California is one of those rare places where the hardest question isn’t whether to visit it’s where to even begin. With 840 miles of coastline, three of the world’s most visited national parks, globally celebrated cities, desert landscapes that feel like another planet, ancient forests, and wine country that rivals France, the Golden State contains more worthy destinations than most countries on Earth.
We’ve spent a lot of time on California’s roads, trails, and coastlines, and we’ve put together this list of the 35 best places to visit in California for 2026. These aren’t just the famous ones though the famous ones are famous for very good reasons. This list covers hidden gems, underrated towns, wilderness escapes, and urban adventures across every region of the state, so whether you’re planning your first trip or your tenth, you’ll find something here worth adding to your itinerary.
Each destination includes what makes it special, when to go, what to do, and who it’s best suited for so you can build a trip that actually fits you.
At a Glance: All 35 Destinations
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (1–10)
- San Francisco
- Muir Woods & the Marin Headlands
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Napa Valley
- Sonoma Valley
- Lake Tahoe
- Redwood National & State Parks
- Mendocino
- Mount Shasta
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA (11–22)
- Yosemite National Park
- Big Sur
- Monterey & Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Santa Cruz
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- Death Valley National Park
- Mammoth Lakes
- Bodie State Historic Park
- Fresno & the San Joaquin Valley Gateway
- Morro Bay
- San Luis Obispo
- Hearst Castle
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (23–35)
- Los Angeles
- Santa Barbara
- Channel Islands National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Palm Springs
- San Diego
- Laguna Beach
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Temecula Wine Country
- Catalina Island
- Big Bear Lake
- Ojai
- Salvation Mountain & the Salton Sea
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
1. San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the world’s great cities compact enough to explore on foot, layered enough to keep surprising you for years. Built across 49 hills and wrapped in fog, it’s a city of neighborhoods: the Victorian Painted Ladies of Alamo Square, the counter-culture legacy of Haight-Ashbury, the murals and burritos of the Mission, the seafood and sourdough of the Embarcadero. The Golden Gate Bridge real life always more magnificent than any photo frames the bay that defines the city’s identity.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | First-timers, foodies, culture lovers, city explorers |
| Best season | September–November (warmest, clearest weather) |
| Don’t miss | Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Ferry Building, Chinatown, Mission District |
| Avoid | June–July (Karl the Fog is at his worst — bring a jacket!) |
| How long | 3–5 days minimum to scratch the surface |
- Top experience: Walk or cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise, then hike into the Marin Headlands for a view back at the city and bridge together.
- Hidden gem: The Wave Organ in the Marina — a acoustic sculpture that plays music made by the bay’s tidal waves. Free, surreal, and almost nobody knows about it.
- Eat here: Swan Oyster Depot for the freshest seafood in the city, or La Taqueria in the Mission for what many consider the best burrito in California.
InfiniteTrek Tip Buy a 7-day Clipper Card for unlimited BART, Muni, and cable car rides. San Francisco is best explored by transit and on foot — parking is expensive and frustrating.
2. Muir Woods & the Marin Headlands
Just 12 miles north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge lies one of the most accessible old-growth redwood groves in the world. Muir Woods National Monument protects a stunning cathedral of coast redwoods — some over 1,000 years old — along a gentle creek that’s ideal even for families with young children. Pair it with a hike in the nearby Marin Headlands for sweeping views of the Golden Gate and the San Francisco skyline from the other side.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Day-trippers from SF, families, nature lovers, first-time redwood visitors |
| Best season | Year-round (less crowded on weekdays; magical in morning fog) |
| Don’t miss | Cathedral Grove, Bootjack Trail, Hawk Hill in the Headlands |
| Plan ahead | Shuttle from SF required during weekends/holidays. Book at gomuirwoods.com |
| How long | Half-day to full day |
- Top experience: Arrive early on a weekday morning when mist fills the redwood canopy and the crowds haven’t arrived. The silence is extraordinary.
- Pair it with: A sunset stop at Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands — one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge in existence, and far fewer tourists than the bridge itself.
3. Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes is one of California’s best-kept secrets and one of the most ecologically diverse national seashores in the country. Tule elk roam the ridgelines, gray whales pass offshore from December to April, harbor seals haul out on the beaches, and thousands of migratory birds stop here on the Pacific Flyway. The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse clings to a dramatic headland. And the oyster farms of Tomales Bay produce some of the finest bivalves you’ll ever eat.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Wildlife lovers, hikers, birders, whale watchers, photographers |
| Best season | December–April (whale watching); Spring (wildflowers and elk calves) |
| Don’t miss | Point Reyes Lighthouse, Tule Elk Reserve, Drake’s Beach, Tomales Bay oysters |
| How long | 1–2 days; combine with Muir Woods for a great Northern California day-trip loop |
- Hidden gem: Tomales Bay Oyster Company — buy fresh oysters straight from the farm, grab a picnic table on the bay, and shuck them yourself with lemon and hot sauce. One of the great California food experiences.
