Sometimes called the Bridgeway Promenade, this waterfront path welcomes pedestrians into Sausalito’s lovely downtown from the south. It’s a nice place to acquaint yourself with the bayside gem and its unbeatable views. Pick any photo of San Francisco Bay and Angel Island from Sausalito and it was probably taken here.
Los Angeles’ Echo Park is a world away from the grit and glitter that can characterize other popular areas of the city. With trendy businesses, historic Victorian homes, pretty picnic spots, great walkability, and eclectic local spirit to draw in visitors, you may be surprised you’re in the City of Angels at all. Plus, the neighborhood features a beautiful lake for pedal boating.
Los Angeles’ foodie haven, Grand Central Market, has been a mainstay on the LA culinary scene since 1917. The sprawling Beaux Arts-style market is a bustling place where dozens of food vendors serve dishes worldwide, from Berlin-style currywurst and Japanese bento boxes to Mexican tacos. It’s a microcosm of the city’s diversity.
The town of Dana Point is called the “Whale Capital of the West” because whales are said to use its geographical location to guide their seasonal migrations. While you're not likely to encounter whales or dolphins in Dana Point Harbor, set off from here on some of the best whale-watching excursions in Southern California.
Art, culture, and literature are showcased at Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Visit this Southern California cultural institution to admire European art, see diverse plants and flowers, and browse rare books dating to the 1450s. Collected by businessman Henry E. Huntington, this once-private collection is huge and varied.
Located along the rugged coast of Southern California, this mile-long (1.6-kilometer) sandy beach is known to have the gentlest waves of any of the local beaches in summer. Because of this, La Jolla Shores is a prime spot for novice scuba divers and a busy swimming area frequented by families and surfers.
Fort Ross State Historic Park in Sonoma County is part fortress, part settlement. It was originally built in 1812 as part of the Russian-American Company, a commercial enterprise to supply goods to Russian outposts in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Most of the buildings date to 1836 and offer a well-preserved peek into an overlooked piece of California history.
The world’s first entirely subterranean winery, Jarvis Estate stands out, even within the crowded Napa Valley scene. Housed in an architecturally striking, excavated cave, the winery was founded more than 35 years ago. Today, it’s celebrated for producing ultra-premium cabernet sauvignon– and chardonnay-based wines, although the property also grows small lots of merlot, petit verdot, cabernet franc, and tempranillo.
Stretching from the waterfront to Interstate 5, downtown San Diego is home to a wealth of recreational attractions, restaurants, walkable neighborhoods, and historical sights. It’s a great starting point to get oriented with the city before branching out to the beaches and surrounding areas.
Old Faithful Geyser of California, in Napa Valley, is one of the most visited places in the American West. This isn’t Old Faithful, that’s in Yellowstone Park. But, this geyser erupts roughly every 10 to 45 minutes, sometimes more frequently. It has its own museum dedicated to geology, an animal farm and petting zoo, and bocce courts.
Once a lush valley known for its world-renowned stone fruit orchards, Silicon Valley is now the heart of global tech innovation. It’s the birthplace of many big tech companies and start-ups, most prominent among them Google, Apple, and Facebook. But there’s more to it than that: Bordered by nature preserves and bookended by the cultural hubs of San Jose and San Francisco, Silicon Valley is a wonder to explore.
Beachfront coves, coastal cliffs, and the Crystal Cove Historic District make up Crystal Cove State Park, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway. Because of its natural beauty and sandy beach, many visitors to the Newport Beach area make a special trip to this state park. Plus, Crystal Cove is known for the biodiversity of its kelp forest.
Situated just under 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) campus comprises 229 acres (93 hectares) of green spaces and quads, fountains, public art, and a mix of traditional and contemporary architecture. The USC Fisher Museum of Art and Tommy’s Place venue draw visitors from around Los Angeles and beyond.
This majestic grove is home to the most immense trees in Sequoia National Park—and some of the largest living beings on earth. Among them are General Sherman, a giant sequoia standing 275 feet (84 meters) tall and 100 feet (30 meters) wide. In addition to the sequoias, a network of trails ranging from 1-hour hikes to half-day excursions originate in the grove.
From humble beginnings in a downtown LA loft, the Last Bookstore has grown to become California’s largest independent bookstore. Occupying a former bank, the giant, 22,000-square foot (2,043-square-meter) high-ceilinged complex houses thousands of new and used titles, as well as vinyl records, unique art, and even yarn.
