What to Do in California: 212 Free, Famous & Offbeat Spots

Best Places to Visit in California

Nine regions. Los Angeles has its own page. The other regions stay on this page until their city pages exist.

• Los Angeles Area115 places · City page
• Bay Area20 places · On this page
• San Diego11 places · On this page
• Desert20 places · On this page
• Central Coast14 places · On this page
• Sierra Nevada12 places · On this page
• Northern California13 places · On this page
• North Coast4 places · On this page
• Central Valley & Sacramento3 places · On this page

Things to do by region

Los Angeles Area

• LA County Arboretum Things to Do
• Catalina Casino Things to Do
• Descanso Gardens Things to Do
• Watts Towers Things to Do
• Museum of Jurassic Technology Things to Do
• Velaslavasay Panorama Things to Do
• Museum of Death Things to Do
• Stahl House Things to Do
• Hollyhock House Things to Do
• Heritage Square Museum Things to Do
• Museum of Neon Art Things to Do
• Mount Wilson Observatory Things to Do
• Hollywood Heritage Museum Things to Do
• Los Angeles Theatre Things to Do
• The Japanese Garden (SuihoEn) Things to Do
• Vista Theatre Things to Do
• Gamble House Things to Do
• Highland Park Bowl Things to Do
• Bob Baker Marionette Theater Things to Do
• Mosaic Tile House Things to Do
• Valley Relics Museum Things to Do
• Nethercutt Museum & Collection Things to Do
• Old Town Music Hall Things to Do
• Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve Things to Do
• International Printing Museum Things to Do
• Neutra VDL Studio and Residences Things to Do
• Rubel Castle Things to Do
• Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden Things to Do

Bay Area

• 

  Winchester Mystery House

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · San Jose

  A rambling Victorian mansion with staircases that lead into ceilings, doors opening onto walls and about 160 rooms. Legend says Sarah Winchester kept building it nonstop to confuse spirits. Take the guided tour, it's the only way inside.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Children's Fairyland

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Oakland

  A sweet 1950 storybook theme park by Lake Merritt with tiny sets from nursery rhymes and a puppet theater. Walt Disney visited it while dreaming up Disneyland. Grown-ups need to come with a kid.

  • Typical visit: 2-3 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

San Diego

• 

  Old Point Loma Lighthouse

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · San Diego

  A small 1855 lighthouse on top of Point Loma with rooms restored the way the keeper's family lived. It's part of Cabrillo National Monument, which also has tide pools. National park entrance fee applies.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Giant Dipper

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · San Diego

  A wooden roller coaster from 1925 still clattering along in Belmont Park at Mission Beach. It's a classic seaside ride with real rattle. Rides are cheap, and the beach is steps away.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Sunny Jim Cave

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · La Jolla

  The only sea cave in California you can reach by land, through a 145-step tunnel dug from inside a little shop in La Jolla. At the bottom you peer out at the ocean from inside the cliff. Small fee, and watch your head on the stairs.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Any day; quietest weekday mornings

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Whaley House

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · San Diego

  An 1857 brick house in Old Town often called one of the most haunted houses in America. Inside it's a museum of early San Diego life. Daytime tours and spooky evening tours are both ticketed.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Desert

• 

  Cabazon Dinosaurs

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Cabazon

  Two giant dinosaur sculptures next to the I-10 near Palm Springs, made famous by Pee-wee's Big Adventure. You can climb up inside the T. rex's mouth for a view. There's a fee for the dinosaur park behind them.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Calico Ghost Town

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Yermo

  A restored silver mining town from the 1880s in the hills near Barstow, with mine tours, old storefronts and a little train. It's touristy but fun. Small fee.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

• 

  Integratron

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Landers

  A white wooden dome in the Mojave built in the 1950s by a former aircraft mechanic who said aliens gave him the plans for a machine to extend life. Today people come for sound baths, where crystal bowls echo through its perfect acoustics. Book ahead online.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Indian Canyons

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Palm Springs

  Palm-filled canyons on the ancestral land of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians just outside Palm Springs. Hike Palm Canyon among huge California fan palms and a little creek. Entry fee, paid at the trading post.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Central Coast

• 

  Point Lobos

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Carmel-by-the-Sea

  Often called the crown jewel of California's parks, with rocky coves, sea otters, seals and cypress trees. Hike the Cypress Grove Trail. There's a fee to drive in, but you can park on the highway and walk in for free.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Madonna Inn

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · San Luis Obispo

  A hot-pink roadside hotel where every room has a wild theme, from caveman rocks to waterfall urinals in the men's room. Even if you don't stay, walk through and grab a slice of pink champagne cake. Free to wander the lobby and restaurants.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Mystery Spot

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Santa Cruz

  A hillside cabin in the redwoods near Santa Cruz where balls seem to roll uphill and people seem to change height. It's goofy roadside fun that's been running since 1940. Tours are short and cheap, and reservations help on weekends.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Año Nuevo State Park

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Pescadero

  Every winter hundreds of elephant seals haul out here to fight, mate and give birth, and you can watch from just a few yards away. Winter visits are by guided walk only and need reservations. It's a big wild beach north of Santa Cruz.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: December-March for the guided seal walks

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Lotusland

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Montecito

  A wildly eccentric 37-acre garden in Montecito created by opera singer Ganna Walska, with cactus forests, a blue garden and a topiary zoo. Visits are by reservation only. Book weeks ahead.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Tor House

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Carmel-by-the-Sea

  A stone house and tower that poet Robinson Jeffers built by hand from granite rocks on the Carmel shore. It's full of his life and art. Tours on Fridays and Saturdays by reservation.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Sierra Nevada

• 

  Bodie

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Bodie

  A real gold rush ghost town in the high desert, preserved exactly as it was left, slowly weathering, with dishes still on tables and goods on shelves. It's one of the best ghost towns in America. Fee applies, and the last miles are dirt and closed by snow in winter.