4. Napa Valley
Napa Valley is one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions — 30 miles long, 5 miles wide, and home to over 400 wineries producing some of California’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot. But Napa is more than wine: the farm-to-table restaurant scene is world-class, the landscape of vineyard-covered hills is gorgeous year-round, and the towns of Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga each have a distinct character worth exploring. Calistoga’s volcanic hot springs make for an exceptional spa experience.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Wine lovers, couples, foodies, luxury travelers |
| Best season | September–October (harvest) and April–May (mustard flowers) |
| Don’t miss | Domaine Carneros, Castello di Amorosa, The French Laundry (book months ahead), Calistoga spas |
| Budget note | Napa is expensive. Tasting fees run $30–80+ per person. Set a budget. |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Hot air ballooning over the vineyards at sunrise — one of the most romantic and memorable experiences in all of California.
- Smart move: Visit on a weekday and book tastings in advance. Weekend Napa is extremely crowded, especially in harvest season.
5. Sonoma Valley
Sonoma is Napa’s more laid-back, diverse, and often underrated neighbor. The wine region is actually larger and more varied — producing everything from Pinot Noir on the cool Sonoma Coast to Zinfandel in the warm Dry Creek Valley. But Sonoma County also has a spectacular Pacific coastline, ancient redwood groves in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, and a range of price points that make it accessible to travelers who find Napa prohibitively expensive. The town of Healdsburg is one of the best small towns in California.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Wine lovers, families, travelers who want more variety than Napa |
| Best season | September–November (harvest), April–June (wildflowers) |
| Don’t miss | Healdsburg town square, Armstrong Redwoods, Sonoma Coast State Park, Fort Ross |
| How long | 2–3 days; combine easily with Napa for a 4–5 day wine country trip |
- Hidden gem: The Sonoma Coast at Bodega Bay — dramatic, windswept, and virtually crowd-free compared to the wine country towns inland.
6. Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes on Earth — 22 miles long, 12 miles wide, nearly 1,650 feet deep, and so clear you can see 70 feet down through the water. Straddling the California-Nevada border at 6,225 feet elevation, it’s a four-season destination: skiing and snowboarding at world-class resorts in winter, swimming, kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking in summer, and stunning fall foliage in between. The drive around the lake (72 miles) is itself a highlight.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Outdoor adventurers, families, skiers, water sports enthusiasts, photographers |
| Best season | June–September (summer) and December–March (skiing) |
| Don’t miss | Emerald Bay State Park, Sand Harbor, D.L. Bliss State Park, Palisades Tahoe ski resort |
| Drive time | 3.5 hours from San Francisco; 8 hours from Los Angeles |
| How long | 3–5 days to do it properly |
- Top experience: Kayak or paddleboard into Emerald Bay at sunrise — the color of the water in early morning light is extraordinary.
- Hidden gem: Vikingsholm Castle — a stunning Scandinavian-inspired mansion built in 1929 at the head of Emerald Bay, accessible via a steep 1-mile hike. Free to visit in summer.
InfiniteTrek Tip Book accommodation 3–6 months in advance for peak summer weekends and ski season holidays. Tahoe is extremely popular with Bay Area and Sacramento weekend travelers, and availability disappears fast.
7. Redwood National & State Parks
The Redwood Parks of Northern California protect the tallest living things on Earth — coast redwoods that reach over 380 feet, with trunks wider than most rooms, and lifespans measured in millennia. Walking through an old-growth redwood grove is one of the most humbling, perspective-altering experiences available to a human being. The Redwood Coast is remote — a 6-hour drive from San Francisco — but that remoteness is precisely the point. This is wild, untouched California.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Nature lovers, hikers, photographers, those seeking genuine solitude |
| Best season | May–October (driest, best access); foggy mornings are magical year-round |
| Don’t miss | Fern Canyon, Avenue of the Giants, Tall Trees Grove, Prairie Creek Redwoods |
| Drive time | 6 hours from San Francisco; plan to stay overnight |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park — a narrow canyon with 50-foot walls covered in five species of ferns. Ethereal, otherworldly, and unforgettable.
- Hidden gem: The Grove of Titans near Mill Creek — a remote old-growth grove containing some of the largest redwood trees ever recorded. Requires a permit and a longer hike, but the solitude and scale are extraordinary.
8. Mendocino
Perched on a headland above churning Pacific waters, Mendocino is one of the most charming and atmospheric small towns in California. Its Victorian architecture, art galleries, independent bookshops, and farm-to-table restaurants draw a creative, thoughtful crowd. The coastal bluffs offer spectacular walking, and the nearby Anderson Valley is an underrated wine region producing excellent Pinot Noir and Alsatian-style whites. This is the California coast before the crowds discovered it.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Romantic escapes, artists, writers, independent travelers, wine lovers |
| Best season | April–October |
| Don’t miss | Mendocino Headlands State Park, Glass Beach (Fort Bragg), Anderson Valley wineries |
| Drive time | 3.5 hours from San Francisco via Highway 1 (the scenic route) |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Hidden gem: Glass Beach in nearby Fort Bragg — a beach where decades of sea-tumbled glass and pottery have created a shore of colorful, frosted gems.
