California

General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park

Amazing Cities:
Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco

Amazing Towns:
Lone Pine, Mammoth Lakes, Palm Springs

Attractions

Alabama Hills Recreation and National Scenic Area - Lone Pine
Alcatraz Island - San Francisco
Apple Hill Visitors Center - Placerville
Brady Bunch House - Studio City
Cabazon Dinosaurs - Cabazon
California Automobile Museum - Sacramento
California State Railroad Museum - Sacramento
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch - Oro Grande
Fender Factory Tour - Corona
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco - San Francisco
"Full House" TV Show Set - San Francisco
Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego - San Diego
Glory Hole - Napa
Grateful Dead House - San Francisco
Hearst Castle - San Simeon
Hollywood Sign - Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame - Los Angeles
Monarch Butterfly Grove - Pismo Beach
Murphy Ranch - Pacific Palisades
Museum of Western Film History - Lone Pine
Nightmare Rock - Lone Pine
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - Palm Springs
Peggy Sue's 50's Diner - Yermo
Pioneertown - Pioneertown
Public Art "The Love That Binds" - Laguna Beach
Salvation Mountain - Calipatria
San Diego Zoo - San Diego
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - Santa Cruz
Santa Monica Pier - Santa Monica
Slab City - Slab City
Sutro Baths - San Francisco
Teakettle Junction
The Flower Fields - Carlsbad
The Joshua Tree U2 Album Location
Twin Peaks - San Francisco
Zzyzx, California - Zzyzx

Battlefields & Military

White Cross World War I Memorial - Nipton

Beaches

Baker Beach - San Francisco
Butterfly Beach (California) - Montecito
Castle Rock Viewpoint - Monterey
El Matador Beach - Malibu
La Jolla Shores Beach - San Diego, CA
Law Street Beach - San Diego
Little Sur River Beach - Monterey
Ocean Beach, San Francisco
Pacific Beach, San Diego - San Diego
Paradise Cove Beach - Malibu
Pirate's Cove Beach - Corona Del Mar
Point Loma Tide Pools - San Diego
Point Reyes - Inverness
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego
Wipeout Beach - La Jolla

Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries

Baily Vineyard - Temecula
Cougar Vineyard and Winery - Temecula
Doffo Winery - Temecula
Hart Winery - Temecula

Bridges

Canyons & Gorges

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park - Granada Hills
Kings Canyon National Park
Mosaic Canyon Trail
Rainbow Canyon (California)
Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles
Solstice Canyon - Malibu
Tahquitz Canyon - Palm Springs

City Parks

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park - Granada Hills
Balboa Park (San Diego) - San Diego
Bernal Heights Park - San Francisco
Billy Goat Hill, San Francisco - San Francisco
Crissy Field - San Francisco
Ellen Browning Scripps Park - La Jolla
Glorietta Bay Park - Coronado
Grandview Park - San Francisco
Ina Coolbrith Park - San Francisco
Kate Sessions Park - San Diego
McKinley Park, Sacramento - Sacramento
Mission Dolores Park - San Francisco
Pioneer Park (San Francisco) - San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco - San Francisco
Shoreline Park - Santa Barbara
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego

Cliffs & Bluffs

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego

Forests

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - Bishop
Los Padres National Forest - Goleta

Ghost Towns

Hiking

Cactus to Clouds Trail - Palm Springs
Cap Rock Nature Trail - Twentynine Palms
Deep Creek Hot Springs - Apple Valley
High Sierra Trailhead
Inspiration Point Trailhead - Santa Barbara
Lookout Trail Viewpoint - Big Sur
Lundy Canyon Trail Head - Bridgeport
Mormon Rocks - Phelan
Mosaic Canyon Trail
Mount Davidson (California) - San Francisco
Murphy Ranch - Pacific Palisades
Sandstone Trailhead - Malibu
Solstice Canyon - Malibu
South Lykken Trailhead - Palm Springs

