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California is a fertile, peaceful place where you’ll find a near-equal balance of vineyards and deserts, beaches and mountains, hippies and traditionalists. Catch an epic wave in Big Sur or swirl a glass in Napa Valley. Be dazzled by the Joshua Tree night sky or just star-gaze in Hollywood. Swish down the slopes of a Tahoe ski resort, or cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge with the top down and the music blasting. Above all, don’t forget to soak up some Golden State sunshine.
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1. Half Dome
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,474 reviews
Major rock formation in Yosemite.
Reviewed By C1431LKnancyt
After failing to summit 2 years ago (ear infection caused severe vertigo on sub-dome) I chose to have a guided tour on my second attempt (Aug 2019) so that I didn't have to navigate the ridiculously complicated process of getting wilderness permits and half dome permits again. (Hello Silicon Valley! Can you not help our gov't improve this system!?) I chose the DiscoveryTreks.com company for their reasonable price and doable 3 night backpack itinerary. Having someone to cook and clean up after all the meals was really appealing, and our guide Jason did not disappoint! He was wonderful in both his calm and encouraging demeanor (not easy to keep everyone happy in a group with varying opinions and expectations haha!) We had two people with us who had never backpacked before, and all of us had our challenges with fitness and knee issues, so Jason really was awesome in how he managed all of our anxieties and fitness issues and still got us to the dome with a great attitude. Unless you are extremely fit, I do NOT recommend attempting half dome without at least one night in the Little Yosemite Camp site. Doing it in one day is dangerous unless you are very fit and very prepared. I highly recommend #DiscoveryTreks.com if you want to climb half dome but don't want the hassle of figuring out all the logistics on your own. These guys will get you there safely and will take a lot of the burden out of the trip. We started the hike via Mono Meadows after spending our first night at North Pine backpackers campsite in the valley floor. We woke up early to catch a tour bus (you must have tickets) to Glacier Point, and then hopped back on same bus to Mono Meadows trailhead. It was a nice bonus to get a tour of Glacier Point and our bus driver Colette (I think?) was hysterical! From Mono Meadows we had an easy 3 hr hike to our campsite on the Illilouette creek where we swam and relaxed in virtual solitude. I recommend water proof hiking shoes by the way, as we had a very wet meadow crossing at one point. From there the next morning we hiked into Little Yosemite Valley via the Panorama Trail and John Muir Trail, which afforded amazingly beautiful views without the steep climb of the mist trail. Arriving before lunch we had time to swim in the Merced and rest before eating lunch (Jason is a great cook!) and then preparing for the Half Dome climb. We started out before 2pm and arrived at the cables about 3.5hrs later. Lots of breaks on the way up due to high heat and just our fitness levels. The sub-dome was particularly challenging for me because it is steep and does not have railings. Not recommended for folks with vertigo! It was not a long ascent though, and we reached the cables within maybe 30 minutes. The cable route is very steep and way scarier than I imagined, but thankfully there were very few hikers on it that late in the afternoon. We arrived at cables around 5:30 I think. I was not going to attempt them until the ranger there said they aren't as bad as they look. He was wrong, haha, but by the time I started going up there was no turning back. Having the cable on each side of your body is reassuring, especially with good gloves and hiking shoes gripping well, but there are sections where you are walking up very steep slick rock with a cliff on each side of you and it is not for the faint of heart. They have wood planks to stop on every 10 or 15 feet, which helps you get some rest and feel more secure on the cliff. It takes around 30 mins to climb if you don't have others holding you up on the cables, but it is definitely hard on your arms and back since you are pulling your weight up equally between your arms and legs. I advise ascending the cables without looking to either side of you as you are definitely close to the cliff at several points. Arriving at the top was so worth all of the pain and fright though! It is otherworldly on top, with stunning 360 degree views. So peaceful that time of day too. The sun was starting to set so that the light was gorgeous on the valley. Coming down the cables was also quite frightening, but maybe not as bad as going up since you knew what to expect and had gravity helping you. There are a few rock shelves to step down and these are quite disconcerting if you are short since you have to reach up higher to the cable in these sections, but overall the descent is quick if no one is holding up the line. Going down the sub-dome was way easier for me than up, and we were on the main trail home in no time. However, the trail back to LYV camp is long and it is critical to carry extra water and snacks and MOST IMPORTANT a light! We were at our campsite before dark, but not much before it. We saw several people coming up on our way down who did not have water or headlamps and we heard later that one of them had to be helped by others on the trail. Don't be a burden to others and make sure you prepare properly for this hike! It is not cool to assume you are so special you don't need water or headlamps to attempt the dome. The next morning we broke camp and headed back to the valley floor via the John Muir trail. It took around 3.5hrs. Lots of switchbacks and sore knees but well worth the effort. We chose to splurge on a final night at the Ahwahnee with a dinner reservation planned in advance. A great end to a fantastic adventure! Thanks to Jason and DiscoveryTreks!
