park of the San Diego Zoo (which is 1hr away)
✮ Santa Ana River Trail - a 57-mile paved rail trail with various sections between Huntington Beach to San Bernardino
✮ Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens, Encinitas - visit a seaside spiritual retreat center with meditation gardens
✮ Whale watching tours from Dana Point - several operators offer excellent whale-watching boat tours from Dana Point
✮ Wineries in Temecula Valley - there are more than 50 wineries in this wine region, which is located between Los Angeles and San Diego
San Diego & Coronado (see above for the rest of northern California)
✮ Balboa Park - a tourist destination with a variety of activities, including hiking trails, gardens, museums, memorials, theaters, and more
✮ Bayshore Bikeway - a 17-mile paved coastal rail trail between San Diego and Coronado that travelers around San Diego Bay
✮ Belmont Park - an old-fashioned seaside amusement park on Mission Beach that is famous for its large wooden roller coaster
✮ Boat tours in San Diego - e.g. sailing tours, dolphin tours, sunset cruises, etc.
✮ Cabrillo National Monument - features the Cabrillo Statue, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, and great views of San Diego
✮ Hotel del Coronado - an iconic, 4-star wooden Victorian beach resort in upscale Coronado
✮ La Jolla Cove - a beautiful cove with a stunning beach, excellent snorkeling, and fantastic sea-kayaking
✮ La Jolla Shores Beach - a beautiful, wide, and popular mile-long beach
✮ Liberty Public Market - an attractive public market with roughly three dozen eateries
✮ Little Italy District - a lively neighborhood with many great restaurants and boutique shops
✮ Maritime Museum of San Diego - a maritime museum that "preserves one of the largest collections of historic sea vessels in the U.S."
✮ Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala - visit a Franciscan mission from the late 1700s
✮ Mission Beach - a very popular long and wide beach with a historic amusement park and a "friendly laid-back vibe"
✮ Mission Trails Regional Park - one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. with more than 65 miles of hiking trails on 8,000-plus acres
✮ Old Town - a lively shopping and eating district with a heavy focus on Mexican heritage
✮ Petco Park - home of the San Diego Padres major league baseball team
✮ San Diego - one of the U.S.'s best major cities; known for its beaches, great climate, and tourist attractions (e.g. San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld)
✮ San Diego Air and Space Museum - a good aviation and space museum within Balboa Park
✮ San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) - art museum that focuses on American, Asian, European, and Latin American art
✮ San Diego Zoo - easily the finest zoo in America (no other zoo even comes close); a sister safari park is about 1 hour northeast of this zoo
✮ Sea-kayaking in La Jolla - strong paddlers can visit several sea caves
✮ SeaWorld San Diego - a major theme park and marine zoological park; features marine life shows and close-up animal encounters
✮ Spanish Village Art Center - visit a colorful working art village in Balboa Park
✮ Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - a small nature park with coastal bluffs, natural arches, and sea caves; some of southern San Diego's best scenery
✮ Torrey Pines State Reserve - one of the most scenic sections of the southern CA coast; features high broken cliffs, beaches, and hiking trails
✮ Unconditional Surrender Statue - a large (and sometimes controversial) statue in Tuna Harbor Park of a sailor passionately kissing a woman
✮ USS Midway Museum - tour a historic U.S. Navy aircraft carrier; one of the finest military ship museums in the U.S.
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in California? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
AZ |
NV |
OR
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN CALIFORNIA
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These towns and cities in California are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
Northern California
✮ Crescent City - a small city known for its rugged beaches, historic lighthouses, and as a key gateway to the Redwoods region
✮ Healdsburg - a small city that is a wine country destination; it has many boutique hotels and shops, and plenty of fine dining
✮ Napa - a medium-sized city at the southern end of Napa Valley, which is the winery/vineyard capital of the U.S. (> 400 wineries!)
✮ San Francisco - a major city known for its diverse culture and food; attractions include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and cable cars
✮ Sausalito - a small city that looks like a "Mediterranean fishing village"; famous for its views of San Francisco and houseboat communities
✮ Sonoma - a small city with many fantastic wineries/vineyards; the city is also known for its spas and its historic downtown area
✮ South Lake Tahoe - a small resort city on the shores of Lake Tahoe that offers access to outstanding outdoor recreation (including skiing)
✮ St. Helena - a small city in the northern section of Napa Valley known for its boutique shops and wineries; the "Main Street of Napa Valley"
✮ Truckee - a "bustling" mountain town near Lake Tahoe that has nearby access to several fantastic ski/snowboard resorts
✮ Yountville - a very small city that is considered the top culinary destination within the Napa Valley region
Central California
✮ Carmel-by-the-Sea - a very small beach city with many boutique shops, art galleries and restaurants; gateway to US- 1 / the Big Sur Highway
✮ Mammoth Lakes - a mountain town with excellent scenery, hiking, and skiing/snowboarding; gateway to Devils Postpile National Monument
✮ Monterey - a small coastal city famous for its aquarium; has boutique shops and historic buildings; gateway to US- 1 / the Big Sur Highway
✮ Morro Bay - a small coastal city famous for its ancient volcanic mound (Morro Rock); "the Gibraltar of California"
✮ Pismo Beach - a small coastal city famous for its beaches and ocean scenery; hiking, surfing, and ATVing are all popular activities here
✮ Santa Barbara - a medium-sized coastal city famous for its beaches and Mediterranean-style architecture; gateway to the Channel Islands
✮ Santa Cruz - a medium-sized coastal city known for its beaches, seaside amusements, and its youthful/hippy spirit
✮ Solvang - a very small Bavarian-themed city with many boutique stores and restaurants; the "Danish capital of America"