Historic Places

Alcatraz Island - San Francisco
Amargosa Opera House and Hotel - Death Valley
Apple Hill Visitors Center - Placerville
Barstow Harvey House - Barstow
California State Capitol - Sacramento
California State Railroad Museum - Sacramento
Coit Tower - San Francisco
General Grant Tree
Griffith Observatory - Los Angeles
Hearst Castle - San Simeon
Lost Horse Mine
Mission Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara
Sutro Baths - San Francisco
Historic Mausoleum at Old Mission Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara
Wall Street Mill - Twentynine Palms
White Cross World War I Memorial - Nipton

Hot Springs

Lakes

Brees Lookout - Mammoth Lakes
Cathedral Lakes
Convict Lake - Mammoth Lakes
June Lake (California)
Lone Pine Lake - Lone Pine
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve - Lee Vining
Owens Lake Trails Plaza - Oroville

Lighthouses

Pigeon Point Lighthouse - Pescadero
Point Reyes Lighthouse - Inverness
Point Sur Lighthouse - Monterey

Mountains

Movie & TV Locations

Alabama Hills Recreation and National Scenic Area - Lone Pine
Brady Bunch House - Studio City
"Full House" TV Show Set - San Francisco
Hollywood Sign - Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame - Los Angeles
Museum of Western Film History - Lone Pine

Museums

California Automobile Museum - Sacramento
California Route 66 Museum - Victorville
California State Capitol - Sacramento
California State Railroad Museum - Sacramento
Crocker Art Museum - Sacramento
Museum of Western Film History - Lone Pine
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum - Joshua Tree

Music

National Monuments

Cabrillo National Monument - San Diego
Devils Postpile National Monument - Mammoth Lakes
Lava Beds National Monument - Tulelake
Mojave Trails National Monument - Amboy
Muir Woods National Monument - Mill Valley
Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument - Needles
White Cross World War I Memorial - Nipton

National Parks

Channel Islands National Park - Ventura
Death Valley National Park - Furnace Creek
Joshua Tree National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Redwood National and State Parks
Sequoia National Park
Yosemite National Park

Overlooks

Castle Rock Viewpoint - Monterey
Elephant Seal Vista Point - San Simeon
Golden Gate Overlook - San Francisco
Lands End (San Francisco) - San Francisco
Lookout Trail Viewpoint - Big Sur
Muir Beach Overlook - Muir Beach
Twin Peaks - San Francisco

Parks & Forests

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park - Granada Hills
Alviso Marina County Park - Alviso
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - Bishop
Angel Island (California) - Tiburon
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - Borrego Springs
Balboa Park (San Diego) - San Diego
Bernal Heights Park - San Francisco
Billy Goat Hill, San Francisco - San Francisco
Channel Islands National Park - Ventura
Crissy Field - San Francisco
Death Valley National Park - Furnace Creek
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park - Tahoma
Ellen Browning Scripps Park - La Jolla
Emerald Bay State Park - South Lake Tahoe
Glorietta Bay Park - Coronado
Grandview Park - San Francisco
Gray Whale Cove State Beach - Half Moon Bay
Ina Coolbrith Park - San Francisco
Joshua Tree National Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - Big Sur
Kate Sessions Park - San Diego
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area - Los Angeles
Kings Canyon National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Los Padres National Forest - Goleta
McKinley Park, Sacramento - Sacramento
Mission Dolores Park - San Francisco
Monarch Butterfly Grove - Pismo Beach
Pinnacles National Park
Pioneer Park (San Francisco) - San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco - San Francisco
Redwood National and State Parks
Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles
Sequoia National Park
Shoreline Park - Santa Barbara
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego
Yosemite National Park

Presidents

General Grant Tree

Roadside

Cabazon Dinosaurs - Cabazon
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch - Oro Grande
"Full House" TV Show Set - San Francisco
Nightmare Rock - Lone Pine
Peggy Sue's 50's Diner - Yermo
Salvation Mountain - Calipatria
Teakettle Junction
Zzyzx, California - Zzyzx

