California
Sur Monterey County
Bixby Creek Bridge
Bixby Creek Bridge, CA-1, Monterey, CA 93940
Our rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* This view will truly take your breath away and you’ll immediately understand why it’s so popular. The view of Bixby Bridge is definitely one of my favorites
About the place:
Bixby Bridge is one of the many incredible views found along the coast of Big Sur that will just blow you away. The view here is unbelievably beautiful and a must see. Bixby Bridge was built back in 1932 & since it’s just a stop on the side of the road, it’s super easy for anyone to see. To get the view in the photo above, you can stop at the Castle Rock Viewpoint.
How to get there:
If you’re headed south on CA-1 in Monterey, this pull off will be on your right just before the bridge.
Things near by:
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 11 miles away (15 mins)
McWay Falls 23.7 miles away (37 mins away)
Inyo County
Death Valley National Park
GW4C+56 Skidoo, California
* It’s important to note Death Valley is known for it’s extreme temps. Be sure to bring lots of water, wear sunscreen & check your tire pressure! Tires tend to expand when exposed to extreme heat. *
Artists Palette Rd. CA, 92328
Artists Palette
Our rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* This stop is perfect and such a cool site to see! You can either just drive through it and take in the views from the road or take a hike and explore it deeper.
About the place:
The Artists Palette at Death Valley is definitely a bucket list stop. There’s a must do 9-mile drive that twists and turns through these beautifully colored rocks. There aren’t are any marked trails along this road but there are plenty of places to pull off and explore on foot. According to National Park Services (https://www.nps.gov/places/artists-palette.htm) the colors you see here are from “volcanic deposits rich in compounds such as iron oxides and chlorite, which creates a rainbow effect”. If you visit Death Valley you can’t miss this unique stop.
How to get there:
The beautiful Artist Palette scenic drive is located off of Badwater Road, on Artists Drive.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
CA-190, Stovepipe Wells, CA 92328
Our rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* The view of Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is absolutely beautiful and a must stop if you’re visiting Death Valley. Due to the heat many people just make this a quick stop but if you’d like to see more, there’s a trail through the dunes.
About the place:
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes were formed by many years of erosion of the nearby Cottonwood Mountains and blown into sand dunes by the desert winds. If you can bear the heat, there’s a 2.8 mile round-trip trail you can do to explore that is known to be an easy hike.
How to get there:
To visit the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes you can park in the parking lot off of CA-190 about a 1/2 mile from Grotto Canyon Road.
Places near by:
Las Vegas 126 miles away (1 hour 50 mins)
Monterey County
McWay Falls
Big Sur, CA 93920
About the place:
McWay Falls is an absolutely stunning 80ft waterfall that lands right on a beautiful beach along the coast of Big Sur. It’s very unfortunate that visitors aren’t allowed to get a closer view but it’s so worth the visit, especially if you’re a waterfall lover like me. To get this view you must hike the easy 1.2 mile loop trail to get to the overlook.
Our rating:
*4 out of 5 stars* The view of McWay falls is so incredible, the only downside is that you can’t get a closer view. Even so, it is still worth the visit!
How to get there:
This stop is found along the Big Sur Coast in California. There’s a decent sized parking lot located off of Cabrillo Highway.
Places near by:
Point Sur State Historic Park 18.8 miles away (30 mins)
Bixby Creek Bridge 23.7 miles away (35 mins)
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 34.7 miles away (50 mins)
Mono County
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve
US-395, Lee Vining, CA 93541
Our rating:
*3 out of 5 stars* This is a nice easy and quick stop with a beautiful view. It was very muddy when we visited and the smell is a little overpowering as the water has a very high salinity. Besides that, the views make it worth visiting!
About the place:
Mono Lake Tufa is a beautiful salt water lake with twice the salinity as the ocean. This body of water covers approximately 65 square miles and is estimated to be over 1 million years old. The limestone towers that you see today were all formed under water when lake levels were higher but are now exposed for us to observe. New towers are forming all the time, you’re able to locate them by following the bubbles that rise to the surface. If you click the below button you can read about how these towers are formed.
How to get there:
This unique location is found near the boarder of Nevada in Lee Vining, California. There are many different views you can get by stopping at different pull offs, we decided to park at the one off of Picnic Ground Road.