✮ Sonora - a very small inland city known for its "historic downtown charm", gold rush history, and access to nearby outdoor recreation
Southern California
✮ Anaheim - a large city southeast of Los Angeles that is home to the Disneyland amusement park and other Disney attractions
✮ Avalon - a small tourist town on Santa Catalina Island with Mediterranean-style architecture, beaches, boutique shops, and boat tours
✮ Big Bear Lake - a small mountain town about 2 1/2 hours east of Los Angeles; famous for its log architecture and ski/snowboard resorts
✮ Dana Point - a small coastal city known for its beaches, water sports, surf culture, and whale-watching; gateway to Catalina Island
✮ Laguna Beach - a small coastal city with beaches, art galleries, excellent SCUBA diving and snorkeling, and plenty of tourist/boutique shops
✮ Los Angeles - a major city famous for its museums, celebrity culture, movie/TV production, theatre, and professional sports
✮ Malibu - a small coastal city with 27 miles of beachfront; known for surfing, its fishing pier, and as a hangout of the rich and famous
✮ Palm Springs - a medium-sized resort city in the desert known for its hotels, restaurants, and golf courses; gateway to Joshua Tree NP
✮ San Diego - one of the U.S.'s best major cities; known for its beaches, great climate, and tourist attractions (e.g. San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld)
There are many other small towns and cities in California that some may find interesting and worth a visit. Here are a few of them: Julian, Huntington Beach, Borrego Springs, Calistoga, Glen Ellen, and San Luis Obispo.
My favorite major city in California is San Diego - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 5-7 days there
My second favorite major city in California is San Francisco - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 days there
If you like amusement parks, visit Anaheim/Buena Vista, San Diego, or Santa Clarita.
If you like skiing, visit Big Bear Lake, Mammoth Lakes, South Lake Tahoe, or Truckee.
If you like wineries, visit Calistoga, Glen Ellen, Healdsburg, Napa, Sonoma, St. Helena, or Yountville.
If you want to visit Channel Islands National Park, stay in Ventura.
If you want to visit Death Valley National Park, try to stay within the park itself; otherwise, stay in Ridgecrest, Lone Pine, or Pahrump (NV).
If you want to visit Devils Postpile National Monument, stay in Mammoth Lakes.
If you want to visit Disneyland, stay in Anaheim.
If you want to visit Joshua Tree National Park, stay in Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, or Twentynine Palms.
If you want to visit Kings Canyon National Park, try to stay within the park itself; otherwise, stay in Three Rivers.
If you want to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park, stay in Redding or Red Bluff.
If you want to visit Pinnacles National Park, stay in Soledad.
If you want to visit Redwoods National Park, stay in Arcata, Crescent City, Eureka, or Trinidad.
If you want to visit Sequoia National Park, try to stay within the park itself; otherwise, stay in Three Rivers.
If you want to visit Yellowstone National Park, try to stay within the park itself; otherwise, stay in El Portal, Mariposa, or Vining.
The primary destination towns/cities in Napa Valley include Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.
The primary destination towns/cities in Sonoma Valley include Sonoma,
Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, and Glen Ellen.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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WHAT IS CALIFORNIA FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that California is famous or well-known for:
✮ 4x4 driving
✮ alpine scenery
✮ amusement parks
✮ beaches
✮ beach piers
✮ coastal bluffs
✮ coastal scenic drives
✮ deserts
✮ drive-thru trees
✮ earthquakes
✮ gold rush / gold mines
✮ golfing
✮ major cities
✮ movie/film industry
✮ progressive politics
✮ palm trees
✮ raisins
✮ redwood trees
✮ rock climbing
✮ skiing/snowboarding
✮ sequoia trees
✮ Spanish missions
✮ strong environmental protections
✮ sunshine
✮ surfing
✮ technology companies
✮ volcanoes
✮ waterfalls
✮ wineries / vineyards / wine tasting
Click here if you'd like to learn what other U.S. states are famous for.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN CALIFORNIA
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There are an impressive number of national parks in California, including:
National Parks
✮ Channel Islands National Park - take a boat/ferry to visit the "Galapagos Islands of California"; a rare island wilderness
✮ Death Valley National Park - a large and notoriously hot desert park with barren and inhospitable landscapes; outstanding 4x4 driving trails
✮ Joshua Tree National Park - known for its iconic trees, cholla cactus gardens, and interesting (and often climbable) rock formations
✮ Lassen Volcanic National Park - known for its volcanoes, meadows, and geological features (incl. steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud)
✮ Kings Canyon National Park - known for its sequoia trees, deep valleys, alpine scenery, and 5-star hiking and backpacking trails
✮ Pinnacles National Park - known for its rock towers, spires, sheer-walled canyons, spring wildflowers, and talus caves
✮ Redwood National Park - known for its huge old-growth coast redwood trees, dense forests, scenic drives, and rugged coastline
✮ Sequoia National Park - features the world's largest trees, including General Sherman; outstanding hiking and backpacking trails
✮ Yosemite National Park - one of the premier national parks of the U.S.; features granite monoliths, sequoia trees, and towering waterfalls
National Monuments
✮ Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
✮ Cabrillo National Monument - features the Cabrillo Statue, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, and great views of San Diego
✮ California Coastal National Monument
✮ Carrizo Plain National Monument
✮ Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
✮ Castle Mountains National Monument
✮ Cesar E. Chavez National Monument
✮ Devils Postpile National Monument - see beautiful geologic formations and Rainbow Falls (one of CA's best waterfalls)
✮ Fort Ord National Monument
✮ Giant Sequoia National Monument
✮ Lava Beds National Monument - a volcanic park that features lava-tube caves that you can enter (bring a headlamp!)