Rock Formations

Alabama Hills Recreation and National Scenic Area - Lone Pine
Buttermilk Boulders - Bishop
Castle Rock Viewpoint - Monterey
Eagle Rock - Warner Springs
Mobius Arch Stone - Lone Pine
Mormon Rocks - Phelan
Potato Chip Rock - Ramona

Scenic Areas

Alabama Hills Recreation and National Scenic Area - Lone Pine
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park - Granada Hills
Avenue of the Giants - Weott
Badwater Basin
Battery Spencer - Sausalito
Buttermilk Boulders - Bishop
Cannery Row - Monterey
Castle Rock Viewpoint - Monterey
Deep Creek Hot Springs - Apple Valley
Devils Golf Course
Devil's Punchbowl
Dumont Dunes
Eagle Rock - Warner Springs
Elephant Seal Vista Point - San Simeon
Golden Gate Overlook - San Francisco
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
Hot Creek (Mono County) - Mammoth Lakes
Inspiration Point - Corona Del Mar
Kelso Dunes
Kings Canyon National Park
La Jolla Cove - La Jolla
Lands End (San Francisco) - San Francisco
Leaning Tree - Inverness
Lookout Trail Viewpoint - Big Sur
McWay Cove - Big Sur
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes - Death Valley
Minaret Summit - Mammoth Lakes
Mobius Arch Stone - Lone Pine
Mormon Rocks - Phelan
Mosaic Canyon Trail
Mount Tallac
Muir Beach Overlook - Muir Beach
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum - Joshua Tree
Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area - San Simeon
Potato Chip Rock - Ramona
Rainbow Basin Natural Area - Barstow
Rainbow Canyon (California)
Redwood Giganten - Myers Flat
Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles
Solstice Canyon - Malibu
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego
Tahquitz Canyon - Palm Springs
Tecopa Hot Springs - Tecopa
Temple Crag
The Racetrack
Top of the World - Laguna Beach
Travertine Hot Springs - Bridgeport
Twin Peaks - San Francisco
Whitney Portal - Lone Pine
Wild Willy's Hot Spring
Zabriskie Point - California

State Parks

Alviso Marina County Park - Alviso
Angel Island (California) - Tiburon
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - Borrego Springs
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park - Tahoma
Emerald Bay State Park - South Lake Tahoe
Gray Whale Cove State Beach - Half Moon Bay
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - Big Sur
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area - Los Angeles
Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles

Tourist

Alcatraz Island - San Francisco
Apple Hill Visitors Center - Placerville
California Automobile Museum - Sacramento
California State Railroad Museum - Sacramento
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco - San Francisco
Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego - San Diego
Glory Hole - Napa
Hearst Castle - San Simeon
Hollywood Sign - Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame - Los Angeles
Monarch Butterfly Grove - Pismo Beach
Murphy Ranch - Pacific Palisades
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - Palm Springs
Pioneertown - Pioneertown
San Diego Zoo - San Diego
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - Santa Cruz
Santa Monica Pier - Santa Monica
Slab City - Slab City
Sutro Baths - San Francisco
The Flower Fields - Carlsbad
Twin Peaks - San Francisco

Waterfalls

View of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe. Stock photo by Jeremy Doodridge via Unsplash.

Weekend Road Trip: Sacramento To Lake Tahoe and Reno
You don't have to drive a long way to see a lot of stuff between Sacramento and Reno.

Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Internal and External View

This Samsonite carry-on suitcase is on deep discount right now
Samsonite's 20" Spinner luggage maximizes your packing power and meets most carry-on size restrictions for those traveling domestically and looking to stay light. And it's 44% off right now!

The Golden Gate Bridge

15 Stunning San Francisco Photo Spots
Grab your camera and your walking shoes and let’s check out some of the best San Francisco photo spots in and around the city to catch those stunning skylines!

