#26 Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel
The Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel is a luxurious downtown hotel that opened in 1923. At the time, it was the largest hotel west of Chicago. The architecture is a mix of Renaissance Revival, Mediterranean Revival and Beaux Arts. Its interiors are jaw dropping with hand painted murals, marble columns, chandeliers, 24 karat gold accents, wooden carvings and tapestries. The ceilings were done by famed Italian artist Giovanni Smeraldi whose work can also be seen at the Vatican and White House. Opulence at its finest can be discovered in this glorious hotel.
#25 Zzyzx
Zzyzx is the former site of Zzyzx Mineral Springs & Health Spa in the Mojave National Preserve. Curtis Howe Springer founded the spa in 1944 naming it Zzyzx so that it would become the very last word in the dictionary. He claimed his hot springs could heal all health problems. The springs were actually just faked by warming the water with a boiler and adding herbs! The government caught up with Springer in the 60's and the Resort was shut down. California State University built a Desert Studies Center here in the 70's while all that remains of the resort are ghostly ruins. A car graveyard is the highlight of the ruins.
#24 Elfin Forest
The Elfin Forest is a peaceful nature preserve in Los Osos on the Central Coast. Located along beautiful Morro Bay, the forest protects 90 acres and more than 200 plants, 22 mammals, 13 reptiles & amphibians and over 100 species of birds. The pygmy oak woodland, chaparral, marsh and manzanita plant communities all come together to reveal what the Coast of California is actually supposed to look like.
#23 Franceschi Park
Franceschi Park in Santa Barbara is the essential spot to view a panorama of Santa Barbara. The drive up via Alameda Padre Serra road is a thrill in itself. Located on the former estate of Francesco Franceschi, an Italian Botanist, this 18 acre park contains the ghostly remains of a mansion and gardens. During the turn of the 20th century, Franceschi imported nearly one thousand different species of plants into Southern California transforming the way SoCal would be landscaped forever.
#22 Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens just outside of Palm Springs in Palm Desert is a wonderful zoo focusing on Desert Species. Founded in 1970, this Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institution has done a great job of showcasing the importance of desert preservation in a land surrounded by resorts. The Living Desert has helped reintroduce bighorn sheep to the local desert.
Giraffes, cheetahs and mountain lion among many other desert dwellers can be seen. The butterfly and hummingbird garden are also full of friendly visitors. The zoo also features an LGB (Lehmann Gross Bahn) G-Scale Model Railroad, one of the world's largest. There are about 3,000 feet of train track and contains the world's longest wooden model trestle at 202 feet and 8 inches.
#21 Ocean Beach
The year was 1966...in fact the year is still 1966...that is here in Ocean Beach. Time seems to have stopped in this lazy beach neighborhood. The Municipal Pier is the longest concrete pier on the west coast measuring 1,971 feet. It is also open 24 hours a day. Antique shops and restaurants surround the streets near the pier. O.B. epitomizes the SoCal beach town life on the pacific. Visit to travel back fifty years when life was simpler and more laid back.
#20 Mission San Fernando Rey de España
Mission San Fernando Rey de España is located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Founded in 1797, 'Mission of the Valley' was the 17th of the 21 Missions in California. Just before the famed Gold Rush of California, a brother of the mission discovered the first gold in nearby Placerita Canyon. Those who enter the Mission may feel the resemblance as it has been used in several films. Bob Hope is also interred here making it a famous Hollywood Mission.
#19 Bridalveil Fall
Bridalveil Fall is a distinct year-round waterfall in Yosemite National Park with a plunge of 620 feet. The similarity to a bridal veil is striking. The Ahwahneechee Native Americans believed that being misted could improve one's chance of marriage. In the spring as the snow melts, the mist is a beautiful feeling and cleanses the soul.
#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.
#17 Ventura Pier
Ventura Pier is one of my happy places. You can feel the history as you walk the wooden planks with signs depicting the natural history of the area. Originally built in 1872, the pier has had many lives from agricultural and oil trade to modern day Central Coast tourism. The pier has always been and will always be a pier for the people. Everyone is welcome in Ventura and the sunsets are a bit of heaven.
