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Written by Sandy Allen
Sandy is a freelance writer based in Richmond, Virginia. Her specialties range from hotels, dining, beaches, and boating to theme parks, urban settings, mountain getaways, and fun attractions. She loves Nashville, Las Vegas, and Williamsburg, Virginia - but you're most likely to find her at the beach or on a boat somewhere. In addition to ViaTravelers, her work appears at AFAR, PierShare, Cozymeal, and more.
With jagged coastlines, soaring waterfalls, towering redwoods, and that glamorous persona, California has more exotic places than you might think. When you consider the word “exotic,” your mind probably travels to somewhere like Bali, the Maldives, or a curvaceous Mediterranean coastline. Mine sure does!
The Golden State of California entered the nation in 1850 and features a long history of gold mining, Napa Valley winemaking, surf seeking, and movie making.
Then there’s the amusement park mecca of Orange County, which includes Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as the ski resorts, mountain climbing, and outdoor adventures of the Santa Monica Mountains, Redwood National Park, and Glacier Point.
The landscape boasts impressive stats of 840 miles of shoreline, a distance of 1,040 miles from snow-capped mountains to sunny San Diego and Balboa Park in Southern California.
It is approximately 560 miles from areas such as Death Valley National Park to the Pacific Ocean, nine national park offerings (including Sequoia National Park and Death Valley National Park), and more than 25 million acres of desert.
This list of California vacation spots and cultural attractions dives into the exotic side of the Golden State as we explore a Pacific Coast and California landmarks map filled with colorful, fascinating, and glamorous destinations and places to visit.
Most Exotic Places in California
1. Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is one of the top 10 things to do in California. It borders California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The crystal clear lakes of Tahoe are 1,600 feet deep, one of the deepest in North America, and feature stunning mountain scenery, whether snow peaks or wildflower valleys.
One of the most famous places in California, millions of visitors enjoy hiking, skiing, snowboarding, boating, scuba diving, camping, fishing, and swimming at Sand Harbour Beach and Bliss State Park. On a scale of 1-10 for relaxing places in California, it’s a high 10.
Things to do in Lake Tahoe
Things to do in Lake Tahoe
Emerald Bay State Park
Emerald Bay State Park, on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, is a National Natural Landmark due to its stunning mountains.
Visit the 1929 Scandinavian-style Vickingsholm mansion, a national and California landmark, which is open for tours in the summer.
It’s high on our list of favorite places to visit in California. Hike the Rubicon Trail or the Tahoe Rim Trail, journey to the spectacular Eagle Falls waterfall, or dive into the Maritime Heritage Underwater Trail of boats and barges in Emerald Bay.
Boating
Lake Tahoe has a wide array of boat launches, slips, boat tours, gas docks, and mooring balls. Tahoe Keys Marina is the largest on the lake, and Timber Cove Marina has jet ski, boat, and kayak rentals as well as parasailing, boat moorings, and fuel docks.
Places to Stay in Lake Tahoe
Places to Stay in Lake Tahoe
Eagle Point Campground, in Emerald Bay State Park, makes a fun place to pitch a tent if you’re the outdoor type. Black Bear Lodge is a charmingly rustic mountain cabin located near the Gondola at Heavenly Ski Resort.
Known for stunning waterfalls and giant sequoias, Yosemite National Park is the best vacation spot in California for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
Its Sierra Nevada Mountain location has stunning forests, granite boulders, and sweeping views of El Capitan and Half Dome. The area offers 1,200 square miles of valleys, wilderness, and wildflower meadows for camping, hiking, and sightseeing.
Things to Do in Yosemite
Emerald Bay State Park
Emerald Bay State Park, on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, is a National Natural Landmark due to its stunning mountains.
Visit the 1929 Scandinavian-style Vickingsholm mansion, a national and California landmark, which is open for tours in the summer.
It’s high on our list of favorite places to visit in California. Hike the Rubicon Trail or the Tahoe Rim Trail, journey to the spectacular Eagle Falls waterfall, or dive into the Maritime Heritage Underwater Trail of boats and barges in Emerald Bay.
Boating
Lake Tahoe has a wide array of boat launches, slips, boat tours, gas docks, and mooring balls. Tahoe Keys Marina is the largest on the lake, and Timber Cove Marina has jet ski, boat, and kayak rentals as well as parasailing, boat moorings, and fuel docks.
Places to Stay near Yosemite National Park
Places to Stay near Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley Lodge is near Yosemite Falls in the national park. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in as much panoramic scenery as you can manage. We’re pretty sure you can see a Joshua tree from here.