✮ Mojave Trails National Monument
✮ Muir Woods National Monument - see the closest redwood trees to San Francisco; the park has several miles of hiking trails
✮ Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument
✮ San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
✮ Sand to Snow National Monument
✮ Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
✮ Tule Lake National Monument
My favorite national monuments in California are Cabrillo, Devils Postpile, Lava Beds, and Muir Woods.
National Recreation Areas
✮ Golden Gate National Recreation Area
✮ Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
✮ Smith River National Recreation Area
✮ Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
National Forests
✮ Angeles National Forest
✮ Cleveland National Forest
✮ Eldorado National Forest
✮ Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
✮ Inyo National Forest
✮ Klamath National Forest
✮ Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
✮ Los Padres National Forest
✮ Mendocino National Forest
✮ Modoc National Forest
✮ Plumas National Forest
✮ Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
✮ San Bernardino National Forest
✮ Sequoia National Forest
✮ Shasta-Trinity National Forest
✮ Sierra National Forest
✮ Six Rivers National Forest
✮ Stanislaus National Forest
✮ Tahoe National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Alcatraz Island
✮ California National Historic Trail
✮ Eugene O'Neil National Historic Site
✮ Fort Point National Historic Site
✮ John Muir National Historic Site
✮ Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
✮ Manzanar National Historic Site
✮ Mohave National Preserve
✮ Old Spanish National Historic Trail
✮ Point Reyes National Seashore
✮ Pony Express National Historic Trail
✮ Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
✮ Presidio of San Francisco
✮ Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
✮ San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
If you are visiting Death Valley National Park for the 1st time, I would explore the park for 3-4 days. Add more days if you have a 4x4 vehicle.
If you are visiting Joshua Tree National Park for the 1st time, I would explore the park for 2-3 days. Add more days if you are a rock climber.
If you are visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park for the 1st time, I would explore the park for 2-3 days.
If you are visiting Kings Canyon National Park for the 1st time, I would explore the park for 1-2 days. Add more days if you are an avid hiker.
If you are visiting Pinnacles National Park for the 1st time, I would explore the park for 1-2 days.
If you are visiting Redwood National Park for the 1st time, I would explore the park for 1-2 days. Add more days to visit excellent nearby state parks.
If you are visiting Sequoia National Park for the 1st time, I would explore the park for 1-2 days.Add more days if you are an avid hiker.
If you are visiting Yosemite National Park for the 1st time, I would explore the park for 3-4 days. Add more days if you are an avid hiker.
For more information on California's national parks, visit the California page of the National Park Service.
For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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STATE PARKS IN CALIFORNIA
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California has more than 275 state parks, making it one of the largest and best state park systems in the country. Many would agree that these represent many of California's finest state parks:
Flagship / Premier State Parks:
✮ Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - a desert park that offers interesting geology and some of the best 4x4 driving trails in CA
✮ Asilomar State Beach - features a scenic beach and rocky coves; close to the northern gate of 17-Mile Drive
✮ Bodie State Historic Park - visit a preserved California gold-mining ghost town; I would argue this the best ghost town in the U.S.
✮ Calaveras Big Trees State Park - one of the best places in California to see giant sequoia trees
✮ Humboldt Redwoods State Park - features the world's largest remaining contiguous old-growth forest of Coast Redwood trees
✮ Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - famous for its old-growth redwood trees
✮ Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - take a short walk to see 80-foot tall McWay Falls drop into beautiful Big Sur coastal scenery
✮ McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park - features an exceptional 129-foot waterfall that stems from an underground spring
✮ Montana de Oro State Park - a beautiful coastal park with rugged cliffs and 7-miles of undeveloped shorelines; great hiking trails
✮ Mount San Jacinto State Park - features some of the best hiking in southern California; tops out at 10,834-foot San Jacinto Peak
✮ Point Lobos State Reserve - features beautiful hiking trails, rocky cliffs, and fine coastal views
✮ Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - famous for its sandy beaches, scenic drives, hiking trails, redwood trees, and an elk herd
✮ Santa Monica State Beach - a popular, three-mile long sandy beach
✮ Torrey Pines State Reserve - one of the most scenic sections of the southern CA coast; features high broken cliffs, beaches, and hiking trails
Other Notable State Parks:
✮ Ana Nuevo State Park
✮ Armstrong Redwood State Reserve
✮ Emerald Bay State Park
✮ Castle Crags State Park
✮ Crystal Cove State Park
✮ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
✮ Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
✮ Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve
✮ Mount Diablo State Park
✮ Mount Tamalpais State Park
✮ Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
✮ Red Rock Canyon State Park
✮ Sonoma Coast State Park
My favorite state park in California is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. You just can't beat its coastline view that includes a waterfall dumping onto its beach.