  • Typical visit: 2-3 hours
  • Typical best time: June-October (access road often snowed in during winter)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Devils Postpile

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Mammoth Lakes

  A cliff of near-perfect six-sided basalt columns, formed by cooling lava and polished by glaciers. A short hike also takes you to Rainbow Falls. In summer you need to ride a shuttle from Mammoth.

  • Typical visit: 2-3 hours
  • Typical best time: Mid-June to mid-October, when the road and shuttle run

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Big Pine

  In the White Mountains grow twisted, wind-blasted pines more than 4,000 years old, among the oldest living things on Earth. The Methuselah Trail loops through the oldest grove. Small fee, and the road usually closes from late fall to spring.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: Late May-October (road closed in winter)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Vikingsholm

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · South Lake Tahoe

  A 1929 Scandinavian-style mansion with sod roofs and dragon carvings, sitting at the head of Emerald Bay. You reach it by a steep one-mile trail down from the highway. House tours run in summer for a small fee.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Summer tour season (late May-September)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Moaning Caverns

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Vallecito

  A giant vertical cave chamber in Gold Country, big enough to fit the Statue of Liberty. Go down a spiral staircase, or rappel 165 feet if you're brave. Tours cost extra.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Late spring to fall (snow can close roads in winter)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Crystal Cave

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Sequoia National Park

  A marble cavern in Sequoia National Park with polished, streaked walls and dripping formations. Entry is by guided tour only, and tickets must be bought online in advance. Bring a sweater since it's cold inside.

  • Typical visit: 1.5-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Late spring to early fall tour season

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Northern California

• 

  Burney Falls

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Burney

  A 129-foot waterfall fed by underground springs, so water pours out of the cliff face itself, even in late summer. Teddy Roosevelt is said to have ranked it among the world's wonders. Park fee.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Trees of Mystery

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Klamath

  A 49-foot Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, greet you at this classic redwood attraction near Klamath. A gondola lifts you over the forest canopy. Admission fee, but the statues and gift shop are free.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Chandelier Tree

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Leggett

  A 276-foot coast redwood in Leggett with a car-sized tunnel cut through its base back in the 1930s. Yes, you can drive your car through it. Small per-car fee.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Fern Canyon

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Orick

  A narrow canyon with 50-foot walls completely covered in ferns, so lush it was used in Jurassic Park. Expect to walk through shallow water. Fee, and summer visits need a permit.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Lava Beds National Monument

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Tulelake

  Over 700 lava tube caves in far northern California, many open for you to explore. Grab a free cave permit and borrow a flashlight at the visitor center. Entrance fee.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Lake Shasta Caverns

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Lakehead

  A cave you reach by a boat across Shasta Lake and then a bus up the mountain. Inside are huge flowstone formations and crystals. Tour fee.

  • Typical visit: 2-3 hours
  • Typical best time: Year-round tours; summer is busiest

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Bumpass Hell

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Lassen Volcanic National Park

  A boardwalk trail through boiling mud pots, steaming vents and bright blue pools in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It smells like rotten eggs. Park fee, and usually open only in summer.

  • Typical visit: 2-3 hours
  • Typical best time: July-October, after the snow melts

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

• 

  Confusion Hill

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Piercy

  A goofy roadside gravity house in the redwoods where water seems to run uphill and people seem to shrink. There's also a little train ride. Small fee.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Old Faithful Geyser of California

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Calistoga

  A privately run geyser in Calistoga that blasts hot water into the air every so often, plus a little farm of fainting goats that stiffen up when startled. It's goofy and fun between wineries. Admission fee.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

North Coast

• 

  Point Arena Lighthouse

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Point Arena

  One of the tallest lighthouses on the West Coast, rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake. You can climb the 145 steps to the top on a clear day. There's a small entry fee.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Central Valley & Sacramento

• 

  California State Railroad Museum

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $ · Sacramento

  A giant hall of restored steam locomotives and train cars in Old Sacramento. Walk through a sleeping car that sways and clacks like it's rolling through the night. Admission fee, and seasonal excursion rides run nearby.

  • Typical visit: 1.5-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Forestiere Underground Gardens

  Things to Do · Cost tier: $$ · Fresno

  A Sicilian immigrant spent 40 years hand-digging underground rooms, passages and gardens to escape the Fresno heat. Fruit trees grow up through skylights. Tours only, for a fee.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Hidden Gems & Unusual Things to Do in California

161 places are flagged as lesser-known. They include Salvation Mountain, Bodie, Glass Beach, the Wave Organ, the Winchester Mystery House, the Integratron and Trona Pinnacles.

