From eerie sandstone moonscapes and jagged granite towers to rare, endangered wildlife and some of the tallest, oldest trees in the world, California's national parks encompass a multitude of singular and beloved natural majesties.
While visiting these parks is on many travelers' bucket lists, it can be intimidating to plan. It's also difficult to figure out how best to avoid the crowds that flock year-round to witness these national treasures.
Here's a guide to California's top national parks, from south to north, with a local park fanatic's tips on what not to miss in each.
Reactions upon seeing a Joshua Tree for the first time can range from reverence to ridicule. Named by Mormon pioneers who thought the unusual looking trees resembled Joshua preaching with upraised arms, these spiky-headed members of the agave family might just as well have sprung from the pages of a Dr. Seuss children's fantasy.
Just as surreal, the landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park feature labyrinthine rock piles where boulders the size of semis lie jumbled like the discarded building blocks of a juvenile giant.
Created by the force of colliding tectonic plates and sculpted by howling desert winds and flash floods, the 1,242-square-mile park ranges in elevation from 900 to 5,500 feet.
Driving Park Boulevard, you can't miss the crowds pulling over to see Skull Rock, Cap Rock, Arch Rock and other famous formations. But stroll deeper into the Wonderland of Rocks to have equally eerie geological features to yourself.
It's a long winding drive up to Keys View Overlook but well worth it to gaze from the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains over the Coachella Valley below.
Located at the junction of the higher Mojave and lower Colorado desserts, the park encompasses numerous distinct ecosystems; this is plain to see when you stumble into the fan palm oases of Cottonwood Springs and the Oasis of Mara.
If you only have one day in the park, make it a long one. Start with sunrise in the Cholla Cactus Garden and finish by stargazing at the Sky's the Limit observatory near the Twentynine Palms park entrance.
Marriott Bonvoy loyalists will be happy with the Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms-Joshua Tree National Park. The grab-and-go breakfast will come in handy for sunrise photo shoots, and the pool offers a welcome relief after a hot hike in the park. Rooms start from $259 or 32,000 Bonvoy points.
It's a longer drive to the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, but you'll be the family hero when the kids spy the property's Splashtopia water park. Rooms start from $478.
The five islands (Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa) that form Channel Islands National Park are separated from the
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With nine National Parks, California has more than any other state. If you’re in the early stages of planning a road trip, which should you choose? I’ll answer that question without having to scroll at all: Whatever you want to see most. National Parks are all incredible in their own ways, and offer unique experiences.
Once upon a time, people used to get dressed up for planes. Luckily, that time is no more. While gentlemen used to dress accordingly for business travel in their tailored finery, that trend has long since waned. If you’re embarking on a long journey—whether it’s by air, road, or rail—cultural norms have literally and figuratively loosened up.
Spring has sprung in Monterey; sunny days are longer, wildflowers are in bloom, whale watching is at its best, and abundant outdoor activities are in full swing. Inns of Monterey offer much more than just a good night’s rest. Each hotel immerses guests in Monterey’s rich history, shares a tale worth telling, and sets the stage for making memories. For a one-of-a-kind visit, Inns of Monterey feature special packages and discounts, and each boutique hotel offers a unique locale, theme, and décor to fit travelers’ styles. Active links are available to book instantly. Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa is the ideal home base for a family spring break. With the “Stay Longer and Save” package, guests who stay three nights will receive 15% off any room type that includes a flexible cancellation plan, and staying four nights saves 25% on any room type. The hotel features abundant gardens, hacienda-style buildings, and gracious guestrooms in Monterey’s Historic District. Home to award-winning Esteban Restaurant, Executive Chef Ben Hillan’s California-inspired Spanish cuisine is prepared with the finest and freshest local ingredients. Indoor and outdoor patio seating is available for dinner and weekend brunch. Amenities for the whole family abound, like the outdoor heated pool, pet-friendly accommodations, complimentary use of bicycles, fitness center, and DESUAR Spa which offers a variety of treatments. Signature amenities include convenient on-site parking, electric vehicle charging stations, and complimentary wifi. Casa Munras is at 700 Munras Avenue, Monterey, California 93940. (800) 222-2446. www.hotelcasamunras.com Book Now.
Los Cabos, situated on the vibrant Baja California Peninsula, is a popular destination that welcomes visitors with a blend of wellness, cuisine, culture, and eco-tourism experiences. As Los Cabos continues to grow and change, there is an expanding range of accommodations to discover.
When you find yourself in an exquisite locale that most people have yet to visit, you’re tempted to keep it to yourself. But when Four Seasons recognizes that locale for the gem it is? Well, now you just want to shout it from the rooftops.
American photographer Keisha Scarville is the winner of the Saltzman Prize, a new award for the best Emerging Photographer in the world. This annual prize is a $10,000 award and additional funds to support a solo exhibition of the winning photographer’s work at Photofairs New York each September. The Saltzman Prize is presented in cooperation with the Center for Photography Woodstock (CPW) and Photofairs New York. The winner will also be honored on 20 April 2024 at the CPW Vision Awards.
We hop from a small fishing boat onto an even smaller panga, as we’re about to enter Mexico’s Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, located along the East Cape of the Baja California Peninsula between Cabo San Lucas to the south and La Paz to the north. I’m here with my two teenage daughters, and they are about go snorkeling for their first time. They are excited and a bit nervous. “Will there be sharks?” they inquire for a third or fourth time. “Definitely not,” our guide responds with a smile. Which comes across as comforting if not convincing.
No landscape is as iconically associated with Arkansas as the Ozark Mountains. These forested highlands are crucial to the state's self-conception as a natural, rugged wonderland that incubates deep folk culture and a cherished sense of independence. The Ozarks dominate northwestern Arkansas, where they are divided into two geologic categories: the Springfield Plateau and the Boston Mountains.