California Off The Beaten Path

 
by Yaqui
 
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by Yaqui
  • Otter With a Tasty Meal
      Otter With a Tasty Meal
    by KimberlyAnn
  • Along the trail
      Along the trail
    by mikehanneman
  • Eco- Station mobile, Culver City, Los Angeles area
      Eco- Station mobile, Culver City, Los...
    by marinarena
  • Cabernet Sauvignon grapes on Diamond Mountain
      Cabernet Sauvignon grapes on Diamond...
    by karenincalifornia
 

Most Viewed Off The Beaten Path in California

226.

Day Trips   San Francisco

Day Trips, San Francisco

 51 Reviews  One of the northern missions, this was originally part of Mission Dolores in San Francisco. Founded in 1817 as a sanitarium for Indians afflicted with European diseases, it was named for the patron... 

 See All 727 Off The Beaten Path in San Francisco

227.

Downtown LA   Los Angeles

Downtown LA, Los Angeles

 62 Reviews  You might be tempted to pass by this building if you were to judge it from the non descript exterior but if you venture inside you will be in for a treat-the naturally lighted atrium courtyard topped... 

 See All 393 Off The Beaten Path in Los Angeles

228.

Point Loma/Ocean Beach   San Diego

Point Loma/Ocean Beach, San Diego

 24 Reviews  Located on the Berkley 1898 Steam Ferry that operated from 1898 to 1958 as a ferryboat in the San Francisco Bay. She is a California State Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. She is... 

 See All 279 Off The Beaten Path in San Diego

229.

Disneyland   Anaheim

Disneyland, Anaheim

 9 Reviews  If you visit Disneyland, don't limit yourself to eating in the park. Take the monorail to Downtown Disney, located in between Disneyland and California Adventure. There are lots of places to eat and... 

 See All 22 Off The Beaten Path in Anaheim

230.

Mono Lake   Yosemite National Park

Mono Lake, Yosemite National Park

 9 Reviews  It is a very long drive over to Mono Lake but if you are driving the Tioga Road it is a side trip well worth the effort and if camping at Tuolomne Meadows, the town of Lee Vining where the lake is... 

 See All 110 Off The Beaten Path in Yosemite National Park

231.

Celebrities / Studio Tours   Hollywood

Celebrities / Studio Tours, Hollywood

 8 Reviews  There are several studio tours in the Hollywood area. One that is really not well known but probably the closet there is to a true tour is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. This is a 2.5 hour tour... 

 See All 32 Off The Beaten Path in Hollywood

232.

Parks   Monterey

Parks, Monterey

 20 Reviews  The Frog Pond Wetland Preserve in Del Rey Oaks is maintained and operated by Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. This tiny 17 acre park is open for pedestrians only and has about one mile of... 

 See All 73 Off The Beaten Path in Monterey

233.

Other Points of Interest   Death Valley National Park

Other Points of Interest, Death Valley National Park

 47 Reviews  The Race Track is one of the out of the way places within the park that I have read a number of articles about, and had planned to see when we were in Death Valley. Unfortunately, my husband had neck... 

 See All 106 Off The Beaten Path in Death Valley National Park

234.

Santa Monica Pier / Promenade   Santa Monica

Santa Monica Pier / Promenade, Santa Monica

 9 Reviews  Called SMURRF, the main purpose of this wonderful facility which was a long time coming helps treats the runoff water that is so polluted from excessive irrigation, spills, construction sites, pool... 

 See All 30 Off The Beaten Path in Santa Monica

235.

Day Trip   Long Beach

Day Trip, Long Beach

 4 Reviews  Here is the artsy, bohemian part of Long Beach - East Village. Come here if you are attracted to bright color, hippie culture and unique avant-garde stuff. Some of themost unique coffeeshops,eateries,... 

 See All 18 Off The Beaten Path in Long Beach

236.

Day Trip   San Jose

Day Trip, San Jose

 7 Reviews  Little Kabul is a small area of Fremont's Centerville District, about 10 miles from San Jose. Though just a block long, the area hosts some 20 Afghan businesses and the city of Fremont has some 15,000... 

 See All 34 Off The Beaten Path in San Jose

237.

Day Trip   South Lake Tahoe

Day Trip, South Lake Tahoe

 12 Reviews  For those of you leaving California on the way to fabulous Lake Tahoe, I would suggest taking the highway 50 route as apposed to the 80. The 80 is more of the major 4 lane freeway to get you up and... 

