What to See in California

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Of the twenty or so American sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, California has two:

Redwood National Park ★★ (1980)
Sequoias, bears, beavers, birds, and opportunities for hiking or kayaking. All north of San Francisco, away from the main tourist routes, yet this site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yosemite National Park ★★★★ (1984)
Stunning landscapes, including magnificent granite cliffs, along with hiking opportunities and a variety of other outdoor activities in one of the country's most visited parks.

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Highway 1 ★★★★
Officially the "California State Route 1." This famous road runs along the coast for nearly 900 km, from north of San Francisco to south of Los Angeles. It’s one of the most beautiful and tourist-friendly routes in the USA, especially between SF and LA, offering a chance to explore the coastline and all the towns worth stopping at along the way.

Spanish Missions of California ★★
Around twenty Spanish missions dating from the late 18th to early 19th century, built along the coast between the Mexican border and the San Francisco region. Several, such as those in Carmel or Santa Barbara, have become tourist sites.

Around Northern San Francisco

San Francisco Bay ★★★★
Unique in its kind, the Bay Area is home to numerous tourist attractions. Beyond the various panoramas, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city of San Francisco itself, several small towns (Sausalito, Tiburon...), as well as places like Napa Valley or Point Reyes, are worth discovering.

Berkeley ★
On the outskirts of San Francisco, it is home to the famous eponymous university and several museums.

Bodie ★★★
A gold-rush ghost town perched at 8,380 feet on the California-Nevada border. One of the most visited of its kind.

Carmel ★★
One hundred fifty kilometers south of San Francisco, against a backdrop of beaches, Carmel is a city of writers and artists, home to numerous galleries. It also features one of the most beautiful Spanish missions on the coast (21 were built here), including the Mission San Carlos Borromeo, dating back to 1770.

Fort Ross ★
On the coast, 80 km north of San Francisco, these are the remains of a Russian fort from 1812 that marked the southernmost point of what was then called "Russian America." You can also stroll along the nearby beaches and occasionally spot whales or sea lions.

Fresno ★
This major city in the San Joaquin Valley is primarily the gateway to several natural sites like Yosemite or Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Mammoth Lakes ★
Skiing and all kinds of hikes on the agenda in this tourist town in eastern California.

Monterey ★★
This small town is one of the most beautiful and pleasant on the coast. Once the state capital, it still boasts numerous historic buildings in its center. It’s also famous for its giant aquarium and the marine mammals in its bay.

Napa Valley ★
This county is world-renowned for its vineyards, which date back to the late 19th century with the arrival of Italian immigrants in the region. Wine tastings and discovery tours for oenology enthusiasts.

Oakland ★
It is the main city in the San Francisco Bay Area. While it has several museums, it is best known for its large airport, one of the three international airports in the Bay Area.

Sacramento ★★
The state capital is located between San Francisco and the Sierra Nevada mountains. With its historic downtown, it is a key city from the 1848 California Gold Rush.

San Francisco ★★★★
A unique and much-loved city, especially among Europeans for its architecture, history, distinct culture, and vibrancy. A must-see in California and even the country.

San Jose ★
Museums and the famous "Winchester Mystery House" in this city sometimes called the capital of Silicon Valley.

San Simeon ★★
North of San Luis Obispo, this small coastal village is home to impressive colonies of elephant seals and Hearst Castle, the famous former residence of media mogul Randolph Hearst.

Santa Cruz ★
Surfing and theme parks are on the agenda (among other things) in this city in Monterey Bay, not far from San Jose.

Sausalito ★★
It's a former hippie village north of San Francisco that has become quite chic and is known for its (400) "houseboats.".

Silicon Valley ★
This world-famous industrial hub south of San Francisco has gradually become a tourist destination, with cutting-edge companies opening small museums or offering short guided tours. You can also take short hikes in the surrounding hills.

Sonoma Valley ★
North of San Francisco, this county is known for its vineyards, though they are less famous (and touristy) than those in the neighboring Napa Valley.

Tiburon ★
One of the tourist towns in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for its shops and restaurants.

Around Southern Los Angeles

Beverly Hills ★★
The Hollywood capital and "city-district" of L.A., Beverly Hills has been known as the home of the entertainment industry since the early 1920s. Its tourist appeal comes from this reputation, as well as its main thoroughfare, Rodeo Drive, world-renowned for its luxury boutiques.

Long Beach ★
On the outskirts of Los Angeles, this is the city of the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific. It is also one of the country’s leading ports.

Los Angeles ★★★
California's largest city and the second-largest in the country. Not always a favorite among tourists, who often prefer San Francisco, Los Angeles still offers plenty to explore for several days—both within the city itself and its surrounding areas (Beverly Hills, Malibu, Long Beach, Santa Monica, and more).