• Watts Towers Things to Do
• Museum of Jurassic Technology Things to Do
• Bradbury Building Cheap-Free
• Velaslavasay Panorama Things to Do
• Bronson Caves Cheap-Free
• Hollywood Forever Cemetery Cheap-Free
• Korean Bell of Friendship Cheap-Free
• Binoculars Building Cheap-Free
• Tail o' the Pup Food to Eat
• Museum of Death Things to Do
• Stahl House Things to Do
• Ennis House Cheap-Free
• Hollyhock House Things to Do
• Lummis House Cheap-Free
• Heritage Square Museum Things to Do
• Museum of Neon Art Things to Do
• Brand Library & Art Center Cheap-Free
• Mount Wilson Observatory Things to Do
• Bridge to Nowhere Cheap-Free
• Vasquez Rocks Cheap-Free
• Eagle Rock Cheap-Free
• Avila Adobe Cheap-Free
• Great Wall of Los Angeles Cheap-Free
• Estrada Courts Cheap-Free
• Mariachi Plaza Cheap-Free
• Evergreen Cemetery Cheap-Free
• Shakespeare Bridge Cheap-Free
• Lake Shrine Cheap-Free Restricted
• Point Fermin Lighthouse Cheap-Free
• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Cheap-Free
• Neptune's Net Food to Eat
• El Matador Beach Cheap-Free
• Paramount Ranch Cheap-Free Restricted
• Malibu Hindu Temple Cheap-Free
• Hsi Lai Temple Cheap-Free
• Guelaguetza Food to Eat
• Chicken Boy Cheap-Free
• Formosa Cafe Food to Eat
• Witch's House (Spadena House) Cheap-Free
• Wende Museum Cheap-Free Restricted
• Center for Land Use Interpretation Cheap-Free
• Travel Town Museum Cheap-Free
• Sowden House Cheap-Free
• Hollywood Heritage Museum Things to Do
• Los Angeles Theatre Things to Do
• Devil's Punchbowl Cheap-Free
• Point Dume Cheap-Free Restricted
• Leo Carrillo Sea Caves Cheap-Free
• The Japanese Garden (SuihoEn) Things to Do
• Bunker Hill Steps Cheap-Free
• Rancho Los Alamitos Cheap-Free
• Exposition Park Rose Garden Cheap-Free
• Chinese American Museum Cheap-Free
• Vista Theatre Things to Do
• Gamble House Things to Do
• Colorado Street Bridge Cheap-Free
• Music Box Steps Cheap-Free
• Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn Cheap-Free
• Highland Park Bowl Things to Do
• Bob's Big Boy Burbank Food to Eat
• Wave Organ Cheap-Free
• Musée Mécanique Cheap-Free
• 16th Avenue Tiled Steps Cheap-Free
• Balmy Alley Cheap-Free
• San Francisco Columbarium Cheap-Free
• Filbert Street Steps Cheap-Free
• Cable Car Museum Cheap-Free
• Seward Street Slides Cheap-Free
• Bay Model Cheap-Free
• Nike Missile Site SF-88 Cheap-Free
• Point Bonita Lighthouse Cheap-Free
• Albany Bulb Cheap-Free
• Children's Fairyland Things to Do
• Lick Observatory Cheap-Free
• Sunny Jim Cave Things to Do
• Chicano Park Cheap-Free
• Salk Institute Cheap-Free
• Whaley House Things to Do
• Torrey Pines Gliderport Cheap-Free
• Black's Beach Cheap-Free
• Queen Califia's Magical Circle Cheap-Free
• Salvation Mountain Cheap-Free
• Slab City Cheap-Free
• Bombay Beach Cheap-Free
• Integratron Things to Do
• Giant Rock Cheap-Free
• Pioneertown Cheap-Free
• Roy's Motel and Café Cheap-Free
• Amboy Crater Cheap-Free
• Kelso Dunes Cheap-Free
• Desert Christ Park Cheap-Free
• Racetrack Playa Cheap-Free
• Ballarat Cheap-Free
• Trona Pinnacles Cheap-Free
• Indian Canyons Things to Do
• Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum Cheap-Free
• Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch Cheap-Free
• Galleta Meadows Sculptures Cheap-Free
• Shields Date Garden Food to Eat
• Pfeiffer Beach Cheap-Free
• Bubblegum Alley Cheap-Free
• Madonna Inn Things to Do
• Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Cheap-Free
• Glass Beach Cheap-Free
• Mystery Spot Things to Do
• Año Nuevo State Park Things to Do
• Potter Schoolhouse Cheap-Free
• Point Arena Lighthouse Things to Do
• Lotusland Things to Do
• Chumash Painted Cave Cheap-Free
• Tor House Things to Do
• Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery Cheap-Free
• Devils Postpile Things to Do
• Hot Creek Cheap-Free
• Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Things to Do
• Vikingsholm Things to Do
• Fannette Island Cheap-Free
• Moaning Caverns Things to Do
• Columbia State Historic Park Cheap-Free
• Crystal Cave Things to Do
• Trees of Mystery Things to Do
• Chandelier Tree Things to Do
• Fern Canyon Things to Do
• Lava Beds National Monument Things to Do
• Lake Shasta Caverns Things to Do
• Bumpass Hell Things to Do
• Forestiere Underground Gardens Things to Do
• Ferndale Cheap-Free
• Confusion Hill Things to Do
• Old Faithful Geyser of California Things to Do
• Locke Cheap-Free
• Carson Mansion Cheap-Free
• Tiki-Ti Food to Eat
• Tam O'Shanter Food to Eat
• Galco's Soda Pop Stop Food to Eat
• Wat Thai Weekend Food Court Food to Eat
• The Old Place Food to Eat
• Tonga Hut Food to Eat
• The Donut Hole Food to Eat
• Carousel (Glendale) Food to Eat
• Bob Baker Marionette Theater Things to Do
• Mosaic Tile House Things to Do
• Valley Relics Museum Things to Do
• Triforium Cheap-Free
• Nethercutt Museum & Collection Things to Do
• Blackbird Airpark Cheap-Free
• Lancaster Musical Road Cheap-Free
• Llano del Rio Ruins Cheap-Free
• Old Town Music Hall Things to Do
• Hollywood Bowl Museum Cheap-Free
• Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve Things to Do
• Point Vicente Lighthouse Cheap-Free
• Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum Cheap-Free
• International Printing Museum Things to Do
• Neutra VDL Studio and Residences Things to Do
• Rubel Castle Things to Do
• Angelus Temple Cheap-Free
• Biddy Mason Memorial Park Cheap-Free
• Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden Things to Do
• Philosophical Research Society Cheap-Free
• Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden Cheap-Free

