From white-sand beaches to snowcapped mountains, with lush forests and arid deserts in between, no other state offers such a wide a variety of natural landscapes as California does.
California hosts the largest number of U.S. national parks with a total of nine. The most famous of these is Yosemite National Park, featuring thundering waterfalls and geological behemoths like El Capitan and Half Dome. The surrounding Sierra Nevada also hosts nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks which are both home to some of the world's largest living organisms, the giant sequoia. Redwood National Park in the far northwestern corner of the state and the surrounding area feature the world's tallest species of trees, the coast redwood.
Tired of forests? The California desert is the site of some of the hottest and most arid places on Earth. Death Valley National Park is the location of the highest ever recorded temperature on the planet. If deserts are not your thing, beaches and California are practically synonymous. Big Sur and Point Reyes are notable examples of a scenic, winding stretch of unspoiled coastline that is typical of Northern California, featuring rocky cliffs and towering redwood trees that meet thundering ocean waves. Further south, the water is much warmer and suitable for all-day beach trips. Here, world-class beach towns such as Santa Barbara, Malibu, and those of Orange County offer opportunities to catch waves, practice beach volleyball, or simply lounge around and tan underneath palm trees.
If high-altitude adventure is what you are seeking, California has that too. At an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 meters) above sea level, Mount Whitney is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. Snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding are plentiful in Lake Tahoe in the winter, while hiking and water recreation such as boating are popular in summer.
While the national parks may receive most of the attention, California has the largest state park system in the United States. These protected areas are found in places ranging from being adjacent to national parks to green landscapes in the middle of cities that offer a respite from the hectic urban rush.
California's high population and its climate have also led to the creation of numerous reservoirs.
California marine animals (native and migrating) are easily found in the wild along the state's beaches, in lagoons and estuaries, such as sea otters, grey whales, elephant seals, harbor seals, sea lions as well as multitudes of tide pools dwellers including crabs, sea stars, anemone, and sea urchins. Timing is key: go at low tide to see lots of marine life.
