#96 Matilija Wilderness
Matilija Wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest is a beautiful serene wilderness in Ventura County. Trails wind through mountain streams, woodlands and springtime wildflowers. At more than 29,000 acres Matilija Wilderness is the perfect place to get away from it all and enjoy the present.
#95 Olvera Street
El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument or Olvera Street is the oldest section of Los Angeles. Founded in 1781, the settlement was started by just 44 people and grew to be a social and commercial hub into what would be one of the largest cities in the world. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places, today, Olvera Street is a colorful market celebration of Los Angeles' Spanish and Mexican heritage.
#94 Botanical Building
The Botanical Building in Balboa Park is one of the largest lath structures in the world. Featured seasonal collections surround over 2,000 palms, ferns and orchids. One of my favorite spots in San Diego, the gardens are a wonderland and a free-must-see for any visit to Balboa Park.
#93 Bubblegum Alley
Bubblegum Alley is a 70 foot wall in Downtown San Luis Obispo. Growing in the 1970's, two cleanings were instated to try and remove the gum but people persisted. There is much debate whether it is a great draw for tourists or a smelly eye sore. Whether disgusted or delighted, it is an interesting visit for the senses.
#92 Nojoqui Falls
Nojoqui Falls is a beautiful waterfall in the Santa Ynez Mountains of Santa Barbara. Dropping 100 feet, the water flows over a sandstone wall covered in a wonderland of maidenhair ferns. Nojoqui Falls, pronounced 'no-ho-wee', is a hidden gem that not many people take the time to visit. *Unfortunately the trail to the falls is currently still closed from a December 2014 landslide, while the park remains open
#91 Balboa Island
Balboa Island is a charming community in Newport Beach. Once a natural swampland with sand on the ocean, an island was created for the construction of a village and adjacent harbor. Lots which sold for $250 one hundred years ago now cost millions. Many celebrities during the golden age of Hollywood had boats here including John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Mae West and Shirley Temple. Quaint shops and ice cream parlors line the streets and make for a perfect afternoon of relaxation.
#90 Cabot's Pueblo Museum
Cabot's Pueblo Museum is an historic landmark in Desert Hot Springs. This Hopi-style pueblo was created by homesteader Cabot Yerxa, who first settled here in 1913. While digging for water, he discovered the hot springs for which the area is named. His 4 story Pueblo contains 35 rooms, 150 windows, 65 doors and 30 different roofs and was constructed from found materials of the surrounding Coachella Valley.
One of the famous 'Trail of the Whispering Giants' Native American heads sculpted by Peter Wolf Toth also has its home here. 'Waokiye', number 27 of 74, was carved from a 750 years old fallen giant sequoia. Toth's sculptures honor the Native Americans of America, and he has one in every single state.
#89 Furnace Creek Inn
“Would You Enjoy a Trip to Hell?...You Might Enjoy a Trip to Death Valley, Now! It has all the advantages of hell without the inconveniences.” -1907 April Fools Day Newspaper Ad
The Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch Resort is an Historic Hotel in the heart of Death Valley National Park. In 1907, it may have been hard to imagine a luxury resort in the hottest, driest and lowest spot on Earth but it happened two decades later. The hotel was built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company in order promote tourism after mining operations slowed. Tourism boomed and the resort was here to stay.
Today, the Inn is not just a hotel but holds the Four Diamond Award for its opulent luxury. Beautiful suites surrounded by Palm Groves with sweeping views of Death Valley can be seen in every direction. The nearby Ranch property is a more casual experience and contains the Borax Museum.
#88 Palisades Park
Palisades Park is a beautiful bluff-top park in Santa Monica. With its stunning ocean to mountain views, it makes for a perfect stroll to enjoy a sunny California day. The park is landscaped with a variety of palm, fig and eucalyptus trees and stretches 1.5 miles.
#87 Old Point Loma Lighthouse
Old Point Loma Lighthouse in San Diego is one of the original six lighthouses approved by Congress in 1850 after California was admitted to the union. Opening in 1855, the lighthouse was the highest in the country at 400 feet. Fog and cloud coverage made the lighthouse hard to see so was retired in 1891. The lighthouse also served as the home for the light keeper and family who would entertain visitors with its grandiose bluff-top views. Part of Cabrillo National Monument, the lighthouse can be visited in San Diego's National Park.