Free & Cheap Things to Do in California

111 of the 212 places are free to visit. Los Angeles spots link to the Los Angeles page. The rest are grouped by region.

Los Angeles Area

• The Last Bookstore Cheap-Free
• Angels Flight Cheap-Free
• Venice Canals Cheap-Free
• Los Angeles Central Library Cheap-Free
• Olvera Street Cheap-Free
• La Brea Tar Pits Cheap-Free Restricted
• Getty Villa Cheap-Free
• Echo Park Lake Cheap-Free
• Union Station Cheap-Free
• Griffith Observatory Cheap-Free
• Getty Center Cheap-Free
• Santa Monica Pier Cheap-Free
• Bradbury Building Cheap-Free
• Bronson Caves Cheap-Free
• Hollywood Forever Cemetery Cheap-Free
• Korean Bell of Friendship Cheap-Free
• Binoculars Building Cheap-Free
• Ennis House Cheap-Free
• Lummis House Cheap-Free
• Brand Library & Art Center Cheap-Free
• Bridge to Nowhere Cheap-Free
• Vasquez Rocks Cheap-Free
• Eagle Rock Cheap-Free
• Avila Adobe Cheap-Free
• Great Wall of Los Angeles Cheap-Free
• Estrada Courts Cheap-Free
• Mariachi Plaza Cheap-Free
• Evergreen Cemetery Cheap-Free
• Shakespeare Bridge Cheap-Free
• Lake Shrine Cheap-Free Restricted
• Point Fermin Lighthouse Cheap-Free
• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Cheap-Free
• El Matador Beach Cheap-Free
• Paramount Ranch Cheap-Free Restricted
• Malibu Hindu Temple Cheap-Free
• Hsi Lai Temple Cheap-Free
• Chicken Boy Cheap-Free
• Witch's House (Spadena House) Cheap-Free
• Wende Museum Cheap-Free Restricted
• Center for Land Use Interpretation Cheap-Free
• Travel Town Museum Cheap-Free
• Sowden House Cheap-Free
• Devil's Punchbowl Cheap-Free
• Point Dume Cheap-Free Restricted
• Leo Carrillo Sea Caves Cheap-Free
• Bunker Hill Steps Cheap-Free
• Rancho Los Alamitos Cheap-Free
• Exposition Park Rose Garden Cheap-Free
• Chinese American Museum Cheap-Free
• Colorado Street Bridge Cheap-Free
• Music Box Steps Cheap-Free
• Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn Cheap-Free
• Triforium Cheap-Free
• Blackbird Airpark Cheap-Free
• Lancaster Musical Road Cheap-Free
• Llano del Rio Ruins Cheap-Free
• Hollywood Bowl Museum Cheap-Free
• Point Vicente Lighthouse Cheap-Free
• Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum Cheap-Free
• Angelus Temple Cheap-Free
• Biddy Mason Memorial Park Cheap-Free
• Philosophical Research Society Cheap-Free
• Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden Cheap-Free

Bay Area

• 

  Sutro Baths

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Francisco

  Down on the cliffs at Lands End sit the concrete ruins of what was once a giant glass-roofed bathhouse with seven pools. Today it's a moody spot to explore, with a short sea cave tunnel at the north end. Come at sunset and watch your step on wet rocks.

