10 Iconic Places to Visit in California

From the major cities to the mountains and coastlines, California is a very special place and you could spend a lifetime exploring this state. While we’ve loved visiting smaller towns and the lesser-known gems of California, there are some places that are truly iconic to see in the state and we have highlighted a few of them here.

1. Yosemite National Park

One of the best national parks we’ve ever been to is California’s Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park has so much stunning scenery to offer including the iconic granite domes, waterfalls, and the giant sequoias. This is a must-do when visting California!

Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park is a 4-5 hour drive from major cities (Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco) and is a great destination to visit year-round.

2. State Capitol Building

Sacramento is the state capital of California and while it isn’t as popular of a city as San Francisco or Los Angeles, it is one of California’s most historic cities and worth visiting on a trip to Northern California. Sacramento became the Golden State’s capital in 1854 and had a mass migration during the gold rush in California.

The Capitol Building is home to the seat of the California state government and a museum that is open to the public. The building is open 7 days and features galleries and exhibits on the history of California.

The Capitol Park is the 40-acres surrounding the building and features beautiful gardens, including a rose garden and monuments for different parts of California’s history.

3. Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is possibly the most iconic symbol of California. The suspension bridge is named after the mile-long Golden Gate strait, which connects the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. The bridge itself connects San Francisco to Marin County and was completed in 1937.

Today, you can drive, bike or walk across the famous bridge when visiting San Francisco or view it from numerous places around the Bay area.

Some of the best viewing spots are:

Battery Spencer
Baker Beach
Hawk Hill
Crissy Field
Fort Point

4. Big Sur

One of the most iconic drives in California is the Pacific Coast Highway and one of the best stops on this road trip is Big Sur. Located along California’s central coast, Big Sur is a lush area with rocky cliffs, serene beaches, mountains and famous Redwoods.

Though the views here are spectacular, be prepared for some misty mornings where you might not be able to see too much. This tends to happen in California’s early summer, around June.

Best stops for Big Sur:

Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Bixby Creek Bridge
McWay Falls
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

5. Mt. Whitney

Mt. Whitney is the highest mountain in the contiguous United States. Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, this majestic peak can be hiked in one day or overnight with a permit which has become a very popular thing to do in the past few years.

Another way to see the iconic Mt. Whitney is from Alabama Hills near Lone Pine. These hills were used as a filming location for many Old Hollywood films and is popular today for photography of the rock formations and the impressive view of Mt. Whitney.

6. Lake Tahoe

The iconic and world famous Lake Tahoe is one of the best places to visit in California. Located in both California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake known for its crystal clear waters. The lake and town is surrounded by stunning forests and mountain peaks and is a beautiful place to visit year-round!

The busiest time to visit Lake Tahoe is in the summer because of the endless list of things to do here including: paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, hiking, biking and more. And in the winter, you can go skiing or snowboarding at one of the mountain resort with views of the lake from the slopes.

7. Santa Monica Pier

One of the most iconic places to visit in Southern California is the Santa Monica Pier. The pier is one of the most filmed locations in L.A. and is also the official end of the historic Route 66 highway.

The fishing pier has a small amusement park on it with some concession stands to explore, and is also a beautiful backdrop for watching the sunset on Santa Monica beach! You could spend the day here or make it a quick stop when visiting Los Angeles.

8. Joshua Tree National Park

Located in the California desert, Joshua Tree National Park is an iconic place to visit in the United States. The Joshua Trees that scatter the desert landscape in this national park are fascinating to see and one of a kind.

We think visiting Joshua Tree National Park is a must-do in California!

Joshua Tree is a great place to visit for a weekend and is only about 2 hours drive from Los Angeles or San Diego and about 3 hours from Las Vegas or Phoenix. The desert town has many unique AirBnb’s to stay at when visiting the national park or you can opt to camp in the park.

You can find our complete guide to visiting the park here.

9. Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign is one of the most popular sites to see in Los Angeles and has a lot of history along with it. The sign was originally created as a billboard for a real estate development and was written as ‘Hollywoodland’. This American landmark has been a cultural icon and backdrop of Los Angeles since 1923 and is something you won’t miss when visiting Tinsel Town.

Today you can hike to the Hollywood Sign on the Hollyridge Trail or view it from a number of places:

Griffith Observatory
Hollywood & Highland
Lake Hollywood Park
Runyon Canyon

10. Redwood National & State Parks

Another one of the most iconic places to visit in California has to be the place with the tallest trees on Earth! Giant Redwoods grow in Northern California along the stunning rugged coastline and this is the only place in the world to see them.

Redwood National & State Parks are the collection of protected areas in the region where you can see the majestic redwood rainforest and many more beautiful sites. The national park is located about 5-6 hours north of San Francisco and is incredibly worth visiting if you can!