California is the third-largest state in the country, so it’s no surprise that it has endless gorgeous views to pick from. If you’ve made your way to the Sunshine State, don’t get overwhelmed by the options!

You can still make the most out of your trip and get to know the state, but aim to hit at least these four gorgeous locations while you’re here.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Valley was formed by glaciers that made their way down from the north. Now a beautiful expanse of rock and wildlife, it’s a seven-and-a-half-mile long valley surrounded by gorgeous high granite summits and heavily full of trees and greenery. \

Hiking through Yosemite is an incredibly fun past-time that anyone can do and is thrilling for locals and visitors alike. Although the temperatures can rise to unbelievable heights in the summer, this is a hot destination for anyone who wants to get away from the cities.

Golden Gate Bridge National Recreation Area

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a gorgeous park that allows you to view the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge while enjoying nature and wildlife. There’s no end to the fantastic beauty this area offers while allowing you to sit back and picnic or enjoy some simple time outside.

This park is most beautiful in the early afternoon after the morning fog has lifted. The entire area seems to absorb every inch of sunlight it gets, making it truly feel like a break away from city life.

Old Bear Valley Dam

At home in Woodland, California, Old Bear Valley Dam was built in 1884 by Frank Brown. Intending to supply irrigation water for the Redlands area, this single arch granite dam formed Big Bear Lake.

For a while, this was considered the largest artificial lake on Earth. It’s still considered a wonder since engineers at the time swore it wouldn’t hold and claimed it was the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ when it was able to resist against the strong waters. This lake is a gorgeous expanse of water surrounded by mountains and bright green trees despite being just a short walk from Woodland apartments.

Joshua Tree National Park

This national park sits where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts touch. Large rock features, deep forests, and beautiful steady light make Joshua Tree perfect for scenic pictures.

The most popular area is called the Jumbo Rocks section of the park and is most easily recognized by the iconic oversized boulders and rocks visible there. The time of the year doesn’t change much of the fauna except for in spring when flowers are known to blossom out of what wet soil they can find.

California is an incredible state with more wildlife than you’d believe. Every inch of this state is gorgeous, but if you pay attention and visit some of the locations on this list, you’ll quickly realize that it’s more than just the industries that make California what it is.