  • Typical visit: 1 hour
  • Typical best time: Late afternoon into sunset

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Wave Organ

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Francisco

  At the tip of a jetty in the Marina, this sculpture uses PVC and concrete pipes poking into the bay to turn waves into low gurgles and hums. Bits of old granite from a demolished cemetery form the seating. Go at high tide when it's loudest, and enjoy the Golden Gate view for free.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Musée Mécanique

  Cheap-Free · Cost tier: $ · San Francisco

  A huge, free-to-enter hall at Fisherman's Wharf full of antique arcade machines, fortune tellers, player pianos and mechanical dioramas that still work. Bring a pocket full of quarters. Laughing Sal, the cackling animatronic lady by the door, is gloriously creepy.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  16th Avenue Tiled Steps

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Francisco

  A 163-step staircase in the Inner Sunset covered in a mosaic that flows from sea creatures at the bottom to the sun at the top. It was made by neighbors and local artists. Climb past it up to Grandview Park for one of the best free views in the city.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Balmy Alley

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Francisco

  One short Mission District alley packed garage door to garage door with murals, many about Central American history and human rights. It's been a canvas since the 1970s and pieces get repainted over time. Walk it, then go grab a burrito a few blocks away.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  San Francisco Columbarium

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Francisco

  A domed 1898 neoclassical building in the Richmond, filled with ornate niches holding ashes, some decorated with toys, photos and mementos. It's among the very few spots in the city that still hold remains, since burials were pushed out to Colma. It's free and usually open daytime hours.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Filbert Street Steps

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Francisco

  Steep wooden stairs drop down the east side of Telegraph Hill past tiny cottages and wild, lush gardens. Keep an eye and ear out for the famous flock of wild parrots. Free, and a great way to walk down from Coit Tower.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

• 

  Cable Car Museum

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Francisco

  Inside the actual working powerhouse, you can watch giant spinning wheels haul the cables that pull every cable car in the city. It's loud, oily and totally fascinating, plus there are antique cars on display. Free entry, and a cable car stop is right outside.

  • Typical visit: 1.5-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Seward Street Slides

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Francisco

  Two long, steep concrete slides tucked into a tiny park in the Castro hills. Locals bring cardboard to go faster, and adults can ride too. Free, but closed on rainy days.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

• Bay Model

  Cheap-Free · Free · Sausalito

  An enormous working model of San Francisco Bay and the Delta that fills a warehouse in Sausalito, built by the Army Corps of Engineers to study tides. Walk around it on raised paths and see the whole bay from above. Free, but check open days.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

• 

  Nike Missile Site SF-88

  Cheap-Free · Free · Sausalito

  A restored Cold War missile site in the Marin Headlands where real Nike missiles sit on their launch rails. Volunteers, some of whom served there, lead tours. Free, but open only on limited days.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Point Bonita Lighthouse

  Cheap-Free · Free · Sausalito

  To reach this little lighthouse you walk through a hand-dug tunnel and across a small suspension bridge over crashing surf. It's one of the most dramatic lighthouse walks in the country. Free, but open limited hours and the bridge closes in bad weather.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Albany Bulb

  Cheap-Free · Free · Albany

  A former landfill on the East Bay shoreline turned wild park, where artists built sculptures, castles and painted walls out of concrete chunks and scrap. Every trail turns up something weird. Free, and great for a sunset walk with Golden Gate views.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Lick Observatory

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Jose

  Perched on Mount Hamilton above San Jose, this 1888 observatory has a giant refracting telescope with its founder, James Lick, buried in the pier beneath it. The drive up is twisty but beautiful. Free daytime visits; summer evening programs are ticketed.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

San Diego

• 

  Sunset Cliffs

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Diego

  Rugged sandstone cliffs in Point Loma carved into sea caves, arches and little coves by the Pacific. Locals come out for surfing and, as the name says, epic sunsets. It's free, but stay well back from the crumbling edges.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Spreckels Organ

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Diego

  A huge open-air pipe organ, among the biggest anywhere, plays from an ornate pavilion in Balboa Park. Free concerts run on Sunday afternoons almost all year. Bring a snack and grab a bench.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Chicano Park

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Diego

  Under the Coronado Bridge ramps in Barrio Logan, the freeway pillars are covered in powerful murals about Chicano history and pride. It was born from a community takeover in 1970 and is now a National Historic Landmark. Free, and best in daylight.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Salk Institute

  Cheap-Free · Free · La Jolla

  Louis Kahn's concrete research campus has a travertine courtyard with a thin channel of water running straight out toward the Pacific. Around the equinoxes the sunset lines up with it perfectly. You can look into the courtyard for free; tours are offered too.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Torrey Pines Gliderport

  Cheap-Free · Free · La Jolla

  Watch paragliders launch off the 300-foot cliffs above Black's Beach in La Jolla, or book a tandem flight yourself. There's a small cafe with ocean views. Free to hang out and watch.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Black's Beach

  Cheap-Free · Free · La Jolla

  A long, wild beach at the base of towering cliffs below the gliderport, known for great surf. Part of it is unofficially clothing optional. The trails down are steep, so wear good shoes and watch the tide.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Low tide, late summer to fall for the clearest weather

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Queen Califia's Magical Circle

  Cheap-Free · Free · Escondido

  Niki de Saint Phalle's last big project, a mosaic sculpture garden with giant totems and a snake wall inside Kit Carson Park. Every surface sparkles with mirrors and tiles. Free, but open only on certain days.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Desert