2. Dante's View
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,237 reviews
Reviewed By lkbashor - Carson City, United States
High atop Dante's View above Death Valley you will see what I can only describe as breathtaking, spectacular views. This is a MUST drive that is about located above Badwater Basin, looking out over all of Death Valley, into Panamint Valley and on the clearest of days you will see Mount Whitney - WOW just WOW beautiful! Making the drive 16 miles south of Furnace Creek was well worth it, with even getting a reprieve in temperature from the valley floor in Death Valley, seeing a significant drop of 10 to 20 degrees. On the particular day we went we even had wind gusts of upwards of 40 mph that had us cautious of getting close to the edge. Grab your binoculars to spot out different places at 5575 feet above it all - you will want to photograph your smiling faces with the colors of the desert landscape below and the panaromic views all around. Well worth IT!!
3. Tunnel View
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,023 reviews
Reviewed By drmikenyc
The photo I'm seeing looks just like mine, so... what you see 'here' is what you get, on a photo or experiencing it through all your senses. This is a super-easy-to-get-to stop along Tioga Road, now. Once upon a time this was a view which enthralled Ansel Adams, who photographed this in black and white, and that image has been burnished into American iconography. Translation: This is an incredible, amazing, awe-inspiring view, looking at Yosemite Valley as it was carved out by glaciers, in the Ice Age, centuries ago. Once home to native Americans, it is now a national park (Yosemite). You know all this. All I can say is, even during the smoky days with wildfires around, this (at times of the day) was exactly what it looked like. A prime place to head for photography, selfies, painting, stretching...
4. Battery Spencer
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 204 reviews
Reviewed By beagleshnout - Branson, United States
Which I am one. I tour Coastal Artillery forts/batteries whenever I travel. This is a must. The view of the ocean is wonderful. The entire Marin Headlands area with Fort Baker, Fort Cronkite, Fort Barry etc is fantastic for the outdoors hiker and military history buff.
5. Butler Peak
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By snowMore3 - Big Bear Lake, United States
If you want a mountain drive with a super view ... check it out. Be properly prepaired for off roar driving. But most cars with off road safety are clear to go.
6. Coachella Valley Vista Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By sdbctb - Brooklyn, United States
This highway is very nice to drive to palm springs from San Diego or anywhere on the west coast, it takes you through the mountains with switchbacks on the roadway and scenic views, this view is the winner as far as i saw. you see the valley from up high with amazing views of mountains and valley as well as the picturesque view of the roadway the rest of the way down. almost like the pikes peak roadway. if your stomach is sensitive and get nauseated on the roadway though this is not for you.
7. Cliff Drive Vista Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By mini - Fremont, United States
We were in Santa Cruz and took a nice drive to see Cliff Drive Vista Point, There re nice views of the ocean. There are places to sit, walk, and ride bikes. There is a surfing museum and surfer statue One also gets views of the surfers and the wharf area.
8. Twin Peaks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,381 reviews
A twenty-minute ride from downtown, this is the best place to catch a San Francisco sunrise.
Reviewed By kidic
This is a must do. While its a bit of a drive, the views from this area are spectacular. It gets pretty crowded so plan on parking below and walking up (which isn't that bad of a hike). Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket as it gets really cold and windy.
9. Bishop Peak
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 237 reviews
Named because it resembles a bishop's hat, the highest peak of the Morros range is heavily used by hikers and bicyclists. The climb to the top will take anywhere from one to two hours depending on your fitness level.
Reviewed By SimonG103
2 hours round trip for our family for great views and meeting friendly hikers helping each other up the (optional) rocks at the summit. Not an easy hike but we saw small kids doing well and lots of dogs. The view Is great all the way up and it’s well work the work. No bathrooms so take care of business before.
