#213 Casa Del Desierto
Casa Del Desierto is a Barstow Harvey House built in 1911 by the Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe Railroad. The famous Fred Harvey Company operated the station as a restaurant & hotel and was an important stop in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Its iconic Spanish Renaissance and Classical Revival architecture stood out as a beacon in the desert. Today, it serves as a museum with the adjacent Western America Railroad Museum & Route 66 'Mother Road' Museum.
#212 Placerita Canyon State Park
Placerita Canyon State Park preserves an important transition zone between the San Gabriel Mountains and Mojave Desert ecosystems. Coast live oaks line winding trails through chaparral covered hills. One oak in particular, 'Oak of the Golden Dream', claims fame as the first location of gold discovery in 1842. The canyon has also been a favorite location for Hollywood films with its streams, trees and canyons.
#211 The Flower Fields
Each Spring, the coastal hills of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch burst with color. Fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus bloom from March to May and provide gorgeous views of the ocean. Frank Frazee cultivated 13 colors over the years from just red and yellow. He first planted his fields in 1933 and modeled them after his horticulturist neighbor Luther Gage. This local treasure continues every year and helps put Carlsbad on the map.
#210 Surfers Point Park
With its swaying palm trees framing the scene, Surfers Point Park is a great place for a beach stroll in Ventura. Between the Pier and Emma Wood State Beach, it is an inviting place where surfers flock and everyone is welcome.
#209 Galleta Meadows
Galleta Meadows is a public art installation around the city of Borrego Springs. The metal sculptures are created by Mexican artist Ricardo Breceda and were envisioned by land owner Dennis Avery. He wanted free art for the world to enjoy in this gorgeous desert environment. More than 130 sculptures bring to life creatures that once roamed the Colorado desert from camels, sloths, raptors and elephants. The treasure hunt to find them makes it all the more fun.
#208 Jalama Beach County Park
Jalama Beach County Park is a secluded beach in Santa Barbara County named after the Native American Chumash who lived here. The mountains and cliffs that drop to the ocean offer jaw-dropping coastline views. It is the perfect getaway with its sandy beaches & rocky coves and an atmosphere full of solitude.
#207 Disney California Adventure
"This unique place embraces the richness and diversity of California... Its land, its people, its stories and, above all, the dreamers it continues to inspire." (Robert A. Iger, Re-Dedication, June 15, 2012)
Disney California Adventure opened as a separate theme park from Disneyland in 2001. Hollywood Land celebrates California's pioneering role in the entertainment industry with the highlight Tower of Terror. Cars Land relives the glory days of the Mother Road, Route 66 and its desert surroundings. Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier pays homage to the coastal history of piers. Grizzly Peak re-creates the redwoods and mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Buena Vista street reveals the glory days of Hollywood and Los Angeles when the Red Car Trolley line dominated the scenes and the pace of life was slower and happier.
World of Color is a nighttime water and light show and the most beautiful experience that Disney has ever created. It features movie projections and music from its vast repertoire and makes the park worth a visit in itself.
#206 Portuguese Bend Reserve
Portuguese Bend Reserve is a 399 acre preserve along the rolling hills of Rancho Palos Verdes. A variety of trails wind along the bluffs and provide stunning views of the ocean. With its rocky canyons and coastal sage scrub, it is the perfect example of the Mediterranean habitat of the Southern California Coast.
#205 Crescent Meadow
Crescent Meadow was named the 'Gem of the Sierra' by John Muir. Trails wind along this perfect meadow of Sequoia National Park which provides necessary habitat to keep the gentle giants alive. This pristine alpine sight will leave you breathless.
#204 Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Founded in 1772, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was the fifth of the California Missions. A successful hunting expedition of grizzly bears to feed the Spanish and Native Americans at the mission in Monterey nearby led to the founding of this mission with the nickname 'Mission in the Valley of the Bears'. Abundant food & water, a mild climate and friendly Native American Chumash allowed the mission to thrive.