9. Mount Shasta
Rising to 14,179 feet and visible for over 100 miles in every direction, Mount Shasta is one of California’s most imposing and spiritually significant peaks. It’s a serious mountaineering objective (guided summit climbs are available), but the surrounding area also offers spectacular hiking, pristine rivers for fly fishing, and the crystal-clear waters of the Sacramento River headwaters. The nearby McCloud River Falls are among the most photogenic waterfalls in Northern California.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Mountaineers, hikers, fly fishers, outdoor adventurers, spiritual seekers |
| Best season | June–September for hiking and climbing; winter for snowshoeing |
| Don’t miss | McCloud River Falls, Lake Siskiyou, Castle Lake, Black Butte |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Hike to Helen Lake on the south face of Mount Shasta (a strenuous 4,000-foot climb to 10,400 feet) for one of the most spectacular mountain views in California.
10. Lassen Volcanic National Park
California’s most overlooked national park is also one of its most geologically dramatic. Lassen Peak — an active volcano that last erupted in 1914–1917 — anchors a park full of hydrothermal features, boiling mud pots, steam vents, and sulfurous fumaroles that feel lifted from another planet. Yet the park also has pristine alpine lakes, excellent hiking, and almost no crowds compared to Yosemite or Death Valley. An extraordinary and underrated destination.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Geology enthusiasts, hikers, those seeking Yosemite’s beauty without the crowds |
| Best season | July–September (park road typically closed by snow October–June) |
| Don’t miss | Bumpass Hell hydrothermal area, Summit Lake, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Peak summit hike |
| How long | 2–3 days |
InfiniteTrek Tip Lassen is one of the best dark sky destinations in California. Camp at Manzanita Lake for outstanding stargazing with the volcano as a backdrop.
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
11. Yosemite National Park
There are places you visit and places that mark you. Yosemite is the latter. The valley — only 7 miles long and 1 mile wide — is ringed by sheer granite walls that rise nearly a vertical mile from the valley floor. El Capitan, the largest exposed granite monolith on Earth. Half Dome, its distinctive profile visible from everywhere in the valley. Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. The Merced River running clear and cold through meadows of wildflowers. It is one of the few places that genuinely exceeds its own legend.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Everyone — hikers, climbers, families, photographers, first-timers, repeat visitors |
| Best season | May–June (waterfalls at peak, wildflowers); September–October (golden light, fewer crowds) |
| Don’t miss | Valley View, Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls, Mirror Lake, Half Dome (permit required) |
| Book early | Timed entry reservations required May–September. Book at recreation.gov 5 months ahead. |
| How long | 3–5 days to explore the valley and surroundings |
- Top experience: Watch sunrise from Valley View or Tunnel View — the light hitting Half Dome and El Capitan as the valley fog burns off is a sight that stays with you for a lifetime.
- Hidden gem: Taft Point — a vertiginous overlook 3,500 feet above the valley floor that almost nobody goes to, with better views of El Capitan than most viewpoints in the valley.
- Challenge hike: Half Dome (17 miles, 4,800-foot gain) — one of America’s greatest day hikes. Cable permit required. Strenuous but life-changing.
InfiniteTrek Tip Stay inside the park if your budget allows. Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village put you in the heart of the action. Camping at Upper Pines or North Pines is outstanding if you book early (6 months in advance on recreation.gov).
12. Big Sur
Big Sur defies description and rewards slow travel. There are no towns, no traffic lights, no chain restaurants, and in many places no cell service — just 90 miles of the most dramatic coastline in America, where the Santa Lucia Mountains plunge directly into the Pacific at cliffs several hundred feet high. Waterfalls spill onto beaches. California condors circle overhead. Ancient redwoods grow in coastal canyons. And Highway 1 winds through all of it in a state of barely controlled beauty.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Road trippers, photographers, hikers, couples, those seeking wild coastal scenery |
| Best season | April–October (winter brings occasional road closures from landslides) |
| Don’t miss | McWay Falls, Bixby Creek Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach (purple sand), Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park |
| Warning | Cell service is spotty to nonexistent. Download offline maps before you go. |
| How long | 1–3 days; don’t rush it |
- Top experience: Pfeiffer Beach at sunset — the purple-tinged sand (from manganese garnet in the cliffs), the sea stacks, and the low winter sun create one of the most photographed natural scenes in California.
- Hidden gem: Salmon Creek Falls — accessible from a short hike off Highway 1 near the southern end of Big Sur. Twin waterfalls, almost no crowds, and a swimming hole at the base.
- Practical note: Gas up before entering Big Sur — there is only one gas station in the entire 90-mile stretch, and it’s expensive.
13. Monterey & Carmel-by-the-Sea
Monterey is one of California’s most compelling destinations, combining world-class marine wildlife, rich history (as John Steinbeck’s ‘Cannery Row’), and exceptional dining into a compact, walkable package. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the finest in the world. Just south, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a fairytale village of art galleries, cottages, and one of California’s most beautiful beaches — Carmel Beach, with its white sand, turquoise water, and Monterey cypress trees.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Families, wildlife lovers, art enthusiasts, foodies, romantic getaways |
| Best season | April–October |
| Don’t miss | Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17-Mile Drive, Carmel Beach, Point Lobos State Reserve |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Kayak or snorkel Monterey Bay — the kelp forests are teeming with sea otters, leopard sharks, and bat rays.
