Travel The Pacific Coast Highway
Sea lions in San Simeon, just off the Pacific Coast Highway
Traveling the PCH can provide you with camping, cycling and hiking opportunities galore. The highway drive is one of the most beautiful in the world, as is cuts around treacherous ocean cliffs and traverses stunning redwood forests. For little more than the price of gas and campground reservations, traveling the entire route will allow you to see some of the best attractions in California including San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Santa Cruz, San Francisco and Napa Valley.
Pacific Coast Highway
California State Route 1
www.byways.org/explore/byways/12744/
Explore Yosemite
Yosemite falls
Yosemite is a beautiful nature reserve and one of the most popular attractions in the national park system. The redwood-laden land is an ideal home for all number of rare and endangered plants and animals, making the entire environment rich with wildlife. Camping in the park is relatively inexpensive and cabins also can be rented for a reasonable price. While in the park, you can climb the famed half dome, kayak through the scenic Merced River or just hike through the many nature trails.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
(209) 372-0200
www.nps.gov/yose/
Tour The Beaches
Torrey Pines beach
California's best known attractions are its pristine sandy beaches. While the stunning coastline makes up one full border of the state, the classic beaches most people will want to visit are mostly located on the southern half of the state, where the weather stays fairly temperate all year long. The best beach to the north is that of Santa Cruz, which can be seen in a number of popular movies, including "Jaws" and "Lost Boys." The further south you travel, the more world-class beaches you will enjoy. In Los Angeles, take a relaxing bike ride from Marina Del Ray to Manhattan Beach or try your hand at surfing on Malibu Beach. Head even further south to San Diego and spend a day in the sand at Torrey Pines before hiking up the neighboring cedar-lined cliffs.
Don't forget to take a dip in the crystal blue waters of any of these beautiful beaches.
Experience Spring in The Anza Borrego Desert
Anza Borrego at night
If you prefer sandy deserts to sandy beaches, the Anza Borrego might be what you're looking for. Visit in the spring and you will be able to see the desert flowers in bloom. It is the one time a year while the normally soft colors of the desert explode into an array of bright oranges, reds, pinks and yellows. When you hike to the park's national spring you just might be able to see the other miracle of springtime in the area by stumbling upon some of the many newly born desert animals.
Anza Borego Desert State Park
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
parks.ca.gov
