In terms of area, California is our third-largest state, and geographically, it’s one of the most diverse. If you’re into outdoor recreation, there’s a lifetime’s worth of places to visit, so it can be hard to decide where to go when you have only so much time.
Following are some suggestions that can help you narrow your options, and they’re arranged roughly from north to south.
Redwood National Park
Redwoods are the world’s tallest trees, and they grow in abundance here. The park also has a coastal section where you can admire seascapes, explore tidal pools, and find fantastically shaped driftwood.
Mount Shasta
With its classic conical shape, this potentially active Cascade volcano is one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. It dominates its surroundings, and you can admire it up close or from afar.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Considered an active volcano, Lassen Peak last erupted in 1917. It’s the southernmost Cascade volcano, and a challenging trail to the top yields views not just of the surrounding area but of Mount Shasta as well. The park also includes lakes, meadows, and a geothermal area of geysers and hot springs.
Lake Tahoe
One of the largest lakes in North America, Lake Tahoe is a lovely blue that almost defies belief. There are many resorts along the lake, but there is also plenty of wilderness to explore, including high-elevation locations with stunning views of the lake.
Yosemite National Park
The crown jewel of California’s nine national parks (the most in any state), Yosemite is a place everyone should see at least once. Yosemite Valley is the centerpiece, where you’ll find some of the world’s highest waterfalls and sheer cliffs. Don’t miss the high country, though, which is characterized by meadows, granite domes, and craggy peaks.
Mono Lake
Located by the town of Lee Vining at the base of the Sierra Nevada, Mono Lake is a large saline lake. It’s best known for its “tufa” deposits, strangely shaped pinnacles that arise from the water in a couple of spots. On still mornings, the lake perfectly reflects the mountains to its west.
White Mountains
The White Mountains are east of the Sierra Nevada and run into Nevada. They’re most notable for their groves of bristlecone pines, the world’s longest-living organisms. Park rangers keep the exact tree secret, but one of the wildly weathered and shaped specimens in the Methuselah Grove is around 6,500 years old and the earth’s oldest living thing!
Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks
These two Sierra Nevada national parks are contiguous, and many people visit both in a single day. Both parks have groves of giant sequoias, the world’s largest trees. They also preserve hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine wilderness in the spectacular High Sierra.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Not far from San Francisco, this stretch of the Pacific coast is also an important wildlife reserve. The scenery is spectacular, with ocean waves rolling up to tall, impressive cliffs.
Big Sur
Just about the entire California coast is a real-life postcard, and many consider the Big Sur region between Carmel and San Simeon. When you visit, you can see rocky beaches with waves exploding against the outcrops, a waterfall pouring over a cliff and onto a beach with the ocean just yards away, sea lions, a historic castle, and more.
Death Valley National Park
At a little larger than the state of Connecticut, Death Valley is the country’s biggest national park outside Alaska. It’s also a land of extremes; consider that you can stand at one of the lowest, hottest places on the planet and gaze out and up to a snowy peak more than 11,000 vertical feet above. Death Valley also features a variety of otherworldly landscapes.
Mojave National Preserve
The main attractions at Death Valley can get busy at times, and if it’s too much for you, this National Park Service site isn’t far away. Highlights include rugged desert peaks, one of the country’s largest Joshua Tree forests, and the Kelso dunes, which are some of the country’s tallest.
Channel Islands National Park
The Channel Islands are a little off the Pacific coast between Los Angeles and San Diego. Most of the land there is undeveloped and remains in a pristine state, and it’s a haven for wildlife and people escaping the hustle and bustle of modern city life.
Joshua Tree National Park
Close to Palm Springs, this desert park is one of the best places to see its namesake plant. It’s also known for its numerous beautiful granite formations, and rock climbers from all over the country come here to challenge themselves.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
This sprawling state park is larger than some national parks. It has badlands, canyons, desert mountains, palm-covered oases, and more. Many miles of hiking, mountain biking, and off-roading trails await visitors here.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border makes a lot of lists of the most beautiful places in America. There’s also a lot to do there, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, great dining, resorts, nightlife, and more. If it’s your first time going or if you’re going back, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
The World’s 5 Friendliest and 5 Unfriendliest Cities
Some cities welcome visitors and want them to be there. Other cities are rude to visitors and would just as soon see you leave. It can be jarring to be in an unfriendly city, though some of the world’s most enticing cities rank high on the rudeness scale. When you visit a friendly city, it’s much easier to soak in the culture and meet the locals. Rough Guides readers voted on the cities for their level of friendliness. According to Rough Guides, these are the world’s friendliest and unfriendliest cities.
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