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN CALIFORNIA
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California has hundreds of natural waterfalls (perhaps even more than 1,000!). Yosemite National Park is world-famous for its waterfalls, which generally flow from spring through the early summer. Here are many of the best waterfalls in California:
Yosemite National Park
✮ Bridalveil Fall
✮ Horsetail Fall
✮ Illilouette Falls
✮ Nevada Fall
✮ Ribbon Fall
✮ Vernal Fall
✮ Yosemite Falls
The rest of California
✮ Alamere Falls in Point Reyes National Seashore
✮ Brandy Creek Falls in
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
✮ Burney Falls in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
✮ Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park
✮ Feather Falls in Plumas National Forest
✮ McCloud Falls in Shasta-Trinity National Forest
✮ McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
✮ Potem Falls, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
✮ Rainbow Falls in Devils Postpile National Monument
✮ Trail Canyon Falls in Angeles National Forest (near Los Angeles)
For a listing of all known waterfalls in California, visit the World Waterfall Database.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN CALIFORNIA
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California is one of the very best states in the country for scenic drives. Here is a list of many of the best scenic drives in California:
Northern California
✮ Avenue of the Giants/CA-254, Humboldt Redwoods State Park - a 31-mile paved route that parallels US-101 as it travels thru the state park
✮ Howland Hill Road, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- a 10-mile dirt/gravel route from Crescent City to US-199 near Hiouchi
✮ Lake Tahoe Scenic Drive
- a 72-mile paved loop around Lake Tahoe; the road includes travel in both Nevada and California
✮ Lassen Peak Highway, Lassen Volcanic National Park - a seasonal 30-mile paved route connecting the northwest and southwest park entrances
✮ Newton B. Drury Scenic Byway, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - a 10-mile paved route through the state park
✮ Redwood Highway/US-101 - a 174-mile paved route from Leggett to Crescent City; several state parks en route also have their own drives
✮ Silverado Trail, Napa Valley - a 33-mile paved route from Napa to Calistoga; this road parallels CA-29, which sits a few miles to the west
✮ US-1 from San Francisco north to Fort Bragg - a 167-mile paved coastal route that starts just north of the Golden Gate Bridge
Central California
✮ 17-Mile Drive and the Monterey Peninsula - a 17-mile paved coastal toll road; local (and free) roads in Monterey also offer great views
✮ Alabama Hills roads (e.g. Movie Road) - several dirt/gravel roads on this BLM public land offer great views of the Sierra Mountains
✮ Artists Drive, Death Valley National Park
- a 9-mile paved one-way driving route off Badwater Road
✮ CA-46 from Paso Robles west to CA-1
- a 21-mile paved route that connects US-101 to the Pacific Coast Highway (aka CA-1)
✮ CA-190 through Death Valley National Park
- a 130-mile paved route from Death Valley Junction to Olancha
✮ Death Valley National Park - this park is nationally famous for its 4x4 high-clearance offroad driving (e.g. Racetrack Valley, Titus Canyon)
✮ Generals Highway, Sequoia National Park - a 45-mile paved route from the southern entrance of Sequoia National Park to CA-180 near Kings Canyon National Park; portions of this road are closed in winter
✮ Glacier Point Road, Yosemite National Park - a seasonal 16-mile paved route from Wawona Road; typically open from late May-November
✮ Kings Canyon Scenic Byway/CA-180 - a seasonal 52-mile paved route from Dunlap to the end of the road in Kings Canyon National Park
✮ Pacific Coast Highway/Big Sur Highway/US-1 - an exceptional 485-mile paved route from Santa Monica to San Francisco; closures are common
✮ Tioga Road/CA-120, Yosemite National Park - a seasonal 59-mile paved route from Crane Flat to Lee Vining; typically open June-October
✮ US-1 from Santa Monica west to Point Mugu Beach - a 41-mile paved coastal route that starts just west of Los Angeles
✮ US-395 from Bradys, CA to Carson City, NV- a 291-mile paved route along the eastern Sierra Mountains
✮ Whitney Portal Road - a seasonal 13-mile paved route from Lone Pine through the Alabama Hills into the Sierra Mountains
Southern California
✮ Angeles Crest Scenic Byway/CA-2 - a seasonal 66-mile paved route from La Canada Flintridge (near LA) to CA-138 in Phelan
✮ Anza-Borrego State Park roads - this park is nationally famous for its 4x4 high-clearance offroad driving
✮ Geology Tour Road, Joshua Tree National Park - an 18-mile dirt/gravel route that requires a 4x4 vehicle (high-clearance may also be helpful)
✮ Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree National Park - a 35-mile paved route through the heart of the park; this is the primary road in the national park
✮ Rim of the World Scenic Byway/CA-18 - a 110-mile paved route from Cajon > CA-138 > CA-18 > Big Bear Lake > CA-38 > Redlands
Other notable scenic drives in California include the
June Lake Loop,
Palms to Pines Scenic Byway, and the
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Highway.
