Huntington Beach boasts 13.7 km (8.5 miles) of uninterrupted sandy coastline, making it one of the longest continuous beach towns in Southern California. Known as "Surf City USA," this vibrant coastal destination offers the perfect blend of laid-back beach culture and...
Did you know that Hungry Valley SVRA spans over 19,000 acres (7,689 hectares) of diverse off-road terrain, making it one of California's largest and most varied state vehicular recreation areas? This vast playground offers more than 130 miles (209 km) of scenic trails...
Home to the largest remaining old-growth redwood forest on Earth, Humboldt Redwoods State Park protects over 17,000 acres (6,880 hectares) of ancient coast redwoods, some towering more than 100 meters (328 feet) tall and dating back 2,000+ years. These living giants...
Hidden along California's rugged northern coast, Humboldt Lagoons State Park protects one of the longest stretches of coastal lagoons in the United States - a remarkable 22 kilometers (14 miles) of pristine waterways where freshwater meets the sea. This string of...
Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) holds the distinction of being California's very first state-designated off-road vehicle park, established in 1975. Spanning over 6,800 acres of diverse terrain in the Gabilan Mountains, this unique destination...
Did you know that Henry W. Coe State Park is Northern California's largest state park, spanning an impressive 87,000 acres? That's twice the size of Washington D.C.! Yet this magnificent wilderness area receives only about 40,000 visitors annually, making it one of...
Did you know that some of the coast redwoods in Henry Cowell have stood for over 1,800 years, silently witnessing centuries of California history? These ancient giants, some towering over 85 m (280 ft) tall, create one of the most magical forest experiences in the...
Did you know that Hendy Woods contains some of the last remaining old-growth coast redwoods in California, with trees dating back over 1,000 years? This hidden gem in Mendocino County offers visitors a chance to walk among ancient giants that have stood witness to...
Did you know that Hearst San Simeon State Park spans over 1.6 km (1 mile) of pristine coastline and protects one of California's largest northern elephant seal rookeries, where thousands of these magnificent creatures gather annually? This hidden gem along...
Did you know that the Imperial Sand Dunes, which include Heber Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, served as a filming location for the iconic Star Wars movie "Return of the Jedi"? These magnificent dunes doubled as the fictional planet Tatooine, where the famous...
Did you know that William Randolph Hearst's private zoo was once the largest in the world? The media tycoon's exotic menagerie included everything from polar bears to giraffes, and even today, descendants of his zebras can occasionally be spotted roaming freely on the...
Did you know that Half Moon Bay State Beach spans over 4 miles (6.4 km) of pristine coastline, yet remains one of Northern California's most underrated coastal gems? This stretch of beautiful sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, and breathtaking ocean views offers visitors...
Did you know that Glass Beach contains an estimated 1,000 tons of sea glass created from decades of discarded bottles and ceramics? What was once a town dump has transformed into one of California's most unique natural wonders. The ocean's relentless waves have turned...
Did you know that the iconic Half Dome cables route, which helps hikers ascend the final 120 meters (400 feet) to the summit, was originally installed in 1919 and has remained largely unchanged for over a century? This legendary granite formation rises 1,463 meters...
Did you know that from the summit of Fremont Peak, you can see both Monterey Bay and the entire Santa Clara Valley on a clear day? At just 159 acres, this small but mighty state park offers some of the darkest night skies in California, making it a hidden gem for...
Did you know that Franks Tract State Recreation Area is one of California's most unique state parks? This 3,523-acre aquatic park was once farmland before levee failures in 1938 permanently flooded the area, creating a distinctive water-based recreation destination...
Did you know that Fort Tejon experienced one of California's most powerful earthquakes in 1857, measuring an astonishing 7.9 magnitude? This historic military outpost, nestled in the picturesque Grapevine Canyon, offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into 1850s...
Did you know that Eugene O'Neill is the only American playwright to ever receive the Nobel Prize for Literature? At his secluded Danville retreat, now preserved as the Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, this literary giant wrote his most acclaimed works including...
Fannette Island is the only island in all of Lake Tahoe, making this granite-peaked gem a truly unique destination in the Sierra Nevada. Rising 80 m (262 ft) above the emerald waters, this tiny island holds a fascinating history, including a stone tea house built in...
Did you know that Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park contains one of the best-preserved natural areas along Lake Tahoe's western shore, with some sugar pine trees dating back over 400 years? This hidden gem offers nearly two miles of pristine lake frontage and...
Did you know that Fort Ord National Monument encompasses over 35 square kilometers (14,000 acres) of pristine coastal terrain that was once one of the largest military bases in the United States? This stunning landscape now offers visitors a unique blend of natural...
Did you know that Fort Ross State Historic Park is home to North America's southernmost Russian settlement? Established in 1812, this fascinating historic site was once a thriving multicultural community of Russians, Native Americans, and Alaskan natives who lived and...
Did you know that Fort Point is the only fort on the West Coast built before the Civil War that remains virtually unchanged? This brick fortress, completed in 1861, was designed to hold 126 massive cannons yet never fired a single shot in battle. Today, this...
Did you know that Fort Ord Dunes State Park was once home to one of America's largest military training bases before its transformation into a natural paradise? This 979-hectare (2,420-acre) coastal gem underwent a remarkable metamorphosis from a bustling military...