Manicured lawns dotted with flowers, fountains, and elegant statues make Forest Lawn Memorial Park feel like a garden in Italy, though it’s actually a sprawling cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. Surrounded by green hillsides with the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance, it has massive memorials and a mosaic honoring American history, as well as scenic spots for peaceful reflection and remembering those who have passed.
Maritime history runs deep in the waterside community of San Pedro, home to the heavily trafficked Port of Los Angeles. Seafaring is a central attraction theme, from an old battleship and lighthouse to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. With its uptick in shops and restaurants, the area is gaining popularity as a hip waterfront destination.
This privately operated marble cavern in the Sequoia National Forest offers seasonal walking tours, allowing you to wander among its unusual rock formations. Visit to get close to stalactites, flowstones, and other geological features formed over thousands of years below the marble-laden mountain and walls of the Windy Cliff and Kings Canyon area.
Tahoe City is situated on the shores of Lake Tahoe and serves as a fantastic base for wider exploration of the popular all-weather region, including both North and South Lake. Here, visitors enjoy warm-weather activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and jet skiing. In winter, skiing at nearby resorts is a favorite, followed by warming drinks and dinner in Tahoe City.
Constructed in 1932, Bixby Bridge is among Big Sur's most recognizable sights. This massive concrete bridge is one of the tallest such bridges on the planet, towering at 260 feet (79 meters) over a massive canyon that slices across mainland California and into the Pacific Ocean.
On the banks of the Big Sur River in Central California's dramatic Big Sur Coast region, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a wildly scenic and popular spot for outdoor recreation. The park is the starting point for plenty of trails, from short paved paths that take you on a quick loop through the woods to longer, more strenuous options that wind deep into the woods.
Located just outside Santa Cruz, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is most famous for its massive old-growth redwood trees, some of which are 1,800 years old. The San Lorenzo River winds through the park’s landscape, which ranges from thick forest to chaparral and contains roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) of hiking trails.
Surrounded by miles of scenic California coastline, the historic Ventura Pier and Promenade are long-time favorites of this lively beach town. Whether it's munching on a fish taco while strolling the rustic boardwalk, biking along the coastal promenade, or shopping downtown Ventura boutiques, there are many ways to enjoy the area.
As you approach Sequoia National Park from the town of Three Rivers, a massive granite dome comes quickly into view: Moro Rock. Looming thousands of feet above Generals Highway, climb the staircase to the top for majestic vistas of San Joaquin Valley, the Giant Forest sequoia grove, and the peaks of the Great Western Divide.
In California’s Death Valley National Park, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes beckon travelers and photographers. The dunes are not trailed, so you can wander to your heart’s desire. Many visitors come to take photos at sunset or sunrise when dramatic shadows are cast down, while others come to sandboard without visiting Egypt or Dubai.
Glacier-carved Fallen Leaf Lake is a hidden oasis not far from Lake Tahoe. Tucked into the pines and offering scenic mountain views, this off-the-beaten-path destination features a network of hiking trails, pristine waters for swimming and fishing, and a campground that's typically less crowded than nearby South Lake Tahoe sites.
Just east of Santa Rosa, California, St. Francis Winery is among Sonoma County’s premier wineries. It’s a tried-and-true destination for wine tastings, pairings, and an elaborate collection of on-site wine experiences. Nestled amidst rolling vineyards and lush NorCal landscapes, the Tuscan-style estate produces award-winning wines using sustainable methods.
Spread out over 11 acres (4.5 hectares) at the end of Shell Beach in Pismo Beach, Dinosaur Caves Park overlooks the ocean with cliffside benched seating areas, a playground—complete with dinosaur and sea creature fixtures—and plenty of walking trails and green space. The park features caves in its cliffsides reachable by kayak, which can be explored by pre-booking a kayak tour.
With two blocks of public green space in downtown San Francisco, Yerba Buena Gardens offers a refuge in the middle of one of the city’s busiest areas. Located next to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the gardens include public art, waterfalls, and landscaped lawns for relaxing and people-watching.
Paso Robles, California, has more than 200 wineries, but Sculpterra Winery and Sculpture Garden stand out from the crowd. With ultra-premium wine options and an extensive outdoor sculpture garden, Sculpterra Winery’s inviting atmosphere convinces visitors to stay a while and relax. Whether you want to go wine tasting or enjoy a glass of your preferred varietal as you walk the garden, you’re sure to have a good time.