The Upper Pines Campground, near the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, is within hiking and biking distance of trails. It’s one of California’s best vacation destinations for RV and tent campers.
Named for the unique spherical “concretions” that lie about on the beach, Bowling Ball Beach is part of Schooner Gulch State Beach.
The “bowling balls” were created from the weathering of the rocks around them. Located in Mendocino in northern California, the area is perfect for picnicking, surfing, fishing, and sunset watching along the Pacific Coast Highway. Just don’t try to pick up those bowling balls rock formations!
Things to do near Bowling Ball Beach
Things to do near Bowling Ball Beach
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Mendocino Headlands State Park is a stunning place to visit in California. It has 347 acres of bluffs, beaches, and islets to explore. Hike along trails, the coastline, and the town of Mendocino, or drive down the Pacific Coast Highway.
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse
Point Cabrillo Light Station is a scenic and historic nautical beacon in a stunning natural setting. There’s also a museum and restored buildings on site.
Glass Beach
Glass Beach is about 20 minutes north of Mendocino. It’s one of those fun tourist attractions you can visit in California.
Temple of Kwan Tai
The Temple of Kwan Tai is an ornate Chinese temple constructed from local redwood trees in the mid-19th century. Originally home to a population of Chinese lumber workers, it’s now used as a house of worship and an education center.
Places to Stay near Bowling Ball Beach
Places to Stay near Bowling Ball Beach
Agate Cove Inn, located near the Mendocino Art Center, the Temple of Kwan Tai, and other tourist attractions, offers elegantly understated rooms and beautiful coast views. Chanticleer is an open and inviting rustic cabin with an outdoor deck and floor-to-ceiling windows for unobstructed views.
If you dream of visiting a quaint Italian village without leaving the mainland, Capitola Beach is one of those hidden gems that will make you feel like you’re stepping into a snapshot of the Italian coastline.
The stunning beach is located at the north end of Monterey Bay. It offers trendy shops, art galleries, and cafés, as well as outdoor adventures such as stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and swimming.
Things to do near Capitola Beach
Things to do near Capitola Beach
Monterey Bay Aquarium
For fun places to visit, take a road trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium at Cannery Row. It’s well-known for its marine wildlife and conservation work. Visit habitats with African penguins, sea otters, sharks, sea lions, and more.
Old Fisherman’s Wharf
For shopping and dining, pay a visit to the popular Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
Natural Bridges State Park
The 65-acre Natural Bridges State Park is a fun California park for places to visit. It has a unique natural rock formation (a bridge) across part of the beach.
Places to Stay near Capitola Beach
Places to Stay near Capitola Beach
Portola Hotel and Spa, near Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row, has an on-site restaurant, swimming pool, and inviting public spaces in a convenient location.
Find affordable rental cars at Kayak to enjoy a scenic drive across California.
Point Reyes National Seashore, in Marin County in Northern California, is about 60 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It’s a protected coastline of stunning landscapes filled with crashing ocean waves, wide sandy beaches, grasslands, and forests. Go fishing, hike the jagged cliffs of Chimney Rock, or check out the local plants, tide pools, and wildlife such as elephant seals, salmon, and elk.
Things to do in Point Reyes National Seashore
Things to do in Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes Lighthouse
Built in 1870, Point Reyes Lighthouse is a popular California vacation spot to watch migrating whales. The lighthouse protected ships traveling between San Francisco Bay and the north.
Phillip Burton Wilderness
Explore hiking trails through grasslands, pines, and fir forests or traverse Mount Wittenberg.
Places to Stay near Point Reyes National Seashore
Places to Stay near Point Reyes National Seashore
If you’re outdoorsy, you can try camping at Point Reyes. In nearby Inverness, cottages at Point Reyes Seashore have grilling facilities, an outdoor pool, and a garden. Some rooms have a kitchenette, which makes meal prep convenient after a day of exploring.
Highland House Inverness is located within Point Reyes National Park for a vacation home that feels like your own. It has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a lakefront patio. Bring along the whole crew.
Bermuda’s pink sand and Hawaii’s black and green sand are both good and nice. But if you want to get exotic, it’s all about the purple sand in California.
Big Sur, one of the top destinations in California, is home to the purple sand of Pfeiffer Beach. The unique color comes from the erosion of manganese garnet in the hills washed down to the beach. Don’t miss Keyhole Rock, a rock formation with a unique “keyhole” cutout.
Big Sur is located between Carmel and San Simeon and the natural formations of the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The rugged coastline features winding curves, cliffs, and seaside views of the Pacific Coast Highway. And, of course, that amazing purple sand.