The Arizona/New Mexico state line on Interstate 10

Can ChatGPT Plan a Cross-Country Trip?
ChatGPT is all the rage right now, but can it plan a cross-country road trip across the United States?

AirBNB in Vermont

Six Ways to Save Money on Your Next AirBNB
Long gone are the days of only choosing between a hotel or scrambling to find a friend’s couch to crash on for your vacation. Instead, with a quick Google search…

Welcome to New Mexico Sign on Interstate 10.

An Epic Boston to Los Angeles Cross-Country Drive
A few years back, I picked up and moved across the country from Boston to Las Vegas, and it was the perfect excuse for a cross-country road trip.

Yosemite National Park

Amazing Guide to Yosemite National Park
Regardless of the type of adventure you’re searching for, we’re sure you’ll appreciate this roundup of quintessential ways to relish in the wonder of Yosemite National Park.

La Jolla Cove at sunset in San Diego, California

The 13 Best San Diego Instagram Locations
Just two hours south of Los Angeles along the Pacific coast, San Diego has everything you need for a great getaway and a dazzling Instagram feed. Here's 13 of the best Instagram locations around San Diego.

Bixby Creek Bridge in Monterey, CA

13 Instagram Stops Along the Pacific Coast Highway
Here are 13 Instagrammable spots along the Pacific Coast Highway that you must stop and see.

Camping for Free near National Parks

How to Camp for Free Near National Parks
If you want to travel on a budget, camping for free near National Parks can cut your costs dramatically.

Rental Car Shortage

Rental Car Shortage Causing Price Spike Across U.S.
After a year of shedding unused vehicles, rental car companies have found themselves with a massive shortage in their fleets as we head into the spring and summer travel seasons.

Path along the alpine meadows of the Pacific Crest Trail

How To Prepare to Hike the Pacific Crest Trail
Who’s up for a 2,650-mile trek across the United States? Whether you choose to thru-hike or section hike, you’ll be blown away by the scenery from the deserts of southern California to the rugged vistas of northern Washington.

Highway 1 Slip Out near Big Sur, California

Highway 1 Falls into the Ocean in Big Sur, California
A section of Highway 1 about 20 miles south of Big Sur, California has fallen into the ocean debris from a torrential rain storm struck the road.

Badwater Basin

Visit the National Parks Virtually Through Amazon Prime
If you already pay for Amazon Prime, you may not realize that you have access to some awesome National Parks content on their streaming service.

Temecula Wine Country Tour

Temecula, a Hidden Gem in Southern California Wine Country
Temecula is considered “Southern California wine country,” a counterpart to Napa and Sonoma several hours north.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

A Musical Journey: The Ultimate List of Rock, R&B & Country Destinations in the USA
There's so much rich music history in the USA. Whether you like rock, blues, R&B, or country, there are plenty of great spots to bring a little electricity to your next road trip.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park closed due to poor air quality
According to the National Park Service's website, Yosemite National Park is "closed to all visitors and vehicular access due to significant smoke impacts and hazardous air quality throughout the park."

Death Valley National Park

Want to get paid $50k to Travel the National Parks? Michelob is hiring!
If you've always dreamed of quitting your job to road trip America in a RV and visit the National Parks, we've got great news for you. Michelob Ultra wants to pay you $50,000 to do it!

Delicate Arch at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah

The Best Five National Parks in America
Looking to visit your first National Park? While you could visit any of the 62 parks and not likely come away disappointed, there's a few that stand above the pack for their spectacular scenery and awe-inspiring features. Here's our ranking of the best National Parks in America.

Joshua Tree National Park

Soak up the Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park
Every time I visit Joshua Tree National Park, I come away with a rejuvenated appreciation for the grandeur of the California desert.

San Francisco

Leave your heart, not your laptop, in San Francisco
There's no shortage of amazing tourist destinations in San Francisco, and unfortunately, there's an overabundance of crime at these locations now.