• 

  Salvation Mountain

  Cheap-Free · Free · Niland

  One man, Leonard Knight, spent decades covering a hillside with adobe, paint and Bible verses in rainbow colors. It's one of the most famous folk art sites in America. Free, donations welcome, and bring lots of water.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Slab City

  Cheap-Free · Free · Niland

  An off-grid community on the concrete slabs of an old Marine base, home to artists, retirees and wanderers. Visit East Jesus for wild art made of junk. Be respectful, it's people's homes.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Bombay Beach

  Cheap-Free · Free · Bombay Beach

  A tiny, half-abandoned town on the shore of the shrinking Salton Sea, now full of art installations. The sunsets over the water are surreal. Free, but there are few services, so bring supplies.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Giant Rock

  Cheap-Free · Free · Landers

  A free-standing boulder about seven stories tall in the desert near Landers, once the gathering spot for big UFO conventions in the 1950s. It cracked open in 2000, revealing white granite inside. Free, but the dirt road can be rough.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Pioneertown

  Cheap-Free · Free · Pioneertown

  A town built in the 1940s as a western movie set, still full of old fronts and hitching posts along Mane Street. Stay for live music and barbecue at Pappy & Harriet's. Free to walk around.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Roy's Motel and Café

  Cheap-Free · Free · Amboy

  A gorgeous mid-century Route 66 sign in the empty desert town of Amboy. It's one of the most photographed stops on the old road. Free to look, and there's a small store sometimes open.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Amboy Crater

  Cheap-Free · Free · Amboy

  A near-perfect volcanic cone rising from the Mojave, with a trail that climbs to its rim. The trail is about 3 miles round trip across black lava. Go in winter and never in summer heat.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Kelso Dunes

  Cheap-Free · Free · Mojave National Preserve

  Sand dunes that rise about 650 feet in the Mojave National Preserve. Slide down the steep face and the sand makes a deep booming hum, like a distant airplane. Free, but go early and avoid summer heat.

  • Typical visit: 2-3 hours
  • Typical best time: October-April, early morning or sunset

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Desert Christ Park

  Cheap-Free · Free · Yucca Valley

  A hillside in Yucca Valley dotted with white concrete statues of biblical scenes, made by sculptor Antone Martin in the 1950s. It's quirky, peaceful and rarely busy. Free.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Racetrack Playa

  Cheap-Free · Cost tier: $ · Death Valley

  A dry lakebed in a remote corner of Death Valley where rocks slide across the ground and leave long trails. It's a long rough drive, so bring a high-clearance vehicle. National park fee applies.

  • Typical visit: Full day
  • Typical best time: October-April; high-clearance vehicle needed

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Ballarat

  Cheap-Free · Free · Ballarat

  A dusty ghost town at the edge of the Panamint Valley, with melting adobe walls, an old jail and a tiny general store that's open now and then. It boomed in the 1890s and emptied out fast. Free, but the road is unpaved, so bring water and fill up on gas first.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Trona Pinnacles

  Cheap-Free · Free · Trona

  Over 500 tufa spires rising out of a dry lakebed, used as an alien world in movies. The dirt road is passable for most cars in good weather. Free, and great for stargazing.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

  Cheap-Free · Free · Joshua Tree

  Artist Noah Purifoy spent his last 15 years making giant sculptures out of junk, from old toilets to bowling balls, across ten acres of Joshua Tree. It's free and open daily from sunrise to sunset. Go early before it gets hot.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

• Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch

  Cheap-Free · Free · Oro Grande

  A forest of metal poles hung with hundreds of colorful glass bottles that clink and glow in the sun along old Route 66. It's one man's lifelong art project. Free, and donations are welcome.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

• Galleta Meadows Sculptures

  Cheap-Free · Free · Borrego Springs

  Over 100 giant metal sculptures of dinosaurs, mammoths, horses and a 350-foot sea serpent scattered across the desert around Borrego Springs. Drive around to find them all. Free.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: October-April; avoid summer heat and go early or late in the day

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Central Coast

• 

  McWay Falls

  Cheap-Free · Cost tier: $ · Big Sur

  An 80-foot waterfall pours straight onto a turquoise cove inside Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and it looks unreal in person. A flat, short trail leads to the overlook. You can't go down to the beach, and parking is limited, so come early.

  • Typical visit: 30 min
  • Typical best time: Late afternoon sun; spring for full flow

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Solvang

  Cheap-Free · Free · Solvang

  A Danish-style village in the Santa Ynez Valley with windmills, half-timbered buildings and bakeries. Try aebleskiver, little round pancake balls with jam. Free to stroll and close to the wine country.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Natural Bridges State Beach

  Cheap-Free · Cost tier: $ · Santa Cruz

  A sandstone arch stands in the surf at this Santa Cruz beach, and from fall to winter thousands of monarch butterflies cluster in the eucalyptus grove. Check the tide pools at low tide too. There's a parking fee.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Low tide, late summer to fall for the clearest weather

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Pfeiffer Beach

  Cheap-Free · Cost tier: $ · Big Sur

  Hidden at the end of a narrow, unsigned road in Big Sur, this beach has streaks of purple sand and Keyhole Rock, a sea arch the sun shines through around the winter solstice. It's wild and windy. There's a small day-use fee, and the road is not for big RVs.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Low tide, late summer to fall for the clearest weather