 See All 35 Off The Beaten Path in South Lake Tahoe

238.

VT Brunch 2003   Manhattan Beach

VT Brunch 2003, Manhattan Beach

 9 Reviews  The story of the baton... check it out at Baton West & Baton East. Birthdate: Feb. 1. It went around the world in 2 different directions. Baton West won! 

 See All 17 Off The Beaten Path in Manhattan Beach

239.

Day Trip   Sacramento

Day Trip, Sacramento

 6 Reviews  About a 45 minute drive from Sacramento is the famous Jelly Belly Factory. The tour is free!!!! You get taken around the factory with a birds eye view of how the Jelly Belly goes from nothing to the... 

 See All 28 Off The Beaten Path in Sacramento

240.

Beyond the Highway   Big Sur

Beyond the Highway, Big Sur

 12 Reviews  From San Francisco.............................175 south on Highway 101. Take the exit marked Jolon Road (G14). There is also a historical sign announcing this exit. Once on Jolon Road, travel 18... 

 See All 42 Off The Beaten Path in Big Sur

241.

Hiking / Trails   Mammoth Lakes

Hiking / Trails, Mammoth Lakes

 10 Reviews  Mono Pass is the Continental Divide of sorts. It leads from Ruby Lake in the usually rather deserted Little Lakes Valley into Touloumne Meadows in ever crowded Yosemite National Park. Mono Pass is... 

 See All 27 Off The Beaten Path in Mammoth Lakes

242.

Twin Inns   Carlsbad

Twin Inns, Carlsbad

 5 Reviews  This elegant old Victorian mansion (over 100 years old) stands on the right side of the main highway San Diego ---> Los Angeles (S-21). It houses Neiman's Restaurant now and look really very, very... 

 See All 15 Off The Beaten Path in Carlsbad

243.

Bring Water   Joshua Tree National Park

Bring Water, Joshua Tree National Park

 1 Review  Back Country Camping. The desert is a pretty forbidding place. It's hot and dry during the day and cold at night. Also there are few spots for shade or shelter. Car camping in the cool campsites is... 

 See All 14 Off The Beaten Path in Joshua Tree National Park

244.

USNB North Island   Coronado

USNB North Island, Coronado

 4 Reviews  There are just a few ways that non-military persons can see this sight. One of them is to take a Harbor Cruise and as your tour passes an aircraft carrier you may see this or more. You won't be able... 

 See All 23 Off The Beaten Path in Coronado

245.

Street Views   Oceanside

Street Views, Oceanside

 9 Reviews  Built in 1927 is an excellent example of Mission Revival architecture. It replaced a 1893 church that was once here that was moved from here to 1510 Lemon Street. We came upon it while exploring the... 

 See All 14 Off The Beaten Path in Oceanside

246.

Parks   Beverly Hills

Parks, Beverly Hills

 4 Reviews  Roxbury Park is located on the corner of Olympic and Roxbury and offers fun for everyone. For the little ones, dinasaur sculptures, Ranger Mike, and several pieces of play equipment. For the adults,... 

 See All 11 Off The Beaten Path in Beverly Hills

247.

Beaches / Caves / Cliffs / Coves   La Jolla

Beaches / Caves / Cliffs / Coves, La Jolla

 9 Reviews  Torrey Pines State Park is just stunning. Only $8 per car to get in, this state preserve is located north of La Jolla on the Pacific Coast Highway. Before the preserve, you can stop at the Torrey... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in La Jolla

248.

Knott's Berry Farm   Buena Park

Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park

 6 Reviews  Across the street from Knott's Berry Farm is the Independence Hall where you can travel back in time and see the whole reenactment of the signing of the Decoration of Independence. The building is an... 

 See All 7 Off The Beaten Path in Buena Park

249.

Chula Vista Nature Center   Chula Vista

Chula Vista Nature Center, Chula Vista

 3 Reviews  This is how the building looks at the nature center. There is an educational museum inside. Hiking tours for bird watching are held on Wednesdays and weekends at 2:00 pm. Behind the center is an... 

 See All 7 Off The Beaten Path in Chula Vista

250.

