The Yosemite firefall is one of the most breathtaking natural phenomena in California — a 10-minute window each February when the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall on El Capitan at just the right angle, turning the waterfall into what looks like a stream of molten lava flowing down a 3,000-foot Read more…
Alabama Hills Lone Pine California is one of the most otherworldly landscapes in the entire state — a sprawling field of rounded orange boulders and eroded rock formations set against the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, with Mount Whitney as a dramatic backdrop. Located just 15 minutes from Read more…
Carpinteria state beach camping is one of the best beachfront camping experiences in all of Southern California. Located just 12 miles south of Santa Barbara, this mile-long stretch of white sand offers true drive-up camping steps from the Pacific — a rare combination in California that makes it one of Read more…
Big sur camping no reservations is possible — but you need to know exactly where to go and when to show up. The most popular campgrounds on Highway 1 book up 6 months in advance and parking on the roadside overnight will get you a $250 ticket. But there are Read more…
Car camping Point Reyes California is one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences in the Bay Area — dramatic coastal bluffs, tule elk roaming open grasslands, elephant seals on the beaches, and some of the finest hiking in Northern California. There is one critical thing every visitor needs to know Read more…
Car camping Big Sur California is one of the most spectacular camping experiences in the country — 90 miles of dramatic Pacific coastline, towering redwood forests, hidden waterfalls, and campgrounds that put you right in the middle of it all. The catch is that Big Sur camping is also some Read more…
Camping Pinnacles National Park puts you inside one of California’s most underrated and dramatically beautiful landscapes — a place of ancient volcanic spires, twisting talus caves, and wild California condors soaring overhead. Pinnacles is one of the newest and smallest national parks in the country, which means fewer crowds and Read more…
Lost coast campgrounds in California range from primitive beachside BLM sites with zero facilities to comfortable county parks with hot showers and flush toilets — and remarkably, none of them are ever crowded. This 80-mile stretch of undeveloped Northern California coastline sees far fewer visitors than it deserves, which means Read more…
Car camping the Lost Coast California is one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences in the entire state — and one of the least crowded. This 80-mile stretch of undeveloped Northern California coastline was so rugged that early road builders gave up trying to tame it, leaving behind the longest Read more…
Free things to do in San Diego are everywhere — and honestly, some of the best experiences this city offers don’t cost a thing. From world-class beaches and sweeping coastal hikes to free museums and neighborhood gems, San Diego rewards the budget-conscious traveler more than almost any other city in Read more…