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST OCEAN BEACHES IN CALIFORNIA
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California has 840-miles of coastline, and it is famous for its beaches. You can visit many outstanding (and warm) beaches between Los Angeles and Morro Bay. You can find beaches more north of Morro Bay, but most of them aren't nearly as good (or warm) as those found in southern California. Here is a list of many of California's best beaches
San Diego area
✮ Coronado Beach, Coronado
✮ La Jolla Shores Beach, La Jolla
✮ Mission Beach, San Diego
✮ Silver Strand State Beach, Coronado
✮ Tourmaline Beach, San Diego
Between San Diego and Los Angeles
✮ Aliso Beach, Laguna Beach
✮ Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach
✮ Calafia Beach Park, San Clemente
✮ Corona Del Mar State Beach Park, Corona Del Mar
✮ Dana Strands Beach, Dana Point
✮ Doheny State Beach, Dana Point
✮ Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach
✮ Main Beach Park, Laguna Beach
✮ Moonlight State Beach, Encinitas
✮ Newport Beach, Newport Beach
✮ Oceanside Harbor Beach, Oceanside
✮ San Onofre State Beach, San Clemente
✮ South Carlsbad State Beach, Carlsbad
✮ Tamarack Surf Beach, Carlsbad
✮ T-Street Beach, San Clemente
✮ Treasure Island Beach, Laguna Beach
Los Angeles area
✮ Dockweiler Beach,
Playa Del Rey
✮ El Matador Beach, Malibu
✮ Hermosa Beach, Hermosa Beach
✮ Leo Carrillo State Beach, Malibu
✮ Malibu Beach, Malibu
✮ Point Dume State Beach, Malibu
✮ Santa Monica State Beach, Santa Monica
✮ Sunset Beach, Pacific Palisades
✮ Sycamore Cove Beach, Malibu
✮ Venice Beach, Venice
✮ Zuma Beach, Malibu
North of Los Angeles
✮ Arroyo Burro Beach County Park, Santa Barbara
✮ Carmel-by-the-Sea Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea
✮ East Beach, Santa Barbara
✮ Emma Wood State Beach, Ventura
✮ Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur
✮ Pismo Beach, Pismo Beach
✮ Port Hueneme Beach Park, Port Hueneme
✮ Seacliff State Beach, Aptos
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN CALIFORNIA
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Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in California:
✮ American River Bike Trail
✮ Bayshore Bikeway in San Diego
✮ Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
✮ Sacramento River Trail
✮ Santa Ana River Trail
✮ South Bay Bicycle Trail
For detailed information on all known rail trails in California, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN CALIFORNIA
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California is absolutely loaded with amusement parks, including some of the very best parks in the country. Here is a list of the finest amusement parks in the state:
Northern California
✮ Funderland Amusement Park, Sacramento
✮ Roseville Golfland Sunsplash, Roseville
✮ WaterWorks Park, Redding
Central California
✮ California's Great America, Santa Clara
✮ Children's Fairyland, Oakland
✮ Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, Gilroy
✮ Island Waterpark, Fresno
✮ Raging Waters, San Jose
✮ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz
✮ Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Concord
✮ Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo
Southern California
✮ Belmont Park, Mission Beach, San Diego
✮ Castle Park, Riverside
✮ Disneyland California Adventure Park, Anaheim
✮ Disneyland Park, Anaheim
✮ DryTown Water Park, Palmdale
✮ Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park
✮ Legoland California Resort, Carlsbad
✮ Pacific Park, Santa Monica
✮ Raging Waters, San Dimas
✮ SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego
✮ Sesame Place, San Diego
✮ Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia
✮ Universal Studios, Hollywood
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BEST MUSEUMS IN CALIFORNIA
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California has many excellent museums. The best museums in California include:
Northcentral California / Northeastern California / Shasta Cascades
✮ Bolt's Antique Tool Museum - a small but comprehensive museum with 12,000-plus tools on display
Napa and Sonoma Wine Country (including Napa, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma)
✮ Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga - visit a 107-room Tuscan-style castle
San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area
✮ Alcatraz Island, San Francisco - take a ferry to visit America's most famous prison; book reservations month in advance (they always sell out)
✮ Asian Art Museum, San Francisco - an art museum that claims to have "one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world"
✮ California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco - one of the largest and best natural history museums in the U.S.; aquarium & planetarium too
✮ Computer History Museum, Mountain View - arguably the best computer technology museum in the U.S.
✮ Exploratorium, The, San Francisco - an excellent science, technology, and art museum; located on Pier 15
✮ Legion of Honor, San Francisco - an excellent art museum in Lincoln Park known for its ancient and European art
✮ San Francisco Cable Car Museum, San Francisco - a free museum with exhibits on, and examples of, San Francisco's iconic cable cars
✮ San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), San Francisco - one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the U.S.
✮ Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco - a museum that celebrates the life and legacy of the famous Disney founder
✮ Winchester Mystery House, San Jose - tour a "beautiful but really bizarre" 160-room Victorian mansion
Central Valley: North (including Sacramento)
✮ California State Capitol Museum, Sacramento - take a guided tour of the state capitol building
✮ California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento - this is arguably the finest railroad museum in the U.S.
✮ Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento - the oldest art museum in the western U.S.; known for its extensive collection of Californian art
Eastern Sierra Nevada
✮ Bodie State Historic Park, Bodie - visit a preserved California gold-mining ghost town; I would argue this the best ghost town in the U.S.
✮ Manzanar National Historic Site, Independence - visit the site of a World War II Japanese internment camp; take note the camp itself is gone
✮ Museum of Western Film History, Lone Pine
Central Coast (from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz; includes the Big Sur Highway, Carmel-by-the Sea, Monterey, and Santa Barbara)
✮ Getty Villa, The, Malibu - see Greek and Roman art in a re-created Roman seaside home
✮ Hearst Castle, San Simeon - take a guided tour of an opulent 165-room estate that sits on 127-acres; one of the best mansion tours in the U.S.
