#39 Mormon Rocks
Mormon Rocks also named Rock Candy Mountains are a series of sandstone boulders located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. These giant rock formations lie directly in the San Andreas Fault Zone. Part of San Bernardino National Forest, these rocks were named for the settlers moving from Salt Lake City, Utah to Los Angeles in covered wagons in the 1800's. These beautiful formations are along historic Route 66 in today's Cajon Pass.
#18 Lake Arrowhead Village
Lake Arrowhead Village is a charming village high in the San Bernardino Mountains. The elevation is just under a mile high at 5,174 feet. Located in the National Forest just above the sprawling Inland Empire, you will feel worlds away. Quaint shops and restaurants fill the Swiss inspired streets. The water remains crystal clear. Abundant sunshine can be found year round while snow can be enjoyed in the wintertime.
#15 Laguna Meadow
Laguna Meadow in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is a stunning site high in the mountains of San Diego. Part of Cleveland National Forest, this conifer forest meadow is an island in the sky. This is a must visit for every season: fall colors, winter snow, spring wildflowers and summer green. Take the Sunrise Scenic Byway which winds through mountains making it a beautiful drive. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail also passes through this gorgeous recreation area.
#7 Mount Wilson
Mount Wilson is a grand peak in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument & Angeles National Forest. The summit is just over a mile high at 5,710 feet. From the Angeles Crest Highway, Mount Wilson Red Box Road beautifully winds up the range. Visit on a rainy day and soar above the bursting clouds. Snow is even common in the winter. This wonderland is unbelievably right above Los Angeles yet you will feel you've entered another land.
#5 General Sherman Tree - The World's Largest Tree
The General Sherman Tree, inside of the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, is the World's Largest Tree. Estimated to be an age of 2,300-2,700 years old, it is also one of the longest lived trees on Earth. This Gigantic Sequoia Tree is 274.9 feet tall with a ground circumference of 102.6 feet. The diameter of its largest branch measures 6.8 feet. It is certainly one of the great wonders of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
#2 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a gem on the Central Coast of California. Nestled in the foothills of Los Padres National Forest, the 78-acre garden showcases over 1000 native California flora and vegetation. Beautiful Mission Creek flows through and provides the perfect landscape along its many trails. Wildflowers also cover the ground in the springtime.