Flora / Fauna   Imperial Beach

Flora / Fauna, Imperial Beach

 3 Reviews  The Tijuana Estuary National Wildlife Preserve with a walkway at the south end of Seacoast Drive is an interesting visit. It is also a good point to watch Navy and Marine Corps helicopters practice... 

 See All 5 Off The Beaten Path in Imperial Beach

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Sutter Creek in the Sierra foothills....

by Jeannette1

This is the main street of this small community on highway 49 in the Gold Country.It's a very charming little town but it is becoming a little too touristy...lots of trendy bed&breakfast places, expensive antique stores and too much traffic on the week-ends.I would recommend visiting the town during the week. Don't forget to go off main street and drive or walk through the back neighborhoods.

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Columbia State Historic Park

by Jeannette1

Columbia was a small settlement during the Gold Rush days. It has been partially restored and it depicts a typical boomtown of the 1850's.Stagecoach rides, horse riding and gold panning and a 90 minute gold-mine tours are available.

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Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

by Virtuous_Tourist

is not so off the 'beaten path' but it is in a rather undeveloped section of Big Sur coastline.Here we see McWay Falls drop into an ocean cove. Don't miss this easy stop if you are coming down Hwy. 1 in central California.

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California Poppy fields

by Ky_Happy_Dad

North of L.A. and Palmdale near Lancaster in April is a great place to see the native California poppies. A state park has been set aside so you can view the flowers without walking on the flowers. The hills were covered with the flowers. It felt like Dorthy visiting the land of Oz.

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farming

by chaistarr

alot of farming is in central california. its quite dull here.....farm, desert, farm, desert, farm...you get the idea. so people who try and sell their land get creative. "oranges, lemons, almonds oh my!" and this one "enjoy more citrus".

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central/coastal

by chaistarr

the central coastal area of califronia is sparsely populated and contains rolling hills, oak trees, and verdant farms. around here is the worlds biggest grower (or maybe usa's biggest grower...) of artichokes and garlic.

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Sunsets in California

by bicycle_girl

The pleasure about cycling the Pacific coast is that every night you get a spectacular sunset, usually at dinner time or shortly after!Enjoy, it's free...To enhance your experience, make sure to camp in one of the many state parks that are located by the ocean...

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Mountain View to Santa Barbara

by TerryD

Take the Highway 154 loop into or out of Santa Barbara to get the fabulous coastal view from the mountains. Stop at the Los Padres forest lookout for the wide open view inland. Spend the day fishing in a rented boat or view eagles and other birds at Lake Cachuma.

southern sierras mountains

by chaistarr

good for camping, hiking, driving, exploring... home to edangered tule elk, remnants of gold towns and ancient native american rock carvings, highest mountain in continental usa (Mt. Whitney) and nearby is the lowest point in the USA, death valley.

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See interesting Monterey peninsula tree varieties

by bkathryn

While on the Monterey peninsula, we also had an opportunity to see some of the interesting tree varieties that grow there. A couple of examples are the Monterey pine (also known as Pinus radiata and very popular in New Zealand) and the Monterey Cypress, pictured here.

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Top 3 Hotels in California

Argonaut Hotel - A Kimpton Hotel  San Francisco

 4 Reviews and 1834 Opinions  There's no doubt this hotel, provides a level of luxury and convenience, that many travellers will... 

 Hotels in San Francisco

Magic Castle Hotel  Los Angeles

 4 Reviews and 1008 Opinions  This place is invite only! You have to know someone who is a member of the venue which costs a lot... 

 Hotels in Los Angeles

Hotel Solamar - A Kimpton Hotel  San Diego

 4 Reviews and 708 Opinions  I booked this hotel as part of a weekend getaway to San Diego with my fiancee. We were quite happy... 

 Hotels in San Diego

The Place

Reviews and photos of California attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for California sightseeing.