✮ Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, Simi Valley - one of the top presidential museums in the U.S.; includes a Boeing 707 aircraft
Central and southern deserts of California (including Palm Springs, Borrego Springs, and Death Valley National Park)
✮ Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs - one of the best aircraft museums in the U.S.; more than 60 aircraft are on display
✮ Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs - a great medium-sized art museum with a small theater
Los Angeles area (including Anaheim, Malibu, and Santa Monica; see below for the rest of southern California)
✮ Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles
✮ Battleship USS Iowa Museum, Los Angeles - a maritime museum that includes tours of a Navy battleship
✮ California Science Center, Los Angeles - an excellent science museum that includes the space shuttle Endeavor
✮ Getty Center, The, Los Angeles - a "miraculous arts center compound" known for its art, architecture, gardens, and L.A. views
✮ GRAMMY Museum L.A. Live, Los Angeles
✮ Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
✮ Hollywood Museum, Hollywood
✮ Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino - a tourist attraction featuring a mix of rare books, gardens, and art
✮ La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, Los Angeles - visit an active paleontological research site
✮ Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles - believed to be the largest art museum in the western U.S.
✮ Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles - supposedly the largest natural and historic museum in the western U.S.
✮ Nethercutt Collection, Los Angeles - an excellent auto museum that offers guided tours of more than 250 American and European vehicles
✮ Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena - a great art museum most known for its European paintings and sculptures
✮ Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles - one of the world's largest and best auto museums; has a collection of more than 400 vehicles
San Diego & Coronado (see above for the rest of northern California)
✮ Maritime Museum of San Diego - a maritime museum that "preserves one of the largest collections of historic sea vessels in the U.S.
✮ San Diego Air and Space Museum - a good aviation and space museum within Balboa Park
✮ San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) - art museum that focuses on American, Asian, European, and Latin American art
✮ USS Midway Museum - tour a historic U.S. Navy aircraft carrier; one of the finest military ship museums in the U.S.
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BEST DAY HIKES IN CALIFORNIA
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California has thousands of miles of hiking trails, and there is fantastic hiking to be found all over the state. Here is a list of many of the best day hikes in California:
Redwood National Park and surrounding area
✮ Boy Scout Tree Trail, Jebediah Smith Redwoods State Park
✮ Fern Canyon Loop Trail, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - permits may be required
✮ James Irvine Trail, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
✮ Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, Redwood National Park
✮ Miner's Ridge and James Irvine Loop, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
✮ Tall Trees Grove, Redwood National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
✮ Bumpass Hell
✮ Cinder Cone Trail
✮ Kings Creek Falls
✮ Lassen Peak
Lake Tahoe area
✮ Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake Trail, Desolation Wilderness
✮ Glen Alpine Trail, Desolation Wilderness
✮ Granite Lake and Maggie's Peaks, Desolation Wilderness
✮ Mount Tallac, Desolation Wilderness
✮ Rubicon Trail, Eldorado National Forest (this is not the same Rubicon Trail as the famous off-roading driving trail)
✮ Twin & Island Lakes, Desolation Wilderness
Yosemite National Park
✮ Cathedral Lakes Trail
✮ Clouds Rest
✮ Four Mile Trail
✮ Grizzly Giant (Wawona section)
✮ Half Dome
✮ Mist Trail / Nevada Falls / Vernal Fall / John Muir Trail Loop
✮ Mount Dana
✮ Panorama Trail
✮ Walking around Yosemite Valley (e.g. to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls)
✮ Yosemite Falls
Sequoia National Park
✮ Alta Peak
✮ Congress Trail
✮ Franklin Lakes
✮ General Sherman Tree
✮ Lakes Trail to Pear Lake
✮ Monarch Lakes
✮ Moro Rock
Pinnacles National Park
✮ Balconies Cave
✮ Condor Gulch
✮ Condor Gulch Trail / High Peaks Trail Loop
✮ High Peaks-Balconies Loop
✮ Juniper Canyon
✮ Moses Spring and Rim Trail Loop
Death Valley National Park
✮ Darwin Falls
✮ Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop
✮ Gower Gulch
✮ Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
✮ Mosaic Canyon
✮ Natural Bridge
✮ Telescope Peak
✮ Wildrose Peak Trail
Joshua Tree National Park
✮ Arch Rock
✮ Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail
✮ Hidden Valley
✮ Lost Palms Oasis
✮ Ryan Mountain
✮ Split Rock Loop
San Diego area
✮ Potato Chip Rock near Poway
✮ Torrey Pines State Reserve trails
The rest of California
✮ Alamere Falls, Phillip Burton Wilderness Area
✮ Annie's Canyon Trail, San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
✮ Big Pine Lakes Basin, Inyo National Forest
✮ Burney Falls Loop Trail, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
✮ Deep Creek Hot Springs, San Bernardino National Forest
✮ Ediza Lake & Shadow Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness
✮ Feather Falls, Plumas National Forest
✮ General Grant, Kings Canyon National Park
✮ Granite Peak, Trinity Alps Wilderness
✮ Hole-in-the-Wall Rings Trail, Mojave National Preserve
✮ Kelso Dunes, Mojave National Preserve
✮ Little Lakes Valley, John Muir Wilderness
✮ Mono Lake South Tufa Trail, Mono Lake
✮ Montana de Oro Bluffs Trail, Montana de Oro State Park
✮ Mount Baldy, Angeles National Forest
✮ Mount San Jacinto-Round Valley, Mount San Jacinto State Park
✮ Mount Whitney, Inyo National Forest
✮ Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Loop Trail
✮ Rainbow Falls, Devils Postpile National Monument
✮ Ruwau and Chocolate Lakes Loop, John Muir Wilderness
✮ Sandstone Peak, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
✮ Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout, Tahoe National Forest
✮ South Fork Big Pine Creek, Inyo National Forest, John Muir Wilderness
✮ Tomales Point Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore
✮ White Mountain Peak, Inyo National Forest
Take note that an increasing number of hikes in California are requiring permits/advance reservations. Make sure to research any entry requirements before attempting to go for a hike.
