#116 Santa Fe Depot
Santa Fe Depot in the heart of Downtown San Diego was built in 1915 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Originally constructed to bring in visitors to the Panama-California Exposition the same year, its Mission Revival Architecture was the grandest structure the railway had ever built in the West. Its wooden ceilings were constructed from California Redwood Trees. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places, Santa Fe Depot is a must see for any visit.
#115 Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley is in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park. It has beautiful Joshua Trees as well as the jumbo boulders which make the park famous. An easy 1 mile interpretive stroll takes you around the valley and makes a great first stop in the park.
#114 Reef Point
Reef Point in Crystal Cove State Park along the Orange County Coast is a great way to spend an afternoon. Beautiful bluffs drop to sandy beaches as well as rocky tidepool coves making it the perfect beach for everyone.
#113 Father Crowley Vista Point
Father Crowley Vista Point provides sweeping views of Rainbow Canyon in Death Valley National Park. Located right off Highway 190 on the west side of the park, beautiful cinder cones and lava flows tumble into the canyon. The Point honors Father Crowley, the Padre of the Desert. He was an advocate for desert tourism and the rebirth of the Owens Valley after Los Angeles stole its water supply leaving nothing for the people to live off.
#112 Rincon Point
Rincon Point, nicknamed 'Queen of the Coast', is one of the most famous surf spots on the coast of California. It is even mentioned in the Beach Boys Classic 'Surfin' Safari'. The beach north of the point provide dramatic sea stacks and are a photographers paradise.
#111 Angeles Crest National Scenic Byway
Known as 'the most scenic and picturesque mountain road in the state', Angeles Crest National Scenic Byway is a beautiful scenic drive high up in the San Gabriel Mountains. Also known as Highway 2, the road began construction in 1929 and took 27 years to finish in 1956. It winds through Angeles National Forest & San Gabriel Mountains National Monument to a land of pristine alpine wilderness. During rain storms, the mountain peaks become engulfed in foggy clouds and makes the road appear to soar above to the Angels of Heaven.
#110 Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove
The Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach is one of the most spectacular sights on the Central Coast. Each year thousands and thousands of monarch butterflies travel south to roost for the winter. They blend right into the eucalyptus trees which provide shelter. This is one of the largest colonies in the nation with up to 25,000 butterflies. Enjoy them at Pismo State Beach from November to February.
#109 Trail of 100 Giants
The Trail of 100 Giants is a beautiful Giant Sequoia trail high in the Sierra Nevada. Part of Giant Sequoia National Monument, a 1.3 mile trail meanders through sequoias at the long meadow grove. These gentle giants are estimated to be about 1500 years old and can be a great, less crowded alternative to Sequoia National Park.
#108 Mission Inn
The Mission Inn is the grandest hotel in the west. Located in Riverside, once the richest city in the United States due to California's 2nd Gold Rush the Citrus Industry, Frank Miller envisioned the Inn so guests would have a luxurious place to stay while visiting. Mission-Revival is the architectural style and is the largest building of its type in the country.
Modeled after California's 21 Spanish Missions, the Inn contains more than 200 rooms that surround garden terraces, art galleries, decorated balconies, sculptures, ballrooms and one of the grandest staircases in the world. Celebrities and presidents have stayed and wed here including Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, John Muir, Amelia Earhart, Ginger Rogers, Clark Gable, Barbra Streisand and Miss Piggy among many many more.
Today, the Mission Inn is a living museum that screams luxury and opulence. Ranked the best in the country year after year, the Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Celebration draws thousand of visitors each season. Whether touring the grounds or staying the night, the Inn will continue to delight.
#107 Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
High in the Laguna Mountains above San Diego lies Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Forests of oak woodland and pine surround meadows and creeks which make for a beautiful hike. At a mile in the sky, warm summers, fall colors, snow-decorated winters and spring wildflowers make this a four season destination. It will be hard to believe you are still in San Diego at this perfect recreational escape.