- Don’t miss: Point Lobos State Reserve — often called the greatest meeting of land and sea in the world. Sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and one of the most dramatic coastlines in California.
- Eat here: The Fish Hopper on Cannery Row for clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. Classic, overpriced, absolutely worth it once.
14. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is the soul of California surf culture — laid-back, colorful, proudly counterculture, and perched on a gorgeous stretch of Monterey Bay coastline. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (California’s oldest surviving amusement park) anchors the waterfront. The surf at Steamer Lane is legendary. The redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains begin just minutes from downtown. And the University of California campus, with its redwood-shaded paths and organic farm, is one of the most beautiful in the country.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Surfers, families, beachgoers, hikers, UC college town enthusiasts |
| Best season | June–October |
| Don’t miss | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Natural Bridges State Beach, Henry Cowell Redwoods, Steamer Lane |
| How long | 1–2 days; great day trip from San Francisco or Monterey |
- Hidden gem: Wilder Ranch State Park — coastal bluffs, organic farmland, and 34 miles of trails starting right at the edge of Santa Cruz. Almost no tourists, stunning views.
15. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
If Yosemite gets the fame, Sequoia and Kings Canyon get the grandeur — and often a fraction of the crowds. General Sherman, in Sequoia, is the largest living thing on Earth by volume, a tree so massive it takes more than 20 people linking hands to encircle its base. Kings Canyon contains one of the deepest river canyons in North America. Together, these twin parks protect some of the most extraordinary wilderness in the Sierra Nevada.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Nature lovers, hikers, families, those seeking Yosemite’s scale without the crowds |
| Best season | May–October |
| Don’t miss | General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, Crystal Cave, Zumwalt Meadow, Kings Canyon Scenic Byway |
| Drive time | 4 hours from Los Angeles; 4 hours from San Francisco |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Climb Moro Rock — a granite dome with a paved staircase to the summit offering 360-degree views of the Great Western Divide and the San Joaquin Valley below.
16. Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous United States, the hottest place on Earth (134°F / 56.7°C was recorded here in 1913), the driest place in North America, and one of the most otherworldly landscapes you will ever encounter. The salt flats of Badwater Basin sit 282 feet below sea level. The Artist’s Palette erupts in impossible pinks, purples, and greens. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes glow gold at sunrise. Zabriskie Point at dawn is one of the most photographed vistas in America.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Photographers, geology enthusiasts, adventure seekers, stargazers |
| Best season | October–April ONLY. Summer temperatures are life-threatening. |
| Don’t miss | Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin, Artist’s Palette, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Dante’s View |
| Critical note | Carry at least 1 gallon of water per person per day. Cell service is nearly nonexistent. |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Badwater Basin at sunset and Zabriskie Point at sunrise — go to each at the optimal time and you’ll understand why Death Valley is one of the most photographed places in America.
- Stargazing: Death Valley is a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park. On a moonless night, the Milky Way is so bright it casts shadows.
Critical Safety Warning Never hike in Death Valley between May and September. Temperatures above 120°F (49°C) are common, and hyperthermia can set in within minutes. Even in cooler months, carry far more water than you think you need.
17. Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes is the outdoor adventure capital of the Eastern Sierra — a mountain town at 7,880 feet elevation surrounded by volcanic peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and dramatic high desert scenery. In winter, Mammoth Mountain is one of the best ski resorts in North America, with an average snowpack of 400 inches per year. In summer, the area transforms into a hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and rock-climbing paradise. Devils Postpile National Monument, just outside town, contains one of the world’s finest examples of columnar basalt.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Skiers, hikers, anglers, mountain bikers, photographers, geology lovers |
| Best season | December–April (skiing); June–September (summer activities) |
| Don’t miss | Devils Postpile, Rainbow Falls, Convict Lake, Hot Creek Geological Site, the Lakes Basin |
| Drive time | 5 hours from Los Angeles; 5.5 hours from San Francisco |
| How long | 3–5 days |
- Hidden gem: The Inyo Craters — a short walk from the road through a pine forest that suddenly opens into a trio of perfectly round volcanic craters, some partially filled with turquoise water. Almost no one visits them.
18. Bodie State Historic Park
Bodie is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the American West — an abandoned gold-mining boomtown at 8,375 feet in the high desert near the Nevada border, maintained in a state of ‘arrested decay.’ At its peak in 1879, Bodie had 10,000 residents, 65 saloons, and a reputation as one of the most lawless towns in the West. Today, about 200 weathered buildings remain exactly as they were left, with rusty equipment, half-eaten meals, and personal belongings still sitting where they were abandoned over a century ago.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | History lovers, photographers, families, ghost-town enthusiasts |
| Best season | June–October (road to Bodie is unpaved and often snowed in the rest of the year) |
| Don’t miss | The Standard Mine Mill, the Methodist Church, the jail, the cemetery |
| Note | Nothing can be removed from Bodie — the ‘Bodie Curse’ is taken very seriously by the park service |
| How long | Half day; combine with a Mammoth Lakes trip |
- Top experience: Arrive early when the morning light is golden and the crowds haven’t arrived. The silence, wind, and weathered wood create a genuinely haunting atmosphere.
19. Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a working fishing harbor anchored by Morro Rock — a 576-foot volcanic plug that rises dramatically from the bay and serves as a nesting site for protected Peregrine falcons. The town has an authentic, unhurried quality that many California coastal towns have lost. Sea otters float in the estuary. Herons nest in the eucalyptus trees. The Embarcadero is lined with fresh seafood restaurants and kayak rentals. Morro Bay State Park is an excellent birding destination.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Wildlife lovers, families, kayakers, photographers, those seeking authentic coastal California |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Don’t miss | Morro Rock, kayaking the bay (sea otters guaranteed), Morro Bay State Park Museum |
| How long | 1–2 days; excellent halfway stop between San Francisco and Los Angeles |
- Top experience: Rent a kayak from one of the Embarcadero outfitters and paddle out near the otter beds. Getting to watch sea otters cracking shellfish on their bellies from 20 feet away is a California highlight.
20. San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo — affectionately called SLO — consistently ranks as one of the happiest and most livable cities in America. Nestled between the coast and the wine country of the Edna Valley, it has a vibrant downtown, an excellent food scene, a thriving Thursday night farmers’ market that takes over the main street, and easy access to Pismo Beach, Montana de Oro State Park, and the vineyards of Paso Robles. The famous Bubblegum Alley is exactly as it sounds.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Families, foodies, beach lovers, wine enthusiasts, travelers seeking an authentic California town |
| Best season | April–October |
| Don’t miss | Mission San Luis Obispo, Thursday farmers’ market, Montana de Oro State Park, Edna Valley wineries |
| How long | 1–2 days; perfect stop on the Pacific Coast Highway |
- Hidden gem: Montana de Oro State Park — 8,000 acres of rugged coastal wilderness with dramatic cliffs, tidal pools, wildflower meadows, and a campground right on the bluffs. One of the most underrated state parks in California.
21. Hearst Castle
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Pacific near San Simeon, Hearst Castle is one of the most extraordinary private residences ever built in America. Newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst spent 28 years constructing this 165-room estate with its twin Baroque towers, three guesthouses, two indoor pools clad in Venetian mosaics, and an art collection that rivals most museums. The estate is now a California State Park and one of the most popular historic sites in the western United States.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | History lovers, architecture enthusiasts, families, anyone doing the PCH drive |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Don’t miss | Neptune Pool, Roman Pool, the main castle tour, the hilltop views |
| Bonus | Elephant seals congregate on the beach at San Simeon just south of the castle — free to watch |
| How long | Half day for the tour |
- Practical tip: Book the Grand Rooms Tour for a first visit — it covers the main castle and is the best introduction to the estate’s extraordinary scale and contents.
22. Fresno & Yosemite Gateway
Fresno doesn’t get much love from travel writers, but as the nearest major city to both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, it serves as an excellent and affordable base for park visits. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is excellent for families. The Tower District has great independent restaurants and live music venues. And the San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural bounty means the local farmers’ markets and farm stands are exceptional.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Budget-conscious travelers, families visiting the parks, those seeking an affordable California base |
| Best season | Year-round (spring and fall for park visits) |
| Drive time | 1.5 hours to Yosemite; 1 hour to Sequoia |
| How long | 1 night as a base; not a destination in itself |
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
23. Los Angeles
Los Angeles is one of the most complex, contradictory, and endlessly compelling cities on Earth. It’s a place of extraordinary beauty and grinding inequality, of creative energy and suburban sprawl, of world-class culture and manufactured celebrity. But beyond the Hollywood clichés, LA is a city of exceptional museums (the Getty, LACMA, the Broad, the Hammer), extraordinary food from every culinary tradition on Earth, stunning natural escapes (the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu, Angeles National Forest), and neighborhoods that feel like distinct cities within the city.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | First-timers, foodies, film enthusiasts, beach lovers, museum-goers, outdoor adventurers |
| Best season | March–May and September–November (mild temperatures, manageable crowds) |
| Don’t miss | Griffith Observatory, The Getty Center, Santa Monica Pier, Grand Central Market, Venice Beach, Runyon Canyon |
| Honest note | Traffic is genuinely terrible. Stay near your primary interests and use metro rail where possible. |
| How long | 4–7 days for a proper first visit |
- Top experience: Hike to the Griffith Observatory at dusk and watch the city light up below while the telescope dome illuminates above. Free, iconic, and one of the great views in American urban life.
- Eat here: Grand Central Market in downtown LA — one of the most vibrant food halls in the US, operating since 1917, with vendors ranging from decades-old egg sandwich counters to modern Korean BBQ.
- Hidden gem: The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City — one of the most fascinating and enigmatic small museums in California. Deliberately strange, impossibly curated, and completely unlike anything else.
24. Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is often called the American Riviera, and the comparison holds up. The city is tucked between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific, with a Spanish Colonial Revival architecture that gives it a visual coherence most California cities lack. The downtown State Street corridor, the historic Mission, the Stearns Wharf, and the beaches of East Beach and Butterfly Beach are all within easy walking distance. The nearby Santa Ynez Valley wine country — famous from the movie Sideways — is excellent.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Couples, wine lovers, beach enthusiasts, those seeking an elegant California coastal experience |
| Best season | April–October; July–August is peak (crowded and expensive) |
| Don’t miss | Old Mission Santa Barbara, Stearns Wharf, State Street, Santa Ynez Valley wine tasting, Lotusland (botanical garden, book ahead) |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Rent a bike and ride the Cabrillo Beach Bike Path along the coast at sunrise — flat, scenic, and one of the most pleasant morning experiences in California.
- Wine country: Drive the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail through the Santa Ynez Valley — excellent Pinot Noir and Syrah in a beautiful rural setting, with fewer tourists than Napa.
25. Channel Islands National Park
Often called the ‘Galapagos of North America,’ the Channel Islands are five remote, wild islands lying 20–60 miles off the Southern California coast that most Californians have never visited. The islands are home to species found nowhere else on Earth, including the Island Fox, the Island Scrub-Jay, and dozens of endemic plants. The surrounding waters are extraordinarily rich with kelp forests, gray whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Access is by boat from Ventura or Oxnard — which keeps the crowds away.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Wildlife lovers, snorkelers, kayakers, hikers, those seeking genuine wilderness close to LA |
| Best season | Year-round; spring for wildflowers and whale migration; summer for snorkeling |
| Don’t miss | Santa Cruz Island (largest and most accessible), sea cave kayaking, Island Fox spotting |
| How to get there | Island Packers boat service from Ventura (1–4 hours depending on island) |
| How long | 1–3 days (camping available on Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands) |
- Top experience: Kayak into Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island — one of the largest sea caves in the world, with bioluminescent organisms visible in the darkness.
26. Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree is where two deserts meet — the Mojave and the Colorado — creating a landscape of extraordinary strangeness and beauty. The park’s signature Joshua Trees (which are actually a species of yucca, not a true tree) stand sentinel over a landscape of massive boulder piles, dry washes, and ancient rocky outcroppings that draw rock climbers from around the world. The night skies are among the darkest in Southern California. And at sunrise and sunset, the light turns the rocks and trees gold in a way that makes every photographer gasp.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Photographers, rock climbers, stargazers, hikers, desert lovers |
| Best season | October–April. Summers are dangerously hot (100°F+). |
| Don’t miss | Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, Keys View, Barker Dam, Arch Rock |
| Drive time | 2.5 hours from Los Angeles |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Spend a night camping at Jumbo Rocks — the boulders glow silver in the moonlight, the stars are extraordinary, and the silence of the desert at 3am is something you’ll remember forever.
- Rock climbing: Joshua Tree is one of the premier rock climbing destinations in the world, with over 8,000 climbing routes. Beginners can hire guides from local outfitters in the town of Joshua Tree.
27. Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a desert city with an identity unlike anywhere else in California. The mid-century modern architecture is extraordinary — the city contains the highest concentration of MCM buildings in the world, and self-guided architectural tours are a highlight for design enthusiasts. The LGBTQ+ culture is vibrant and welcoming. The spa resorts are exceptional. The aerial tramway to the top of Mount San Jacinto offers a jaw-dropping transition from desert valley to pine forest. And the Coachella Valley’s date farms produce some of the world’s finest Medjool dates.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Architecture lovers, LGBTQ+ travelers, spa seekers, hikers, design enthusiasts |
| Best season | October–April. Summer temperatures exceed 110°F (43°C) regularly. |
| Don’t miss | Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Modernism Week (February), Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, Indian Canyons |
| Day trip | Salvation Mountain (1.5 hours east) is a surreal and unmissable folk art landmark |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Top experience: Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up 8,516 feet to Mount San Jacinto — in 10 minutes you go from 100°F desert to pine forest. Hike to the summit for 360-degree views of the Coachella Valley below.
28. San Diego
San Diego is where California perfects the formula. The weather is genuinely extraordinary (averaging 266 sunny days per year and rarely exceeding 85°F or dropping below 55°F). The beaches — Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla, Coronado — are among the best urban beaches in the country. The food scene has elevated dramatically over the past decade, and the craft beer scene is nationally recognized. And Balboa Park — 1,200 acres of museums, gardens, and theaters in the middle of the city — is one of the great urban parks in America.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Families, beach lovers, foodies, craft beer enthusiasts, first-time California visitors |
| Best season | Year-round. Genuinely. San Diego earns the ‘perfect weather’ reputation. |
| Don’t miss | Balboa Park & San Diego Zoo, La Jolla Cove, Coronado Island, Old Town, Gaslamp Quarter |
| Day trip | Tijuana, Mexico — 30 minutes south. Outstanding food, culture, and craft beer scene. |
| How long | 3–5 days |
- Top experience: Snorkel or kayak at La Jolla Cove — the protected marine reserve is home to sea lions, leopard sharks, garibaldi fish, and a kelp forest that’s accessible from the shore.
