1. When the sun rises in California
Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Los Altos
2. And the fog begins to clear
San Francisco Bay
3. A world of possibilities await you
Sausalito
4. You can take a cool dip underneath the waterfalls that President Theodore Roosevelt once called “the eighth wonder of the world”
Burney Falls, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
5. Or go for an early morning walk through a peaceful vineyard
Sonoma
6. Watch magnificent bull elk compete for female attention in the misty dew of morning
Elks at Redwood National Park
7. Feel humble among the tallest trees on the planet
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
8. Take time to trek through each forest, because this state is full of glorious redwoods
Muir Woods
9. The views are so breath-catchingly beautiful, you’ll think you’re in heaven
Tenaya Lake from near Olmsted Point
10. Especially when you gaze at a brilliant rainbow while listening to the roar of the falls
Mist Trail at Yosemite National Park
11. Step into a colorful landscape filled with bubbling mud pots, sulfur vents and boiling pools
Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic National Park
12. And you might just glimpse a bear emerging from winter hibernation
Black bear at Lassen Volcanic National Park
13. Relax on the smooth stones at the edge of an emerald lake
Lake Tahoe
14. Or, take advantage of one of Earth’s natural mirrors
Reflection of Crystal Crag near Mammoth Lakes
15. Get inspired by the sun’s rays as they touch breathtaking rocky peaks
Treasure Lakes
16. View iconic landmarks from all angles
Golden Gate Bridge taken from Torpedo Wharf
17. And practice yoga poses in the sand with an elephant seal
Elephant seal at Greyhound Rock Beach
18. Take a romantic stroll at ocean’s edge
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz
19. Driving a steep winding road is worth it to make it to this remote picturesque lighthouse
Point Reyes Lighthouse
20. Take a trip down the coastal highway and you’ll discover fantasy scenes like this
McWay Falls, Big Sur
21. …And this
Big Sur
22. See Death Valley come alive with blooming wildflowers
Death Valley
23. Or just appreciate it for the radiant geological masterpiece that it is
Death Valley
24. Watch the sunset cast a colorful glow on cholla cacti
Mojave Desert
25. Choose your favorite Joshua tree, since each seems to have a personality of its own
Joshua Tree National Park
26. No superlative can capture the majesty of the Half Dome
Half Dome, taken from Glacier Point
27. But one of the best things about living in California is…
El Porto Beach, Los Angeles
28. …When the sun dips below the horizon
Zabriskie Point, Death Valley
29. And the skies start to darken
Mount Shasta and the Black Butte nightscape
30. There’s no better place to see the stars
Mount Shasta