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Bubblegum Alley

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Luis Obispo

  A narrow downtown San Luis Obispo passage where people have been sticking chewed gum on the walls since the 1950s. It's gross, colorful and weirdly beautiful. Free, just don't touch.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes

  Cheap-Free · Free · Guadalupe

  Huge coastal dunes where Cecil B. DeMille buried an entire Egyptian movie set after filming The Ten Commandments in 1923. Pieces still turn up and some are shown at the Dunes Center in Guadalupe. Walking the dunes is free.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Chumash Painted Cave

  Cheap-Free · Free · Santa Barbara

  A small sandstone cave on the San Marcos Pass with colorful Chumash rock paintings that may be hundreds of years old. A metal grate protects them, so bring a flashlight to see through. Free, with roadside parking for a couple of cars.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery

  Cheap-Free · Free · San Simeon

  Pull over on Highway 1 north of San Simeon and there are thousands of elephant seals lounging on the beach. Volunteers in blue jackets answer questions. Free and open daily.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: January-February for pups; open year-round

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Sierra Nevada

• 

  Mono Lake Tufa

  Cheap-Free · Cost tier: $ · Lee Vining

  An ancient salty lake east of Yosemite with tall white tufa towers rising from the water. Walk the South Tufa trail at sunrise for the best light. Small fee at South Tufa.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Late spring to fall (snow can close roads in winter)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Alabama Hills

  Cheap-Free · Free · Lone Pine

  Rounded orange boulders and natural arches under Mount Whitney, where hundreds of westerns and sci-fi films were shot. The short Mobius Arch loop frames the Sierra through a stone window. Free, with lots of dispersed camping nearby.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Late spring to fall (snow can close roads in winter)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Manzanar

  Cheap-Free · Free · Independence

  One of the ten camps where Japanese Americans were held during World War II, now a national historic site. Rebuilt barracks, a cemetery monument and a strong museum tell the story. Free, and a stop everyone driving Highway 395 should make.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Late spring to fall (snow can close roads in winter)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Hot Creek

  Cheap-Free · Free · Mammoth Lakes

  A cold mountain creek that suddenly turns steaming as hot springs bubble up through its bed, set in a gorge of bright blue pools near Mammoth. Swimming is banned because the water can surge to boiling without warning. A short path leads down to the viewing rim, and it's free.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: Late spring to fall (snow can close roads in winter)

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

• 

  Fannette Island

  Cheap-Free · Free · South Lake Tahoe

  The only island in Lake Tahoe, crowned with the stone shell of a tiny teahouse built in the 1920s. Paddle a kayak out from Emerald Bay to explore it. Free, but it's closed in spring for nesting geese.

  • Typical visit: Half day (by kayak)
  • Typical best time: Mid-June to fall (closed in spring for nesting geese)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Columbia State Historic Park

  Cheap-Free · Free · Columbia

  A real Gold Rush town in the Sierra foothills with wooden sidewalks, a working blacksmith, stagecoach rides and old-time candy shops and saloons. Gold panning is on offer too. Free to walk around.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Late spring to fall (snow can close roads in winter)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Northern California

• 

  Sundial Bridge

  Cheap-Free · Free · Redding

  A white cable bridge with a translucent glass deck over the Sacramento River in Redding, designed by Santiago Calatrava. Its tall pylon casts a shadow that works as a giant sundial. Free and lit up at night.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Avenue of the Giants

  Cheap-Free · Free · Humboldt County

  A 31-mile stretch of old Highway 101 that runs through groves of towering old-growth redwoods. Stop at Founders Grove for an easy walk among the giants. Free, and much quieter than the freeway.

  • Typical visit: Half day
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Ferndale

  Cheap-Free · Free · Ferndale

  A tiny Victorian village near the Lost Coast full of colorful, carefully kept painted-lady houses and an old-fashioned main street. It's so well preserved that it has been used in movies. Free to wander, and the drive in across the Eel River valley is gorgeous.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Carson Mansion

  Cheap-Free · Free · Eureka

  A wildly ornate 1880s Victorian mansion built by a lumber baron in Eureka, often called the most photographed house in America. It's a private club, so admire it from the street. Free, and the Pink Lady house across the street is just as wild.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings, when it is quietest (check opening days first)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

North Coast

• 

  Point Reyes Lighthouse

  Cheap-Free · Free · Inverness

  A historic lighthouse on one of the windiest, foggiest points on the Pacific coast, reached by walking down about 300 steps. In winter it's a top spot to watch gray whales migrate. Free, but the stairs close in high winds.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Golden hour (late afternoon); clear days in fall to spring

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Glass Beach

  Cheap-Free · Free · Fort Bragg

  Decades of old trash dumping got polished by the waves into piles of smooth, colorful sea glass along the Fort Bragg coast. It's a beautiful example of nature cleaning up. Look all you want, but taking glass is not allowed.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Low tide, late summer to fall for the clearest weather

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Potter Schoolhouse

  Cheap-Free · Free · Bodega

  The old schoolhouse in Bodega that starred in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, where the crows gather on the jungle gym. It's a private home, so admire it from the street only. Free, and the nearby town of Bodega Bay has more movie spots.

