The very northern tip of the Point Reyes Peninsula, Tomales Point faces the Pacific Ocean where it meets Tomales Bay, a narrow inlet of water known for oyster farming. The remote location is popular with hikers and nature lovers who make the trip through Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay State Park.
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge—or, as it's often called, the Coronado Bridge—stretches for 2.1 miles (3.4 kilometers) across San Diego Bay, connecting the cities of San Diego and Coronado. Since its completion in 1969, it has become a landmark of San Diego and the primary way to access the beaches of Coronado.
Located in Sausalito, almost 500 feet (152 meters) above the San Francisco Bay, Battery Spencer’s stunning clifftop views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco city are unmatched. The short visit here is easy to fit into any California trip and well worth the work to get there. Plus, the abandoned historic buildings serve as an interesting look into the past when the US Army used to use the area.
The main hub of the West Coast’s fashion, textile, and flower industries, the LA Fashion District (sometimes called the LA Garment District includes thousands of shops, market stalls, wholesalers, and other venues spanning 107 blocks in Downtown LA. The area is frequented by those in the business as well as the general public.
Cruise passengers heading to the Los Angeles World Cruise Center find a sun-drenched entryway to the West Coast that's ripe for exploring. At port, you're not far from Downtown LA destinations, scenic beaches, and top city attractions. Numerous tours with port pickup—and private transfers—can whisk you around the City of Angels.
Inspired by the beach towns and surf culture of Southern California, Knott’s Soak City is a great way to beat the summer heat. From dueling tube slides to a relaxing lazy river and a children’s pool area, the whimsical water park is an essential Orange County summer experience for the whole family.
Located in the Berkeley Hills, the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley overlooks the San Francisco Bay and contains more than 12,000 species of plants ranging from exotic flowers to towering redwoods. With its winding walking paths, varied plant collections, and scenic views, the garden is an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Berkeley and San Francisco.
Boasting near year-round sun, sandy beaches, and cultural attractions, San Diego encapsulates the Southern California lifestyle. It's a popular debarkation point for day cruises and multi-day voyages to Baja Mexico, South America, Hawaii, and the Pacific Coast and a destination itself. Spend a few days here to soak up the sunny vibes.
Located just off the Southern California coast in the Santa Barbara Channel, the series of islands that encompass Channel Islands National Park are sparsely visited, especially given their incredible natural beauty. Tide pools, kelp forests, and rugged mountains provide a habitat for unique flora and fauna.
The double-decker M.S. Dixie II plies Lake Tahoe’s cobalt-blue waters, offering spectacular views from open and closed decks. If scenery is the star of the show, the 500-passenger vessel is an icon in its own right—its old-fashioned paddlewheel and nostalgic red-and-white color scheme are beloved by locals and travelers alike. At night, things turn festive, with sunset dinner cruises featuring live entertainment.
Mono Lake, in the northern section of California’s Eastern Sierra region, is an ancient saline lake known for its otherworldly “tufa towers” (which are calcium-carbonate spires) and rich ecosystem. Visitors come to explore its unusual landscapes, kayak on its calm waters, and observe diverse bird species. Its striking scenery and ecological importance make it a popular destination for nature lovers and photographers.
Malibu’s Point Dume State Beach is a coastal gem known for its dramatic cliffs, sandy coves, and panoramic Pacific Ocean views. Visitors flock here for whale-watching trips, rock climbing, hiking its scenic trails, and relaxing on its pristine shores. There’s also a boardwalk located just below the summit that leads to a lookout with views of Santa Monica Bay.
While most visitors to Sonoma are there for the wine-tasting experiences, the area offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures if you know where to look. Lake Sonoma is a prime spot for water activities like swimming, boating, and fishing. There's even a fish hatchery and visitor center that tells the story of how the lake was created during the building of the Warm Springs Dam.
While visiting Death Valley National Park, many travelers make the drive (or hike) down Twenty Mule Team Canyon. This short 1-way road runs a little over 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) through eroded badland hills. Because of its narrowness, rough terrain, and tight turns, it can be a challenging route even when driving, but the sights are a great payoff.
Located inside Fresno’s Roeding Park, the Chaffee Zoo is home to more than 200 species of animals, with popular areas such as Sea Lion Cove, African Adventure, and Roo Walkabout. Offering behind-the-scenes tours, a daily bird show, and interactive experiences, it’s an inviting place for visitors of all ages.
