The Most Beautiful Places In Southern California To Visit

Southern California might be known primarily for its beaches, but there is so much more to see in the Golden State than sand. From incredible national parks to sweeping wildflower fields, we’ve put together a collection of the most gorgeous spots around, and what you can expect if you visit them.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Sequoia National Park

A huge park located in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Sequoia National Park stretches across 400,000 acres (162,000ha). Established in 1890, the park is renowned for its giant forest, filled with some of the oldest and largest ancient coastal redwood trees in the world. It’s also home to Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. There’s a variety of activities to enjoy here, including camping, hiking, backpacking and fishing.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, on the northern side of Los Angeles county, is protected under the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The reserve is home to the best California poppy blooms in the state, filling the space with bright, vibrant flowers. In addition to poppies, it is known for its wildflowers such as owl’s clover, lupine, goldfields, cream cups and coreopsis. To catch the best colors of the year, time your visit between mid-February and late May.

Death Valley National Park

Draping across the border of southern California and Nevada lies Death Valley National Park, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This is the largest national park in the contiguous United States, containing a portion of the Mojave desert as well as salt flats, sand dunes, badlands, valleys, canyons and mountains. The majority of the park is a designated wilderness area, housing an array of desert-adapted plant and animal species. When visiting, you can camp, hike, drive, bike, backpack and more.

Joshua Tree National Park

Also in southern California, Joshua Tree National Park brings together the distinct ecosystems from the Mojave and Colorado deserts to provide a home for an incredible range of plants and animals. The land has been shaped by strong weather over the years to create a fascinating landscape where you can enjoy hiking, camping, climbing, bird watching and stargazing.

Los Padres National Forest

Stretching along the coast and slightly inland between Ventura and Monterey sits Los Padres National Forest, with about 875,000 acres (354,000ha) of forestry. Included within the park’s boundaries are the Ventana, Silver Peak, Santa Lucia, Machesna, Garcia, San Rafael, Dick Smith, Sespe, Matilija and Chumash wilderness areas. This a great spot for hiking and backpacking, with over 1,200mi (1,931km) of trails.

Coronado Beach

In the San Diego area is Coronado beach, a gorgeous stretch of shore spreading out in front of the Hotel del Coronado. You don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy the 1.5mi (2.4km) beach and admire some of the beautiful Ocean Boulevard houses. There’s swimming, boogie boarding, body surfing and visiting the tide pools here, although for ideal surfing conditions, head to North Beach, or opt for a doggie day even further north at Dog Beach.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Located in Monterey County on the central coast of California, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park spans more than 1,000 acres (405ha), stretching across the Big Sur River and sloping down the west side of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Filled with redwoods, conifers, oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods, maples, alders and willows, the Pfeiffer is a beautiful spot for visitors to explore. Be on the lookout for animals such as bobcats, deer, squirrels and colorful birds. Today, the park is best known for its camping facilities and hiking trails.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.