#33 La Arcada
In the center of historic Santa Barbara, is the famous La Arcada. With entrances on State Street and Figueroa, La Arcada is charming with its Spanish courtyard, fountains and bronze statues. Beautiful galleries, shops and restaurants fill the tile-lined streets. Myron Hunt designed this timeless SB landmark in 1926.
#32 Point Vicente Lighthouse
Point Vicente Lighthouse is one of the crown jewels of Rancho Palos Verdes. On the National Register of Historic Places, this Lighthouse was built in 1926 to help guide ships as they sail the ever-changing California coast. Standing 130 feet on a cliff above the ocean, it was first operated by the United States Lighthouse Service which merged into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939. The Lighthouse was manned until 1971 where it continues to function as an electronic aids-to-navigation monitoring system.
#31 Devil's Golf Course
Devil's Golf Course is a large salt pan in Badwater Basin of Death Valley National Park. This salt pan is a modern variation of Lake Manly which existed here thousands of years ago. The dissolved minerals that were left behind when the lake dried have been sculpted into a series of fascinating shapes. In 1934, the National Park Service described this as a place where 'only the devil could play golf'. Use extreme caution while visiting as the formations are piercingly sharp and this is the hottest place on Earth.
#30 Rocky Oats
Rocky Oats is a small, yet secluded preserve in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Coast Live Oak trees over a century old can be seen along the trails. A seasonal pond is enjoyed by many bird species during the spring. Chumash Native Americans lived here for centuries and lived off the land. Easy to miss, this peaceful preserve is waiting for you to explore.
#29 Zumwalt Meadow
Deep in the heart of Kings Canyon National Park is Zumwalt Meadow. The winding trail takes you through tall grass and along the Kings River while the massive granite dome, Grand Sentinel, soars up out of the valley floor. This is the most popular hike in Kings Canyon. The trail is a mile and a half loop and can be done as a leisurely stroll through this alpine paradise. Take beautiful Highway 180, Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Closed in Winter), to reach the meadows.
#28 Oceanside Harbor
Oceanside Harbor outside of San Diego is known as one of the friendliest harbors in the world. The village along the harbor features shops and restaurants as well a picturesque lighthouse. Oceanside Harbor makes for a peaceful stroll anytime of day but the sunsets are equally spectacular.
#27 O'Neill Regional Park
O'Neill Regional Park is a beautiful 4,500 acre park managed by Orange County Parks. The park is nestled in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains in Trabuco and Live Oak Canyons. Coast live oaks line many of the trails allowing you to enter a wooded wonderland. There are also trails of chaparral, sagebrush and cactus. Live Oak Canyon Road is also a lovely drive as you enter the park. This is an OC must for relaxation.
#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.
