#276 Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is my favorite museum in Southern California and has been around since 1916. The museum beautifully showcases the surroundings of Santa Barbara from the Native American Chumash, bird & mammal halls as well as marine and plant life. The beautiful grounds run along Mission Creek. With 3.5 million specimens in its extensive collection, there is something to delight everyone during its Centennial Celebration.

 

#275 Point Piedras Blancas

Point Piedras Blancas is the true, rugged California coastline that has remained untouched. Trails to hidden coves and dramatic sea cliffs combine to create an unforgettably seascape. Elephant seals can also be spotted bathing on the sand. Most people drive right by to get to Big Sur making it perfect for solitude seekers. 

 

#274 Wonderland of Rocks

Wonderland of Rocks features 12 square miles of amazing granite rock formations at Joshua Tree National Park. These monzogranite rocks formed 100 million years ago when molten liquid heated and traveled up from the Earth's crust. As the landscape changed to desert, flash floods caused the ground to wash away exposing rocks that piled into stacks of fascinating arrangements. This wonderland can be accessed from Barker Dam and Indian Cove trails.

 

#273 Ahwahnee Hotel

The Ahwahnee Hotel is a National Historic Landmark in the heart of Yosemite that has been providing visitors luxury since 1927. Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed the hotel to blend in with the Sierra Nevada. The Great Lounge and Great Dining Room provide visitors with a space to relax while admiring original paintings, tapestries and rugs. Ahwahnee will take you back to a simpler time of National Park travel as you explore the surroundings where Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball and Judy Garland once stayed.

 

#272 Mission Pala

Mission San Antonio de Pala Asistencia was founded on June 13th 1816 as an assistant to nearby Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. It currently resides on the Pala Indian Reservation making it the only mission still serving a tribe and only assistant mission that survives. The campanario or bell tower is the only freestanding one in the California Mission System. It served as notification of meals, work and religious services. 

 

#271 Amboy

Amboy is an historic Route 66 Ghost Town on the outskirts of the Mojave National Preserve. The town was first started in 1858 as a railroad stop for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad. It became a boom town in 1926 after the completion of Route 66. In 1938 'Roy's Motel and Café' opened to serve tourists traveling the famed Mother Road. It's iconic Mid-Century modern neon sign was added in 1959. Interstate 40 opened in 1972 and put the town completely out of business. Today, Amboy has a population of four but is famous spot for those traveling 'America's Main Street'.

 

#270 Backbone Trail

Backbone Trail is a National Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. After more than 50 years in the works, the trail is finally complete. It runs for 67 miles from Will Rogers State Park to Point Mugu State Park. From majestic ocean-view peaks, chaparral-covered hills and winding canyons, the trail will keep you going at each turn. Several access points make this trail available for all skill levels at any duration.

 

#269 Mentryville

Mentryville Boomtown was named after Charles Alexander Mentry who drilled California's first successful oil well here in 1876. It was the world's longest continually operating well that lasted until 1990. Today, it is a park run by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy where Charles' historic home and barn still remain beneath the Santa Susana Mountains. Trails lead to historic ruins as well as canyons of chaparral and coast live oak.

 

#268 Box Canyon

In present day Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Box Canyon marks what was once the only year-round route into California. The Southern Emigrant Trail became the first official road and wagon route in 1847. Pioneers had to use hand tools to carve along the canyon walls to create the trail. Today, a hike into the canyon will take you back to discover the rough terrain encountered by early settlers.

 

#267 Cabrillo Beach

Cabrillo Beach was named after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, famous Portuguese explorer and first European to navigate the Californian coast. It is adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles and also has a fishing pier separated by breakwater to control strong waves. A bathhouse built for the 1932 Olympic Games is an historic landmark still used today. The beach is also the closest stretch of coast to Catalina Island making it a prime spot to enjoy the views.