Shadows and Tall Trees: Kings Canyon and the Sierra Nevadas
I've got about 500-600 stars in my Google Maps, the majority of which are concentrated in Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Which means you can sometimes forget about California.

Walker Canyon Poppy Fields

Trying To Catch the Superbloom? Timing Is Everything in Walker Canyon
Lake Elsinor became Instagram Influencer Ground Zero in March of 2019 when an unusual "superbloom" transformed Walker Canyon's poppy field into an electric rainbow of wildflowers.

Brees Lookout at Hot Creek in Mammoth Lakes, CA

From Vegas to Tahoe - Route 395 Is the Ultimate California Road Trip
Tourists know about the Pacific Coast Highway road trip, and sure, that’s a spectacular oceanside drive. But U.S. Route 395 is the California road less traveled and more spectacular.

Goblin Valley State Park

An Epic Denver to Sequoia Road Trip
Planning a Denver to California road trip? There's plenty to see along the way. If you've got 10 days, here's a suggested road trip itinerary that takes you through multiple National Parks, a few awesome hikes, and easy driving between stops.

Fall Creek Falls in Spencer, Tennessee

The Best State Parks in Tennessee
Tennessee is the land of the great smoky mountains, boisterous honky tonks, and the infamous Graceland. While these things have made the southern state famous, there is so much more to Tennessee than meets the eye. There are not only spectacular lakes and rivers, but many more waterfalls to explore than you may realize. Luckily, all of these sites are well preserved by Tennessee’s fantastic State Park system.

Snow Canyon State Park, Ivins, Utah

The Best Utah State Parks You Haven’t Been To Yet
Utah is known for its famous Big Five National Parks, but don’t sleep on Utah’s incredible state parks.

Path along the alpine meadows of the Pacific Crest Trail

How To Prepare to Hike the Pacific Crest Trail
Who’s up for a 2,650-mile trek across the United States? Whether you choose to thru-hike or section hike, you’ll be blown away by the scenery from the deserts of southern California to the rugged vistas of northern Washington.

Afton State Park in Hastings, Minnesota

The Best 10 State Parks in Minnesota
Famously dubbed the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota is renowned for incredible outdoor spaces. With four different major ecosystems and beautiful water features, Minnesota boasts some of the country’s most gorgeous places.

Hanauma Bay, Hawaii

Three Easy Scenic Hikes in O'ahu, Hawaii
When it comes to discovering Hawai‘i, those who make hiking a priority will be able to experience awe-inspiring scenic views unlike anywhere else in the world. The island of O‘ahu holds many spectacular hikes, giving you plenty of options.

T.A. Moulton Barn in Grand Teton National Park

Looping the Grand Tetons: Cruising through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Yellowstone
After I finally made the trip to Jackson, Wyoming, and spent a few days exploring, I wondered: What took me so long, and why aren’t more people talking about Grand Teton National Park?

Portland Head Light

Roaming Coastal Maine: Lobster, Lighthouses and Acadia National Park
Shoulder season National Park visits can be a fruitful travel hack, if you don’t mind a little risk. I gambled on a mid-March weekend to make my first trip to Acadia National Park, following up on last spring’s Maine lighthouse tour.

Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona

Nashville to Las Vegas Road Trip Itinerary
Looking for a road trip with funky dive bars, music history, incredible vistas and enchanting landscapes of the southwest? Take a legendary 10-state road trip from Nashville to Las Vegas, with plenty of wild and wacky stops along the way.

Diamond Head

Underrated Hawaii Road Trips: Big Island and Maui
If embarking on an epic road trip adventure is on your list of things to do, Hawai‘i is not usually the first place to come to mind, a place famously known for having ‘interstate highways’ that never leave the state.

The view from Sharp Top Mountain / Photo by Isaac Wendland on Unsplash

A Driving Loop Through the Heart of Virginia
This epic route through the middle of the state includes Founding Fathers, stunning mountain ranges, natural and man-made bridges, and so much more.