Things to do in Big Sur
Things to do in Big Sur
Andrew Molera State Park
Andrew Molera State Park offers redwood groves, hiking trails, and views of coastal wildlife along the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Pacific Coast.
Bixby Creek Bridge
Leave your fear of heights at home as you take a road trip across the 280-foot-tall Bixby Creek Bridge. As seen in the opening credits of the television series Big Little Lies (starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, and many more), the bridge towers over the California coast and the Pacific Ocean.
Places to Stay in Big Sur
Places to Stay in Big Sur
Big Sur River Inn sits along the Big Sur River and has an on-site restaurant and a swimming pool in a scenic and secluded natural setting.
Pismo Beach, between San Francisco and Los Angeles (south of San Simeon and Hearst Castle), is a classic small coastal city beach town. Channel your inner surfer among the waves and dunes of this central coastal location. It’s known as the Clam Capital of the World, so pack your clam-digging duds with your board shorts.
Things to do in Pismo Beach
Things to do in Pismo Beach
Monarch Butterfly Grove
Tens of thousands of monarch butterflies migrate annually. From October to February, they can be seen in the eucalyptus and cypress trees all around the area.
Pismo State Beach
Pismo State Beach has 17 miles of dunes and beaches for surfing, swimming, fishing, bird watching, and clam digging.
Places to Stay in Pismo Beach
Places to Stay in Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach Hotel is conveniently located in downtown Pismo Beach, about a block from the Pismo Beach Pier, making it one of the most convenient places to visit. See more great hotels near Pismo Beach with Booking.com and get the best deals.
With 800,000 acres, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most famous places in California for nature lovers. It is not just an exotic location; it’s almost otherworldly with its uniquely shaped twisted-limb Joshua trees, cactus plants, and tropical palm trees.
This Southern California park is situated between the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert near the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs (about an hour or so from Death Valley National Park).
Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park
Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park
Lost Horse Mine
Visit Lost Horse Mine to learn about gold mining history and the California Gold Rush of 1849.
Ryan Mountain
Ryan Mountain, at 5,461 feet, is the tallest in Joshua Tree National Park and the place to go for the most amazing views and golden-hour sunsets.
Fan Palm Oases
After you’ve gawked at the Joshua trees a while, go tropical in the middle of the desert at Fan Palm Oases, a grove of shady desert fan palm trees (they can get up to 75 feet tall).
Skull Rock
Explore skull-like rock formations at the appropriately named Skull Rock.
Places to Stay in Joshua Tree National Park
Places to Stay in Joshua Tree National Park
Visitors at Joshua Tree National Park can go camping by reservation at Black Rock, Cottonwood, and Jumbo Rocks, as well as on a first-come-first-served basis at campsites at Hidden Valley, Belle Campgrounds, or White Tank.
Nearby Palm Springs, in the Sonoran Desert, offers a variety of accommodations, some with the added benefits of hot mineral springs and spas.
Mineral Springs Resort and Spa, backed by dusky desert hues, has a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, eight natural mineral water pools, and a full-service European spa.
Channel your inner Grace Kelly among Avalon’s palm trees and Mediterranean-inspired ambiance. Part of an eight-island archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, Santa Catalina Island offers California fun in a secluded island location.
It’s only accessible by boat, which ups the exotic factor and makes it one of our favorite places to visit. At 75 square miles in size, Santa Catalina Island is known for diving, wildlife, and Mt. Orizaba.
Things to do in Avalon
Things to do in Avalon
Zip Line Eco Tour
Fly high over Descanso Canyon and 600 feet over Descanso Beach Club on a Zip Line Eco Tour. You’ll soar over eucalyptus trees and learn about flowers and wildlife only found on Catalina Island. The zip line ends at the Descanso Beach Club. Descanso Beach Club has cabanas, a casino, a private beach, and a restaurant.
Places to Stay in Avalon
Places to Stay in Avalon
The 1920s Hotel Atwater, near the Descanso Beach Club (to which guests get free access), has contemporary rooms in a historic setting.
The Solvang Danish village is in the Santa Ynez Valley between the San Rafael Mountains and the Santa Ynez Mountains and is about 40 minutes from Santa Barbara. Founded in 1911 by Dutch teachers, the town honors Danish culture and literary author Hans Christian Andersen.
Known as the “Danish Capital of America” (it’s sometimes called Little Denmark), there are windmills, Danish bakeries, a Little Mermaid fountain, a Hans Christian Andersen statue, art galleries, and decorative storks on rooftops (meant for good luck). This is a wonderful place to visit in California because of its diverse culture.
Things to do in Solvang
Things to do in Solvang
Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum
The Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum has classic American, European, and Japanese motorcycles.