Places near by:
Lake Tahoe 109 miles away (2 hours 10 mins)
Monterey County
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Our rating:
*4 out of 5 stars* The view seen along the trail at Point Lobos is absolutely stunning & a must see if you’re visiting the area! This can either be a quick little stop or you can explore a few of the trails nearby.
About the place:
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a beautiful portion of the California Coast with multiple trails that you can take to explore the area. The one seen in these pictures is the Sea Lion Point Trail which is an easy 0.6 mile walk along the water. Hence the name, sea lions are commonly seen in this area, along with seals and otters.
How to get there:
The start of Point Lobos is off of Cabrillo Hwy on Point Lobos Road. From there, it really depends on where you want to go. If you’re looking to do the Sea Lion Point Trail, you can follow along Point Lobos Road for 1.1 miles and park in the parking lot to your right. If this parking lot is full, there is another one to the left and 3rd one a little further down the road.
Places near by:
Bixby Bridge 11 miles away (15 mins)
Big Sur 21.8 miles away (30 mins)
McWay Falls 34.7 miles away (50 mins)
San Francisco 125 mins away (2 hours)
Mariposa County
Yosemite National Park
Bridal Veil Falls
Brideveil Falls Trail, Yosemite Village, CA 95389
About the place:
Bridal Veil Falls is a 620 foot waterfall that can be partially seen from the scenic road through Yosemite Valley. If you take the 0.5 mile round trip trail you can get an up close view of the spectacular waterfall. The trail is fairly easy but the closer you get the more you have to climb over large rocks. I definitely recommend this stop if you’re short on time or just looking for the best views!
Our rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* This is a must see when in Yosemite Valley! This stunning watefall will take your breath away and is so easy to get to.
How to get there:
Bridal Veil Falls is located in Yosemite Valley. The trailhead is located on Wawona Road.
Glacier Point
Glacier Point Road, CA
Our rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* This is one of the best views you can get in Yosemite National Park. I wouldn’t miss this quick stop if you’re visiting the park
About the Place:
Glacier Point is perfect for anyone to visit, all you have to do is park and take in the stunning view. From here, you get an incredible overlook of Yosemite Valley. You’re able to see Half Dome, Vernal Falls & Nevada Falls from this viewpoint.
How to get there:
Glacier Point is very easy to find, the overlook is located off of Glacier Point Road.
Tenaya Lake
Tioga Rd, California 95389
Our rating:
*5 out of 5 stars* Tenaya Lake is the perfect stop in Yosemite. It’s one of the most peaceful places I have ever been & besides two kayakers we had the area to ourselves. This is a great place to escape the crowds and just relax with an incredible view.
About the place:
Tenaya Lake is a beautiful and crystal clear 1-mile long lake found in Yosemite National Park. This lake is surrounded by incredibly stunning mountains and is sort of a hidden oasis. On a hot day this is the perfect place to cool off in the icey cold water from the snowmelt off the mountains.
How to get there:
Tenaya Lake can be found between Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley along Tioga Road.
Tunnel View
Wawona Rd, California 95389
Our rating :
*5 out of 5 stars* This is by far the most beautiful and jaw dropping view I have ever seen. You cannot miss this bucket list stop!
About the place:
As you come to the end of Wawona Tunnel, it will open up to this truly unbelievable view. There will be a parking lot to your left that you can park and take in the scenery. This stop really made me feel like I was in another world.
How to get there:
The Tunnel View at Yosemite is at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel on Wawona Road. This is the “entrance” to Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Valley
Northside & Southside Dr. Yosemite Valley, CA 95389
Our rating :
*5 out of 5 stars* Yosemite Valley is another bucket list stop that you just cannot miss! Pictures and videos just don’t do this place justice. This is a great place to visit because you can get stunning views even if you’re unable to get out the car! I highly recommend exploring but even if you don’t, you’re guarenteed to see incredible views.
About the place:
The iconic Yosemite Valley is filled with massive waterfalls, mountains and cliffs all around you. You can do one of the many hikes in the area to explore on foot or you can drive around and take in the scenery by car. Besides the amazing views, this area also has places to eat, sleep and shop. It’s best to visit in the spring after the snow has melted if you want to see the waterfalls at their strongest.
How to get there:
Once you pass through the Wawona Tunnel you will be at the start of Yosemite Valley. If you continue on through here, the road will loop around part of the valley alongside jaw dropping views.
Places near Yosemite National Park:
Sequoia National Park 138 miles away (2 hours 35 mins)
Kings Canyon 144 miles away (3 hours 15 mins)