Outdoors

Explore California's great outdoors - from Yosemite National Park's majestic rock formations to the emerald waters of Lake Tahoe to the redwoods at the Petrified Forest. Experience the natural treasures of California at these captivating outdoor attractions.

Yosemite National Park
With majestic rock formations, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys and breathtaking scenery, Yosemite National Park preserves 1,200 square miles of scenic lands that flank eastern California's Sierra Nevadas. Discover Yosemite's natural treasures as you hike or drive along miles of trails and roads through breathtaking views. One of the country's extreme vertical walls, the granite face of Half Dome is a vertical dream for rock climbers.

Lake Tahoe
With its deep azure waters, lakeside beaches, alpine golf courses, casinos, and spectacular Sierra Nevada mountain ski areas, Lake Tahoe is California's ultimate year-round vacation resort. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, fishing, boating, water skiing, and hiking.

Lake Havasu
Nestled along California's Chemehuevi Mountains, Lake Havasu is a pristine oasis of natural beauty and a water lover's utopia. With over 400 miles of breathtaking coastline, you can enjoy water sport adventures, including fishing, skiing, kayaking, canoeing sailing and houseboating. Home to the world-famous London Bridge, Lake Havasu boasts beautiful beaches, scenic hiking trails and desert vistas. Explore Lake Havasu's secluded canyons and historic sites. Adventure seekers can enjoy desert tours, hiking adventures and climbs in Havasu's Outback.

Joshua Tree National Park
A sanctuary for your spirit, Joshua Tree National Park offers 794,000 acres of dramatic scenery and tranquility. Shaped by the Colorado and Mojave deserts, Joshua Tree NP is an immense and fragile land with extensive stands of undisciplined Joshua Trees and fan palm oases. Rugged mountains of twisted rock and granite monoliths against the trees and plants create a mosaic of beauty and complexity.

Monterey Bay Whale Watching Tours
One of the world's prime whale watching destinations, Monterey Bay offers whale watching boat tours to observe the gray, killer, humpback, blue and orca whales that inhabit Monterey Bay and Monterey Harbor every winter and spring. Setting out on a whale watching excursion is the only way to truly experience these majestic creatures.

Napa Valley & Sonoma Valley Wine Country
One of the world's premier wine regions, Napa Valley will captivate your senses with 250 award-winning wineries, old-world vineyards and tasting rooms and superior, diverse wines. Lined with sun-kissed vineyards and over 160 picturesque wineries, Sonoma Valley produces some of the most flavorful wines in the world.

Petrified Forest
Just west of Calistoga and northwest of Napa, the Petrified Forest is one of California's most unique destinations. Take a step back in time - more than 3 million years - and experience Redwood Trails in the beautiful California wine country. On a guided walking tour you can learn about the volcanic activity that caused the petrification of this unusual Northern California forest.

Santa Cruz Beach
Santa Cruz or "Surf City" is the quintessential California beach town south of San Francisco with a vintage boardwalk, a pier, California's oldest amusement park, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum and a pristine beach for surfing, swimming and playing in the sand. Perched above the mile-long beach, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk features amusements, rides, eateries and captivating ocean vistas.

Big Sur
Big Sur is one of Geographic Traveler's "50 Places of a Lifetime" and the perfect place to find spiritual serenity. Hike tree-lined valleys, climb high ridges above the coastline, and gaze into millions of acres in the Los Padres National Forest. Discover gorgeous hiking and horseback riding trails through wildflowers to the beach at Andrew Molera State Park.

Point Reyes National Seashore
Venture north from San Francisco to the Point Reyes National Seashore - a landscape of ocean breakers, windswept beaches, grasslands, hillsides and forested ridges. Enjoy hiking, mountain biking, swimming, kayaking, biking, beachcombing, horseback riding, and whale watching on 147 miles of nature trails and 100 acres of pristine coastal lands.

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