Malibu ★★
West of Los Angeles, the place is part of L.A.'s "tourist image." Beyond certain TV series, the city owes its fame to its beaches, its famous residents, and the surfing scene, which began here when the sport first arrived on the continental U.S.

Manzanar ★
This is the best-known and best-preserved of the internment camps for the 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. The site has been preserved for its historical value and is open to visitors.

Orange County ★★
One of the wealthiest counties in the country, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. It's also a tourist destination with Disneyland (in Anaheim), its long beaches, surfers (especially in Huntington Beach), and several small parks.

Palm Springs ★
A resort destination (primarily) for wealthy Californians, known for its hotels, spas, golf courses, and casinos. It’s also a "gay-friendly" city.

Pasadena ★
A medium-sized city bordering Los Angeles, known for its shops, restaurants, and nightlife.

Route 66 ★★
The famous route runs from Chicago (Illinois) to Santa Monica (California) via the Midwest, Texas, and the American West. It has become a major tourist "classic," especially for its western section, which is ideal for motorcycle trips.

San Diego ★★
On the Pacific coast, near the Mexican border. Beaches, museums, theme parks (including SeaWorld), and remnants of the Spanish era.

San Luis Obispo ★
Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the city is sometimes a stop for those who want to see its old Spanish mission or take advantage of its surroundings for hiking on foot or by bike.

Santa Barbara ★★
Beaches and surf in the heart of the "West Coast Riviera", plus one of the most beautiful Spanish missions on the coast.

Santa Catalina ★★
This island is part of Los Angeles County and is located about 35 km from the mainland. Among other things, it is home to a herd of wild bison.

Santa Monica ★★★
On the outskirts of Los Angeles, the city is known for its lively atmosphere, pleasant vibe, its beaches, and its ideal location for exploring the greater L.A. area. It has long been a favorite spot for both locals and visitors.

Natural Heritage

Big Sur ★★★
This is 140 km of coastline between Carmel and San Simeon, featuring striking cliffs plunging into the ocean. You’ll find beautiful small beaches and great hiking spots.

Mojave Desert ★★
Arid and mountainous landscapes, caves, and dunes (the Kelso Dunes) to explore in the southeast of the state.

Devils Postpile National Monument ★
East of California, in the Sierra Nevada, a dark-hued cliff made of basalt columns.

Shasta-Trinity National Forest ★★
Just before Oregon, this vast mountainous and forested region, with its lakes and rivers, offers a multitude of outdoor activity opportunities.

Mono Lake ★★
This high-altitude salt lake is known for its volcanic tufa landscapes. Explore it by canoe or kayak.

Lake Tahoe ★★
A large mountain lake (at 1,897 m) renowned for its landscapes as well as hiking, skiing, or water sports depending on the season. It straddles California and Nevada.

Lava Beds National Monument ★★
The site offers a volcanic landscape with numerous caves and hiking opportunities.

Mount Whitney ★★
One of the highest peaks in the United States (14,505 ft) and the tallest in California. It can be climbed.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park ★★
A desert region in southern California, between L.A. and Mexico, where you can hike nearly 200 km of marked trails.

Channel Islands National Park ★★
Five of the eight islands off Santa Barbara designated a national park for their wildlife, flora, and environment. Visitors come for the landscapes, kayaking, or diving.

Joshua Tree National Park ★★★
This vast desert park is loved for its landscapes as well as its hiking, climbing, and birdwatching opportunities.

Pinnacles National Park ★
This small, relatively quiet site, not far from the coast and San Francisco, offers some beautiful rocky landscapes of volcanic origin and a few caves. You can hike here.

Redwood National Park ★★
Sequoias, bears, beavers, birds, and opportunities for hiking or kayaking. All north of San Francisco, away from the main tourist routes, yet this site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yosemite National Park ★★★★
Stunning landscapes, including magnificent granite cliffs, along with hiking opportunities and a variety of other outdoor activities in one of the country's most visited parks.

Lassen Volcanic National Park ★★★
Hiking, climbing, and fishing in the stunning volcanic landscapes of northeastern California are on the agenda at this park, which welcomes over 500,000 visitors a year.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks ★★★★
Towering sequoias reaching dozens of meters high in a mountainous setting for these two "associated" parks.

Point Reyes National Seashore ★★
North of San Francisco, this beautiful and vast peninsula faces the ocean with its hills and wild coastline. Visitors come for the landscapes, hiking, kayaking, and whale watching between January and May.

Death Valley ★★★★
With its unique desert landscapes and intense heat, Death Valley remains a must-see on any trip to the West. It is also the lowest point on the North American continent. The site lies mostly in California and partly in Nevada.