California is the third largest state by land in the country, so it’s no wonder it has a lot to offer in the way of spectacular natural views.
You’ll find something to wow you up and down the coast, whether you’re looking at Fresno apartments for rent or condos in San Diego.
Artists Palette
Located in Death Valley, these hills look like someone took a paintbrush to them to result in a multi-colored painting.
Volcanic deposits rich in compounds like chlorite and iron oxides are the cause of this rainbow effect.
This stop is part of the Artists Drive Scenic Loop, nine miles of one-way paved road.
Sequoia National Park
If you have ever wanted to bear witness to the largest living things on earth, this is the place you want to be.
These enormous trees can be viewed from hiking trails as well as up close. General Sherman is the tallest among them, clocking in at 275 feet tall and a diameter of 36 feet at the base.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
If you find yourself in the area during late February through March, stop here to see the annual desert flower bloom. Walking Little Surprise Canyon, the Cactus Loop Trail and Bow Willow Canyon will give you access to the endless sea of brightly colored flowers.
You’ll also come across the Borrego Badlands, an area of dry, ridged rocky terrain and sunken mesas.
Lake Tahoe
This jewel-tone body of water sits in the Sierra Mountain Range and is over 21 miles long. It’s one of the purest water lakes in the world and one of the oldest.
This is a great place to get active with swimming, boating, kayaking, and hiking. You’ll also find much to do here in winter thanks to the many ski resorts.
The Big Sur Coast
Hop in your car and set off on this scenic drive, which pits the expansive Pacific Ocean against the rocky coastline for a one-of-a-kind view.
Along the way you can make stops at the Point Sur Lighthouse, McWay Falls, or check out enormous redwoods at Big Sur State Park.
Racetrack Playa
This is another unique spot in Death Valley. This dry lakebed has “sailing stones,” rocks that move of their own accord across the landscape and leave trails on the ground as proof of the routes they’ve taken.
Though large, some rocks have moved 1,500 feet on their own. It’s an eerie sight to see these paths cutting through an otherwise smooth area.
The Lava Tube
Within the Mojave Desert sits this natural phenomenon, a tube formed long ago by molten lava.
Descend a short ladder to an area where holes in the rock ceiling allow sunlight to punch through on a subterranean world.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is one of the most popular destinations for nature lovers in the state. It spans almost 1,200 square miles and has waterfalls, deep valleys, sprawling meadows, and enormous sequoias.
You can camp here or take ranger-guided tours. Glacier point overlooks Yosemite Valley, the Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite’s high country. You can visit Wawona, a basin that became a settlement and now has the Wawona hotel on its grounds.
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