California Travel Guide description

Nearly 300 state and national parks show off California’s spectacular lands.

With its stunning coastline, dramatic deserts, and rugged mountains, California offers wide-open spaces for everything from scenic road trips to adrenaline-fueled adventures.

In parklands including World Heritage sites Yosemite National Park and Redwood State and National Parks, enjoy year-round activities. In spring, raft Gold Country rivers and take wildflower hikes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, or swing a club at celebrated courses. In summer, surf “The O.C.” or Santa Cruz, or rent a houseboat on a sparkling lake. Come fall, photograph brilliant High Sierra foliage or join a wine country grape stomp. In winter, ski celebrated slopes, or take a whale-watching cruise off the North Coast.