Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Valley View Trail in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Located along the central CA coast on Highway 1, this easy to moderate hike takes you thru a redwood forest to panoramic views of Big Sur River Valley, Andrew Molera State Park and Point Sur Lighthouse. A short spur trail leads to Pfeiffer Falls, a waterfall in Los Padres National Forest.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about hiking the Nature Trail & River Path Loop in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The trailhead is right next to Big Sur Lodge off of Highway 1, and this easy family friendly hike takes you along the Big Sur River, through an old growth grove of coastal redwood trees, and by old structures & cabins build by the CCC. This is an easy trail with great views.
Read MoreCurrently there are 16,000 western monarch butterflies at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove along CA Highway 1. If you're wondering where to see monarchs in California, this butterfly colony is one of the largest in the state and can be enjoyed every November thru February during the monarch winter migration. This is one of my top things to do in Pismo Beach & along the central coast.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to exploring Columns of the Giants along Sonora Pass Highway 108 in the Sierra Nevadas of CA. Hiking this family friendly trail is one of my top things to do on a road trip through Stanislaus National Forest. The short paved path takes you over the Middle Fork Stanislaus River to basalt rock formations formed by volcanic and glacial activity long ago.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel, CA. Located near Monterey and Big Sur, this California State Park contains multiple hiking trails that take you along bluff tops, turquoise waters, and abundant wildlife. Some of the top things to do is to see the Whalers Cabin, China Cove, Sea Lion Point, Bird Island, and Cypress Grove Trail.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking to Partington Cove along the central California coast. This short hike is one of the top things to do in Big Sur and leads to a cove with turquoise waters through coastal redwoods and an old logging tunnel. The trail runs alongside seasonal cascade waterfalls that flow into the Pacific Ocean where there is beach access at Partington Point.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to seeing the Spring wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument just a couple hours north of Los Angeles, California. This is top spot to see a flower superbloom, look for wildlife, and bird watch, and is one of the best things to do in Bakersfield. Soda Lake is currently filled with water and the San Andreas Fault can be seen running through the park.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Bear Gulch Cave Trail to the Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park East in Central California. This easy to moderate hike takes you through a system of talus caves, and is one of the top things to do in Pinnacles. We'll encounter dark and wet conditions as we crawl and climb under large rocks to a large reservoir with reflective waters.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in the Central Valley of California. Situated a few hours away from San Francisco and Los Angeles, this small CA State Park is one of the top things to do in Bakersfield. Learn about the African American pioneers that founded this town, and explore the old structures as we celebrate Black History Month.
Read MoreReach this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the Tule Elk State Natural Reserve. This California State Park is home to the once nearly extinct tule elk, and has been responsible for the repopulation of these elk that once thrived in the Central Valley and throughout the state. Today we'll take a guided auto tour and get up close views of elk and other wildlife on this nature preserve.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the best trips in California to take in 2023. Listed out in this article are 6 top road trips to take during each season, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. We'll explore mountain adventures in Yosemite and Lassen Volcanic National Park, as well as beach destinations in Big Sur. We'll head to the desert to discover unique landscapes in Death Valley.
Read MoreToday we're heading out to the Death Valley National Park salt pan to explore Devils Golf Course. The ancient waters of Lake Manly once covered this basin, leaving behind this truly unique terrain.
Read MoreThis week we're celebrating the start of Spring by heading up the California coastline into Big Sur. We'll discover my top 12 highlights, including spots like Limekiln State Park, McWay Falls, Bixby Creek Bridge, and Treebones Resort.
Read MoreToday we're taking the Mirror Lake Trail, which is a dog friendly hike in Yosemite Valley. On our journey, we'll enjoy views of Tenaya Creek and the surrounding forest, until it finally opens up to the Mirror Meadow under Half Dome.
Read MoreToday we're hiking a trail to a talus cave system on the west side entrance of Pinnacles National Park. Balconies Caves were formed long ago when giant volcanic boulders fell as a result of earthquakes and landslides.
Read MoreToday we're taking the short hike to a hidden suspension bridge in the Wawona area of Yosemite National Park. North of Mariposa Grove and just east of Chilnualna Falls, the Wawona Swinging Bridge is a great place to picnic, rock hop, and swim in the Merced River during the Summer and Fall months. Read this travel blog and learn about one of my top things to do in Yosemite to avoid the crowds.
Read MoreJust south of Mammoth Lakes tucked away in the Eastern Sierra, we're exploring the beautiful mountain destination of Convict Lake. We'll be hiking the trail around the rim, but this is also a great spot for fishing, camping, kayaking, and enjoying multiple restaurants at the Convict Lake Resort.
Read MoreToday we're hiking just inside the West Entrance of Pinnacles National Park in California. Prewett Point Trail is a gentle and accessible hike with beautiful views of the Pinnacles ragged peaks and rolling meadows.
Read MoreThis week we're hiking to a beautiful Big Sur waterfall along CA Highway 1. Salmon Creek Falls flows just north of Ragged Point, nestled at the edge of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range in Los Padres National Forest.
Read MoreToday we’re heading into Big Sur in the Los Padres National Forest to the Pacific Valley Bluff Trail just 16 miles north of Ragged Point. Just north of Treebones Resort, Sand Dollar Beach, & Jade Cove, this easy hike provides fields of wildflowers and California poppies, as well as views of sea stacks and the rugged central coastline.
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