- Eat here: Barrio Logan for the most authentic and creative Mexican food in California. This neighborhood is the cultural heart of San Diego’s Latino community and has some of the finest tacos and birria in the state.
29. Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is the art capital of the California coast — a bohemian beach town with a long history of attracting painters, sculptors, and creative thinkers drawn by the extraordinary quality of light on the coves and cliffs. The town has over 100 coves, beaches, and parks to explore. The Pageant of the Masters each summer is one of the most unusual performing arts events in the world — living people recreate famous paintings onstage. The snorkeling at Crystal Cove State Park is outstanding.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Art lovers, beach explorers, snorkelers, couples, those seeking Orange County’s best coastal town |
| Best season | May–October |
| Don’t miss | Main Beach, Crystal Cove State Park, Heisler Park, Pageant of the Masters (July–August) |
| How long | 1–2 days; great day trip from Los Angeles or San Diego |
- Hidden gem: The tidal pools at Crystal Cove State Park at low tide — sea stars, anemones, hermit crabs, and octopuses in pools that feel like natural aquariums.
30. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
The largest state park in California — larger than the state of Rhode Island — Anza-Borrego is a spectacular desert wilderness just two hours east of San Diego that almost nobody outside Southern California has heard of. In a wet winter year, the wildflower superbloom here rivals anything Death Valley produces. The park contains slot canyons, palm oases, ancient Native American rock art, and some of the darkest skies in Southern California. The quirky town of Borrego Springs at the park’s center has excellent restaurants and one of the best stargazing programs in the region.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Wildflower enthusiasts, stargazers, desert explorers, photographers, off-road adventurers |
| Best season | February–April (wildflower season); October–December (comfortable temperatures) |
| Don’t miss | Borrego Palm Canyon, Font’s Point, Slot Canyon, the metal sculptures around Borrego Springs |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Hidden gem: Font’s Point at sunrise — a badlands overlook at the end of a 4-mile dirt road (high-clearance recommended) with views that rival anything in Death Valley, and virtually no crowds.
31. Temecula Wine Country
Temecula Valley is Southern California’s answer to Napa Valley — a surprisingly excellent wine region just 60 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles. The Mediterranean climate produces outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Viognier. The valley is also home to hot air balloon tours that are every bit as spectacular as Napa’s. Weekend Temecula can be quite crowded and the party-bus wine tour scene is lively — visit on a weekday for a more refined experience.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Wine lovers, LA and San Diego day-trippers, couples |
| Best season | September–November (harvest); spring for wildflowers |
| Don’t miss | Ponte Winery, South Coast Winery, hot air balloon tours, Old Town Temecula |
| How long | 1–2 days |
- Top experience: A sunrise hot air balloon flight over the vineyards — less expensive than Napa, equally beautiful, and an unforgettable way to start a wine country day.
32. Catalina Island
Just 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles lies an island that feels nothing like the mainland. Catalina Island — accessible by ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point in about an hour — is 76% protected nature preserve, with one small town (Avalon), crystal-clear water, and a pace of life completely at odds with LA. The snorkeling and scuba diving are excellent, the kayaking around the sea caves is outstanding, and the bison herd (yes, really — introduced in 1924 for a film shoot and never removed) roaming the interior is genuinely surreal.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Families, snorkelers, kayakers, those seeking a California island escape close to LA |
| Best season | April–October |
| Don’t miss | Lovers Cove Marine Reserve (snorkeling), Two Harbors (quieter side of the island), zip line tour |
| Ferry | Catalina Express from Long Beach: 1 hour, runs daily |
| How long | 1–2 days; day trip or overnight in Avalon |
- Top experience: Rent an electric golf cart (the primary vehicle on the island) and explore the coastal road to Two Harbors — sweeping views of the Pacific in both directions, and bison sightings almost guaranteed.
33. Big Bear Lake
Sitting at 6,752 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains just two hours from Los Angeles, Big Bear Lake is Southern California’s mountain escape — a year-round outdoor destination with two ski resorts in winter (Bear Mountain and Snow Summit), excellent hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and boating in summer, and a lakeside village with restaurants and shops that attract Angelenos and Inland Empire families alike. The lake itself is ringed by pine forest and backed by dramatic peaks.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Families, skiers, hikers, mountain bikers, LA day-trippers seeking mountain air |
| Best season | December–March (skiing); June–September (summer activities) |
| Don’t miss | Big Bear Village, Holcomb Valley (gold rush history), Castle Rock Trail, Big Bear Discovery Center |
| Drive time | 2–2.5 hours from Los Angeles |
| How long | 2–3 days |
- Hidden gem: Holcomb Valley — a high desert valley north of Big Bear with remnants of an 1860s gold rush boom town, petroglyphs, and spectacular views. Almost no one visits.