Experience California
Off The Beaten Path: Cities in California
  1. San Francisco Off The Beaten Path
  2. Los Angeles Off The Beaten Path
  3. San Diego Off The Beaten Path
  4. Anaheim Off The Beaten Path
  5. Yosemite National Park Off The Beaten Path
  6. Palm Springs Off The Beaten Path
  7. Hollywood Off The Beaten Path
  8. Monterey Off The Beaten Path
  9. Santa Barbara Off The Beaten Path
  10. Death Valley National Park Off The Beaten Path
  11. Santa Monica Off The Beaten Path
  12. Long Beach Off The Beaten Path
  13. San Jose Off The Beaten Path
  14. Carmel-by-the-Sea Off The Beaten Path
  15. South Lake Tahoe Off The Beaten Path
  16. Manhattan Beach Off The Beaten Path
  17. Sacramento Off The Beaten Path
  18. Napa Off The Beaten Path
  19. Laguna Beach Off The Beaten Path
  20. Pasadena Off The Beaten Path
  21. Big Sur Off The Beaten Path
  22. Sequoia National Park Off The Beaten Path
  23. Solvang Off The Beaten Path
  24. San Luis Obispo Off The Beaten Path
  25. Mammoth Lakes Off The Beaten Path
  26. Malibu Off The Beaten Path
  27. Carlsbad Off The Beaten Path
  28. Joshua Tree National Park Off The Beaten Path
  29. Santa Cruz Off The Beaten Path
  30. San Juan Capistrano Off The Beaten Path
  31. Oakland Off The Beaten Path
  32. Bakersfield Off The Beaten Path
  33. Palm Desert Off The Beaten Path
  34. Ventura Off The Beaten Path
  35. Coronado Off The Beaten Path
  36. Oceanside Off The Beaten Path
  37. Sonoma Off The Beaten Path
  38. Beverly Hills Off The Beaten Path
  39. San Rafael Off The Beaten Path
  40. Santa Catalina Island Off The Beaten Path
  41. La Jolla Off The Beaten Path
  42. Alcatraz Island Off The Beaten Path
  43. Pismo Beach Off The Beaten Path
  44. Fresno Off The Beaten Path
  45. Huntington Beach Off The Beaten Path
  46. Santa Rosa Off The Beaten Path
  47. Big Bear Lake Off The Beaten Path
  48. Venice Off The Beaten Path
  49. Berkeley Off The Beaten Path
  50. Newport Beach Off The Beaten Path
  51. Palo Alto Off The Beaten Path
  52. Marina del Rey Off The Beaten Path
  53. Desert Hot Springs Off The Beaten Path
  54. Morro Bay Off The Beaten Path
  55. Pacific Grove Off The Beaten Path
  56. Sausalito Off The Beaten Path
  57. Redondo Beach Off The Beaten Path
  58. Tehachapi Off The Beaten Path
  59. Buena Park Off The Beaten Path
  60. West Hollywood Off The Beaten Path
  61. Temecula Off The Beaten Path
  62. Avalon Off The Beaten Path
  63. Pebble Beach Off The Beaten Path
  64. Fullerton Off The Beaten Path
  65. Redwood National Park Off The Beaten Path
  66. Santa Ana Off The Beaten Path
  67. Chula Vista Off The Beaten Path
  68. Hermosa Beach Off The Beaten Path
  69. San Clemente Off The Beaten Path
  70. Imperial Beach Off The Beaten Path
  71. Oxnard Off The Beaten Path
  72. Orange Off The Beaten Path
  73. Westlake Village Off The Beaten Path
  74. Twentynine Palms Off The Beaten Path
  75. Ojai Off The Beaten Path
  76. Calistoga Off The Beaten Path
  77. San Bernardino Off The Beaten Path
  78. El Segundo Off The Beaten Path
  79. Lancaster Off The Beaten Path
  80. Lone Pine Off The Beaten Path
  81. San Simeon Off The Beaten Path
  82. Santa Paula Off The Beaten Path
  83. Stockton Off The Beaten Path
  84. Healdsburg Off The Beaten Path
  85. Chico Off The Beaten Path
  86. Universal City Off The Beaten Path
  87. Redding Off The Beaten Path
  88. Fort Bragg Off The Beaten Path
  89. Garden Grove Off The Beaten Path
  90. Barstow Off The Beaten Path
  91. Torrance Off The Beaten Path
  92. Tahoe City Off The Beaten Path
  93. Del Mar Off The Beaten Path
  94. Eureka Off The Beaten Path
  95. Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument Off The Beaten Path
  96. Nevada City Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in California

 

Questions and Answers

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Q:  My friend and I have 10 days to do a road trip up the US west coast and back. We are starting in San Diego and will probably go as... 

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A: Be sure to drive up Highway 1 through Big Sur for a look at the Redwood forest. Stop at Nepenthe for a meal and have a look through the amazing Phoenix Shop there. If... 

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