The highpoint of California is Mt. Whitney (14,505') in Inyo National Forest in the eastern Sierras. A very challenging day hike or a backpacking trip is needed to reach the summit. Both day hikes and overnight trips require permits (which are very difficult to obtain due to high demand).
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN CALIFORNIA
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California offers some of the very best backpacking opportunities in the country. Here is a list of many of the premier backpacking routes in California:
✮ Ansel Adams Wilderness trails - e.g. Ediza Lake and Shadow Lake, Minaret Ridge and Minaret Lake
✮ Desolation Wilderness trails
✮ High Sierra Camp Loop in Yosemite National Park
✮ High Sierra Trail in
Sequoia National Park and Inyo National Forest
✮ Humphreys Basin and Evolution Basin in Kings Canyon National Park
✮ Inyo National Forest trails
✮ John Muir Trail
✮ John Muir Wilderness trails - e.g. Big Pine Lakes Basin
✮ Kings Canyon National Park trails
✮ Lassen Volcanic National Park Lakes Loop
✮ Lost Coast Trail
✮ Mount Whitney
✮ Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park
✮ Sequoia National Park trails
✮ Skyline-To-The-Sea Trail in Castle Rock State Park
✮ Tahoe Rim Trail
✮ Trans-Catalina Trail, Catalina Island
✮ Trinity Alps Wilderness trails - e.g. Canyon Creek Lakes, Grizzly Lake
✮ Yosemite National Park trails
Take note that an increasing number of hikes in California are requiring permits/advance reservations. Make sure to research any entry requirements before attempting to go on a backpacking trip in California.
In addition to the backpacking trails/areas listed above, the Sierra Mountains of California offer an unbelievable of off-trail backpacking opportunities. If off-trail backpacking is your thing, do some research and you'll find some of the most mind-dazzling scenery in the U.S.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN CALIFORNIA
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California, being the large and diverse state that it is, offers many outstanding outdoor adventures. Here are some of the classic outdoor adventures in the state:
✮ 4x4 driving in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
✮ 4x4 driving in Death Valley National Park
✮ 4x4 driving in Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area
✮ 4x4 driving in Mojave National Preserve
✮ 4x4 driving the Rubicon Trail along Lake Tahoe
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Frank Raines OHV Park in Patterson
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in La Grange OHV Regional Park in La Grange
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Dumont Dunes OHV Area in Baker
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Foresthill OHV Area
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Imperial Sand Dunes in El Centro - one of the largest OHV recreation areas for sand dune-riding in the U.S.
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Johnson Valley OHV Area
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Ocotillo Wells
State Vehicular Recreation Area
✮ ATV/OHV-ing in Stoddard Valley OHV Area
✮ Backcountry skiing near Lake Tahoe
✮ Backcountry skiing in Lassen Volcanic National Park
✮ Backcountry skiing on Mount Shasta
✮ Backcountry skiing in Sequoia National Park
✮ Backcountry skiing to one or several of the Sierra Club huts
✮ Backcountry skiing in Yellowstone National Park
✮ Backpacking in the Ansel Adams Wilderness
✮ Backpacking in the Desolation Wilderness
✮ Backpacking the High Sierra Trail
✮ Backpacking in Inyo National Forest
✮ Backpacking the John Muir Trail
✮ Backpacking in the John Muir Wilderness
✮ Backpacking in Kings Canyon National Park
✮ Backpacking on Mount Whitney
✮ Backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail (or a portion of it)
✮ Backpacking in Sequoia National Park
✮ Backpacking in the Trinity Alps Wilderness
✮ Backpacking in Yosemite National Park
✮ Bouldering in/near Bishop
✮ Bouldering at Black Mountain the San Jacinto Mountains
✮ Bouldering in Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area
✮ Bouldering in/near Idyllwild
✮ Bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park
✮ Bouldering in/near Sonora Pass
✮ Bouldering in Vasquez Rocks Natural Area
✮ Cage diving with great white sharks in the Farallon Islands
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Russian River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Smith River
✮ Cross-country skiing at Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort in Soda Springs - supposedly the largest cross country ski area in North America
✮ Cross-country skiing at Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center in Truckee
✮ Cross-country skiing at Tahoe XC in Tahoe City
✮ Cycling the American River Bike Trail
✮ Cycling the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail
✮ Cycling the Bayshore Bikeway in San Diego
✮ Cycling the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
✮ Cycling the Santa Ana River Trail
✮ Cycling the South Bay Bicycle Trail
✮ Day hiking Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park
✮ Day hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
✮ Day hiking Mount Baldy in Angeles National Forest
✮ Day hiking Mount Whitney in Inyo National Forest - this is the highest point in the lower 48 states; permits required (and are tough to obtain)
✮ Day hiking San Gorgonio Peak
✮ Day hiking Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park
✮ Day hiking White Mountain Peak in the White Mountains Wilderness
✮ Fly-fishing on the McCloud River
✮ Fly-fishing on the Trinity River
✮ Ice climbing in Lee Vining Canyon (e.g. Chouinard Falls, Main Wall)
✮ Ice climbing in/near June Lake (e.g. Roadside Ice, Horsetail Falls)
✮ Mountaineering on Mt. Shasta
✮ Mountaineering on Mt. Whitney (e.g. Mountaineers Route)
✮ Mountain biking in/near Big Bear Lake (e.g. Skyline Trail, Snow Summit Bike Park, Snow Valley Bike Park, etc.)