34. Ojai
Ojai (pronounced Oh-Hi) is a small arts and wellness town tucked into a sun-drenched valley in the Topatopa Mountains 90 minutes northwest of Los Angeles. It’s been a center for spiritual and artistic communities for over a century, and that energy is palpable — the downtown arcade is lined with galleries, crystal shops, organic restaurants, and yoga studios. The ‘Pink Moment’ — when the setting sun turns the mountains above town a vivid rose-gold — is one of Southern California’s most celebrated natural phenomena.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Wellness travelers, artists, LA day-trippers, those seeking a spiritual or creative retreat |
| Best season | March–November |
| Don’t miss | The Pink Moment (sunset from Libbey Park), Chief Peak Trail, Bart’s Books (largest outdoor bookstore in the US) |
| How long | 1–2 days |
- Hidden gem: Bart’s Books — an open-air bookshop where the shelves line the outdoor walls and the honor system operates after hours. One of the most charming bookshops in America.
35. Salvation Mountain & the Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is California’s largest lake — an accident created in 1905 when an irrigation canal broke and flooded the desert for two years. The surrounding Sonoran Desert landscape, the salt-encrusted shoreline, the abandoned buildings, and the eerie quietude of this inland sea make it one of the most surreal destinations in the American West. Nearby Salvation Mountain — a hillside painted in tens of thousands of gallons of adobe paint by folk artist Leonard Knight over 28 years — is a monument to outsider art and American eccentricity that has to be seen to be believed.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Best for | Photographers, artists, road-trippers, those seeking California’s strangest corners |
| Best season | October–April |
| Don’t miss | Salvation Mountain, East Jesus art installation, Bombay Beach, Slab City |
| Drive time | 2 hours from Palm Springs; 2.5 hours from San Diego |
| How long | Half to full day; pair with Palm Springs or Joshua Tree |
- Top experience: Salvation Mountain at golden hour — the colors of Leonard Knight’s painted hillside, combined with the desert light and the silence of the surrounding Sonoran Desert, create one of the most photogenic and moving scenes in California.
InfiniteTrek Note The Salton Sea is experiencing ecological challenges and the shoreline can have a strong odor depending on wind and season. It is a fascinating, important, and haunting place — but go in prepared and be respectful of the environment.
How to Use This List: Building Your California Itinerary
With 35 destinations across a 900-mile-long state, you obviously can’t see everything in one trip. Here are a few curated itinerary frameworks based on travel style:
First-Timer’s Classic (10–14 days)
- Days 1–3: San Francisco — city exploration, Golden Gate, Alcatraz
- Day 4: Drive to Muir Woods and Point Reyes National Seashore
- Days 5–6: Napa or Sonoma Valley wine country
- Days 7–8: Yosemite National Park
- Day 9: Drive south via Fresno to Carmel/Monterey
- Days 10–11: Big Sur (the Pacific Coast Highway section)
- Days 12–13: Santa Barbara
- Day 14: Los Angeles — arrive, decompress, fly home
The Epic Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip (14–18 days)
- Days 1–3: San Diego — beaches, Balboa Park, Tijuana day trip
- Days 4–5: Laguna Beach, Santa Barbara
- Days 6–8: Los Angeles — Getty, Griffith, Venice Beach, food
- Day 9: Drive through Malibu and Ventura
- Days 10–11: Big Sur (take your time — don’t rush this)
- Days 12–13: Monterey, Carmel, 17-Mile Drive
- Days 14–15: Santa Cruz, then San Francisco
- Days 16–18: Muir Woods, Point Reyes, Napa Valley
Nature & National Parks Focus (12–16 days)
- Days 1–3: Yosemite National Park
- Days 4–5: Sequoia & Kings Canyon
- Days 6–7: Death Valley (October–April only)
- Days 8–9: Joshua Tree National Park
- Days 10–11: Channel Islands (ferry from Ventura)
- Days 12–13: Redwood National & State Parks (fly into San Francisco)
- Days 14–16: Lake Tahoe for hiking and decompression
Off the Beaten Path (10–14 days)
- Days 1–2: Mendocino and the Sonoma Coast
- Days 3–4: Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Days 5–6: Mount Shasta region
- Day 7: Bodie Ghost Town
- Days 8–9: Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra
- Day 10: Morro Bay and Montana de Oro State Park
- Days 11–12: Anza-Borrego Desert and Salvation Mountain
- Days 13–14: Ojai and the Santa Barbara backcountry
Final Word from InfiniteTrek
California doesn’t reveal itself all at once. The first visit gives you the obvious wonders — and they are genuinely wonderful. But the second and third trips start taking you deeper: the ghost towns and ghost coasts, the desert light at 4am, the forest silence in an old-growth grove, the towns that barely appear on maps but linger in the memory for years.
This is InfiniteTrek’s second published guide, and it represents our deepest attempt yet to help you navigate the richest travel destination in the United States. Every single one of these 35 places has been researched and written with genuine care for the traveler who will use this list to plan something real.
We’ll keep this article updated as access, conditions, and prices change. Bookmark it. Send it to the friend who’s planning a California trip. And whenever you’re ready to hit the road yourself — we’ll have a guide waiting for you.
See you out there.
— The InfiniteTrek Team