California is big enough to hold a dozen countries' worth of scenery. In a single week you can stand beneath the tallest trees on Earth, watch waves explode against Big Sur's cliffs and walk across salt flats below sea level. Narrowing it down to ten is almost unfair, but these are the places that make people fall in love with the Golden State.
1. Yosemite Valley
There is no better first impression in America than Tunnel View. El Capitan rises on the left, Bridalveil Fall pours down on the right, and Half Dome anchors the far end of the valley. Come in late spring when snowmelt turns the waterfalls into roaring white ribbons.
Tip: Yosemite has used reservation systems during busy seasons. Check the National Park Service website before you set off. Read our Yosemite first-timer's guide.
2. Big Sur
Highway 1 between Carmel and San Simeon is one of the world's great drives. Stop at Bixby Creek Bridge, then hike down to the overlook at McWay Falls, where an 80-foot waterfall drops onto a beach you are not allowed to touch, which somehow makes it even more beautiful.
3. Lake Tahoe
The water at Lake Tahoe is famously clear, and Emerald Bay is its crown jewel. Drive the lake's 72-mile shoreline, paddle out from Sand Harbor, or simply sit on a granite boulder and watch the light change.
4. The Golden Gate Bridge
Yes, it's famous. It's also genuinely breathtaking, especially from Marshall's Beach or Battery Spencer when the fog rolls through the towers. Walk the bridge at sunrise for the best light and fewest people.
5. Death Valley National Park
Death Valley holds the record for the hottest air temperature ever measured on Earth, yet from November to March it's one of the most beautiful places in the state. Watch sunrise light up the badlands at Zabriskie Point, then walk out onto the salt flats at Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level.
6. Point Reyes National Seashore
Wild, windy and just an hour from San Francisco. Herds of tule elk roam Tomales Point, gray whales pass the lighthouse in winter, and the beaches feel endless.
7. Joshua Tree National Park
Twisted Joshua trees, house-sized boulders and some of the darkest night skies in Southern California. Stay for sunset at Keys View and then look up.
8. Mount Shasta
A lone volcano rising more than 10,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, Mount Shasta is visible from a hundred miles away. The surrounding region is full of quiet lakes and waterfalls that most Californians have never seen.
9. San Diego's coastline
From the tide pools of Cabrillo National Monument to the sea lions of La Jolla, San Diego's 70 miles of coastline offer something for everyone, in weather that rarely disappoints.
10. Napa Valley
Vineyards stacked against golden hills, historic wine caves and some of the best restaurants in the country. Visit during harvest, from late August to October, when the whole valley smells like crushed grapes.
Planning your California bucket list
You won't see all of this in one trip, and you shouldn't try. Pair places by region: Yosemite with Lake Tahoe, Big Sur with Monterey, Joshua Tree with Palm Springs. Use our interactive region map to plan a route that works.