Set in California’s Napa Valley, the Silverado Trail is a historic country road that runs parallel to Highway 29. Between Napa in the south and Calistoga in the north, travelers will find roughly 40 vineyards dotting this 30-mile (48-kilometer) trek, with wineries famous for their big-bodied red wines and cabernet sauvignons.
More than 100 years of concert history at the Hollywood Bowl—where Ella Fitzgerald, the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and many more have played legendary shows—are on display at the venue’s free museum. Artifacts from the archives shed light on the amphitheater’s most memorable moments, which makes watching a performance or simply standing in the Bowl with the sun-soaked Hollywood Hills in the background all the more impactful.
This paved loop trail in Sequoia National Park begins near General Sherman—the largest of the giant sequoia trees—and continues on a gentle path into the heart of Giant Forest, where hundreds of mature sequoias stand. Few, if any, trails anywhere in the world lead through such a high concentration of giant sequoias.
Legend says that the original cross at Serra Cross Park was mounted in 1782 by Spanish missionary Father Junipero Serra as an homage to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura. The original cross is gone, but the park is still considered a holy site. It's also perfect for watching sunsets, gathering with family and pets, and hosting a picnic.
One of the most photogenic spots in San Francisco, this 163-step staircase is decorated with technicolor mosaic scenes of the universe from the seas to the cosmos. Leading from 16th Avenue up to Grand View Park, the steps were created by local artists and community volunteers in 2005 and take visitors to sweeping views over the city.
Founded in 1977, Napa Valley’s Grgich Hills Estate produces wine with a focus on organic grapes and sustainable farming practices. Cofounder Mike Grgich is best known for winning the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting with his Château Montelena chardonnay, which helped put the Napa wine region on the map.
Located in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains, Tahoe National Forest encompasses more than 800,000 acres (324,000 hectares) of dense forest, rivers, snowcapped mountains, canyons, and lakes, providing you ample opportunity for outdoor recreation in Northern California.
There’s nothing stuffy about this “museum,” the creation of a local artist and circus founder who turned an unassuming home in one of San Francisco’s most desirable neighborhoods into an immersive “fairy-grove” experience. Book one of eight themed tours, head inside, and explore “portals” filled with purposefully weird art along with your live performer/fairy guide.
Designed by postmodernist architect Philip Johnson, the Crystal Cathedral was built in the shape of a four-pointed star and boasts 10,661 windows, seating capacity for 3,000, and an organ with 17,106 pipes. The structure anchors a vast campus of gardens, reflecting pools, fountains, and sculptures, including a Gothic prayer chapel.
At the end of Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road in Sequoia National Park, you’ll find this gentle trail around lovely Crescent Meadow, home to ancient sequoias such as the Chimney Tree. The trail is a flat alternative to the Moro Rock climb and links with other trails to Tharp’s Log and Squatters Cabin; it’s also technically the beginning of the much longer High Sierra Trail.
Orange County’s largest museum, the Bowers Museum brings a diverse range of cultures to Southern California. Its collection of 91,000 works of art represent peoples from around the globe and is particularly strong in the areas of Asian, Pacific, Native American, and pre-Columbian art, as well as Orange County history.
Curving through the western flanks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks (and Sequoia National Forest), Generals Highway is among California's most dazzling mountain drives. Countless overlooks, the Giant Forest, the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and other groves of staggering beauty lie along the highway, making it the ideal starting point for road trips through the twin parks.
The largest and busiest of the three main airports in the San Francisco Bay Area—the others being in Oakland and San Jose—San Francisco International Airport, or SFO, welcomes visitors on all major US airlines as well as many international airlines. It's also the hub for Alaska Airlines and a gateway to downtown San Francisco.
With upscale boutiques, art galleries, gourmet eateries, and a family-friendly playground, Malibu Country Mart blends luxury with laid-back California vibes. Offering wellness services too, it’s a must-visit for anyone seeking a Malibu experience surrounded by beautiful coastal scenery.
Located in the Mecca Hills Wilderness just outside Palm Springs, the Painted Canyon is part of traditional territories of the Cahuilla people. Many visitors come to admire the colorful rock formations along its hiking trails and see the natural beauty up close. Plus, with ladders and ropes through the canyons, it can be an adventurous journey for anyone ready to tackle the challenge.