✮ Mountain biking in Exchequer Mountain Bike Park in La Grange
✮ Mountain biking in/near Fairfax (e.g. Camp Tamarancho)
✮ Mountain biking in Mammoth Mountain Bike Park
✮ Mountain biking in Mt. Shasta Bike Park
✮ Mountain biking in Sapwi Bike Park in Thousand Oaks
✮ Mountain biking in Skypark at Santa's Village in Skyforest
✮ Mountain biking in Stafford Lake Bike Park in Novato
✮ Mountain biking in/near Truckee (e.g. North Star Bike Park, Truckee Bike Park, etc.)
✮ Rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park
✮ Rock climbing near Lake Tahoe
✮ Rock climbing in Lee Vining Canyon
✮ Rock climbing in the Needles area of the southern Sierra Mountains
✮ Rock climbing in Yosemite National Park
✮ SCUBA diving in Lake Tahoe
✮ SCUBA diving in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
✮ SCUBA diving on Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands
✮ Skydiving in one of the 1-2 dozen places in California that offer it (e.g. Skydive Perris, GoJump Oceanside, Skydive Surfcity Santa Cruz, etc.)
✮ Snorkeling on Catalina Island
✮ Snorkeling in La Jolla Cove
✮ Snowmobiling in/around Lake Tahoe
✮ Snowmobiling in/around Mammoth Lakes
✮ Snowmobiling in/around Weed
✮ Tubing the Kern River
✮ Tubing the Russian River
✮ Tubing the Sacramento River
✮ Tubing the Truckee River
✮ Whitewater rafting the American River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Kern River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Klamath River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Merced River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Sacramento River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Salmon River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Trinity River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Tuolumne River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Yuba River
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BEST SKI RESORTS IN CALIFORNIA
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California is one of the best states in the country for skiing and snowboarding. These ski/snowboard resorts are generally considered the best in California:
Premier Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Alpine Meadows - 100-plus trails; 1,802ft vertical drop; 8,637ft summit
✮ Heavenly Ski Resort - 97 trails; 3,500ft vertical drop; 10,040ft summit
✮ Kirkwood Ski Resort - 86 trails; 2,000ft vertical drop; 9,800ft summit
✮ Mammoth Mountain Ski Area - 150 trails; 3,100ft vertical drop; 11,053ft summit
✮ Northstar California Ski Resort - 100 trails; 2,280ft vertical drop; 8,610ft summit
✮ Palisades Tahoe - 170 trails; 2,850ft vertical drop; 9,050ft summit
✮ Sugar Bowl Resort - 94 trails; 1,500ft vertical drop; 8,383ft summit
Other than Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, all of the ski areas listed above are within an hours drive of Lake Tahoe.
Other Notable Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Bear Valley
✮ Big Bear Mountain Resort
✮ China Peak
✮ Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort
✮ Homewood Mountain Resort
✮ Sierra-at-Tahoe
Big Bear Mountain Resort is generally considered the best ski area in southern California.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN CALIFORNIA
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in California:
✮ avocado toast
✮ barbecued oysters
✮ black mission figs
✮ california burrito - a burrito that typically includes french fries
✮ cioppino - this is popular in San Francisco
✮ cruffin
✮ dates / date shakes
✮ dungeness crab
✮ fish tacos
✮ garlic fries
✮ garlic ice cream
✮ mission burrito
✮ santa maria barbecue
✮ sourdough - this is popular in San Francisco (e.g. boudin style)
✮ tamales
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in California (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in California (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY CALIFORNIA INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about California:
State Capital:
Sacramento
Major Airports:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Largest Cities:
Los Angeles (3,919,973), San Diego (1,402,838), San Jose (1,026,700), San Francisco (887,711), Fresno (551,595), Sacramento (542,481)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40, I-80
State Highpoint:
Mt. Whitney (14,505') in Inyo National Forest in the eastern Sierras. A very challenging day hike or a backpacking trip is needed to reach the summit. Both day hikes and overnight trips require permits (which are very difficult to obtain due to high demand).
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
NBA: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakes, Sacramento Kings
NFL: Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers
NHL: Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks
WNBA: Los Angeles Sparks
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Badwater, Condemned Bar, Cool, Dunmovin, Forks of Salmon, Happy Camp, Hellhole Palms, Last Chance, Nice, Pumpkin Center, Rough and Ready, Weed, Weedpatch, Wimp, and Zzyzx
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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views along the southern California coastline
seals along the California coastline
Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park, California
Heart Rock in San Bernardino National Forest, California
Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park, California
Sequoia National Park, California
Kings Canyon National Park, California
Yosemite National Park, California
Cathedral Peak in Yosemite National Park, California
Torrey Pines State Reserve near San Diego, California
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California
the view from Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California
Mount Whitney, California
the summit of Mt. Whitney, California
the summit of Mt. Whitney, California
the summit of Mt. Whitney, California
Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree National Park near Palm Springs, California
McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, California
Lombard Street in San Francisco, California
Redwood National Park, California
a San Diego sunset
Alcatraz near San Francisco, California
Alcatraz near San Francisco, California
Death Valley National Park, California
Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park, California
hiking in Death Valley National Park, California
driving to Death Valley National Park, California
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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