  • Typical visit: 30 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Central Valley & Sacramento

• 

  Locke

  Cheap-Free · Free · Locke

  A small Delta town built by Chinese farmworkers in 1915, with weathered wooden storefronts leaning over one main street. Stop at the museum in the old gambling hall. Free to wander.

  • Typical visit: 1-2 hours
  • Typical best time: Weekday mornings or late afternoon to avoid crowds

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

What to Eat in California

29 food stops, including Los Angeles institutions and counters elsewhere in the state.

Los Angeles Area

• Philippe The Original Food to Eat
• Grand Central Market Food to Eat
• Randy's Donuts Food to Eat
• Musso & Frank Grill Food to Eat
• Pink's Hot Dogs Food to Eat
• Langer's Deli Food to Eat
• The Apple Pan Food to Eat
• Barney's Beanery Food to Eat
• Porto's Bakery & Cafe (Glendale) Food to Eat
• Yamashiro Food to Eat
• Original Farmers Market Food to Eat
• Tail o' the Pup Food to Eat
• Neptune's Net Food to Eat
• Guelaguetza Food to Eat
• Formosa Cafe Food to Eat
• Bob's Big Boy Burbank Food to Eat
• Tiki-Ti Food to Eat
• Tam O'Shanter Food to Eat
• Galco's Soda Pop Stop Food to Eat
• Wat Thai Weekend Food Court Food to Eat
• The Old Place Food to Eat
• Tonga Hut Food to Eat
• The Donut Hole Food to Eat
• Carousel (Glendale) Food to Eat

Bay Area

• 

  Tadich Grill

  Food to Eat · Cost tier: $$ · San Francisco

  Running since 1849, this is often called the oldest restaurant in California, with white-jacketed waiters and long wooden counters. Order the cioppino or anything grilled over mesquite. No reservations, so arrive early.

  • Typical visit: 45 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday, outside peak meal times (lines are shortest mid-afternoon)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• 

  Swan Oyster Depot

  Food to Eat · Cost tier: $$ · San Francisco

  A tiny, family-run seafood counter on Polk Street with a handful of stools and a queue spilling onto the sidewalk most days. Crab, oysters and Sicilian-style sashimi are the moves. Go right at opening and bring patience.

  • Typical visit: 45 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday, outside peak meal times (lines are shortest mid-afternoon)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• La Taqueria

  Food to Eat · Cost tier: $ · San Francisco

  A Mission District taqueria famous for burritos made without rice, so it's all meat, beans and salsa. Ask for it dorado style and they'll crisp the tortilla on the grill. Expect a line at lunchtime.

  • Typical visit: 45 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday, outside peak meal times (lines are shortest mid-afternoon)

  Source: Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

• Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

  Food to Eat · Cost tier: $ · San Francisco

  In a narrow Chinatown alley, workers fold warm fortune cookies by hand at old machines. Grab a bag of fresh ones and maybe make a custom fortune. They ask for a small tip if you take photos.

  • Typical visit: 45 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday, outside peak meal times (lines are shortest mid-afternoon)

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Desert

• Shields Date Garden

  Food to Eat · Cost tier: $ · Indio

  A date farm in Indio famous for its date shakes since 1924, with a quirky old film called The Romance and Sex Life of the Date. Walk the garden and grab a shake. Cheap.

  • Typical visit: 45 min-1 hour
  • Typical best time: Weekday, outside peak meal times (lines are shortest mid-afternoon)

  Source: OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)

  Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Where to Stay & When to Go

Stay in the region you came for. The coast is often clearest in September and October. The deserts, including Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Palm Springs, are most comfortable from late fall to spring. High Sierra roads such as Tioga Pass usually close in winter. Road and pass openings vary every year, so check before a mountain or coastal drive.

California Road Trip Ideas

A coast trip can link Los Angeles with the Central Coast and the Bay Area. A desert trip can take in Salvation Mountain, the Integratron and Joshua Tree country. An Eastern Sierra trip can pair the Alabama Hills, Manzanar and Bodie.

Map of Things to Do in California

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

California FAQ

What is the best time to visit California?

It depends on the region. The coast is often clearest and warmest in September and October, after the early-summer marine fog lifts. The deserts, including Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Palm Springs, are most comfortable from late fall to spring. High Sierra roads such as Tioga Pass usually close in winter. Road and pass openings vary every year.

How many days do you need for a California road trip?

Plan about a week to drive one stretch of coast well, such as Los Angeles to San Francisco on Highway 1. Plan 10–14 days to add a national park or the desert. Picking two or three regions beats trying to see the whole state.

What are some free things to do in California?

111 of the 212 places on this list are free to visit. They include San Francisco's Wave Organ and the Sutro Baths ruins, the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, Manzanar, San Diego's Chicano Park murals and Griffith Observatory in LA. Some free sites still charge for parking.

Do you need a car to explore California?

For most of the state, yes. The deserts, Big Sur and the Eastern Sierra have little or no public transit. San Francisco, and to a lesser extent Los Angeles and San Diego, work for a transit-based city trip.

Is Highway 1 through Big Sur open?

Sections of Highway 1 along Big Sur close from time to time because of landslides and storm damage, sometimes for months. Check Caltrans QuickMap before you plan the drive.