Must-see places in California

California's Absolute Essentials

California’s landscape spans from the granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley and the towering giant sequoias of the Sierra Nevada to the arid salt flats of Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. Urban landmarks include San Francisco’s historic cable car system and the former federal prison on Alcatraz Island. Southern California features the cinematic history of the Hollywood Sign and Warner Brothers Studio, alongside the Roman-inspired architecture of the Getty Villa and the coastal scenery of McWay Falls in Big Sur.

California's Absolute Essentials — Map

Diliff / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Walk of Fame

Sidewalk featuring over 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded along several blocks, honoring notable celebrities from the entertainment industry.

Wes Blevins / CC BY-SA 2.5

B

Fisherman's Wharf

Historic waterfront district featuring seafood restaurants, museums, shopping, and entertainment along scenic bay views.

Ralf Baechle / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Alcatraz Island

Historic former federal prison and military fortification located on a rocky island in a bay, now functioning as a museum and national monument.

Scott Catron / CC BY-SA 2.0

D

Hollywood Sign

Large hillside sign spelling out HOLLYWOOD, serving as an iconic symbol of the entertainment industry and American pop culture since 1923.

Sygic Traveler / All rights reserved

E

San Francisco Cable Cars

Historic manually operated cable car system providing scenic rides on steep city hills. Recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Blake Everett / CC0

F

Venice Beach

Lively public beach with a scenic sandy shore, boardwalk, and diverse recreational facilities including a skate plaza and outdoor gym.

Brian Lopez / Public domain

G

McWay Falls

McWay Falls is an 80-foot-tall waterfall on the coast of Big Sur in central California that flows year-round from McWay Creek in Julia…

Rennett Stowe / CC BY 2.0

H

Tunnel View

Tunnel View is a scenic viewpoint on California State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park, United States.

Scottthezombie / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin is an endorheic basin in Death Valley National Park, Death Valley, Inyo County, California, noted as the lowest point in…

World Wide Gifts / CC BY-SA 2.0

J

Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is an American national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California.

Brian / CC-BY-SA

K

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California, United States.

Junkyardsparkle / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

Warner Brothers Studio

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros.

Constantine Kulikovsky / CC BY 3.0

M

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport is the 7th busiest airport in the US and the 24th in the world in terms of passenger traffic.

Amy Snyder / CC BY-SA 3.0

N

Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is a museum of science, technology, and arts in San Francisco, California.

Meij.kobayashi / Public domain

O

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California.

Bobak Ha'Eri / CC BY 3.0

P

The Getty Villa

The Getty Villa is an educational center and art museum located at the easterly end of the Malibu coast in the Pacific Palisades…

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