California is home to some of the most spectacular natural landscapes on Earth — and with a military ID, your family has free access to all of them through the Military Annual Pass. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls in Yosemite, watching condors soar at Pinnacles, or marveling at Death Valley’s alien terrain, these 18 experiences belong on every California bucket list.
1. Visit Yosemite Valley and Photograph El Capitan
Yosemite Valley is one of the most iconic landscapes in the world, with El Capitan’s sheer 3,000-foot granite face rising dramatically above the valley floor. Spring brings thundering waterfalls and wildflower meadows; fall offers golden light and thinner crowds. Plan to arrive early — the valley fills fast and reservations are required seasonally. Learn More →
2. Watch Sunrise or Sunset from Glacier Point
Perched 3,200 feet above the valley floor, Glacier Point delivers one of the most breathtaking panoramas in the national park system — Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and the High Sierra all spread out before you. Sunrise here turns the granite peaks pink and gold in a matter of minutes. The road to Glacier Point is typically open late spring through fall; check conditions before you go. Learn More →
3. Hike to Vernal Fall or Nevada Fall
The Mist Trail is Yosemite’s most beloved hike, leading past the misty spray of 317-foot Vernal Fall and continuing up granite steps to the 594-foot Nevada Fall. The hike is strenuous but manageable for school-age kids, and the payoff — standing at the top of a roaring waterfall with the Sierra Nevada stretching out behind you — is unforgettable. Go in late spring or early summer when snowmelt peaks and the falls are at full force. Learn More →
4. See Giant Sequoias in Sequoia National Park
Standing at the base of a giant sequoia — the largest trees on Earth by volume — is a humbling experience that no photo can fully capture. The General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park is the largest living tree by volume in the world, towering 275 feet and measuring over 36 feet in diameter at its base. Trails through the Giant Forest are family-friendly and strollable, making this an easy win for all ages. Learn More →
5. Climb Moro Rock for Panoramic Sierra Views
A short but steep quarter-mile staircase winds up the dome of Moro Rock to a summit with jaw-dropping 360-degree views of the Great Western Divide and the peaks of the Southern Sierra. On clear days you can see deep into Kings Canyon and across the foothills to the San Joaquin Valley. It’s one of the most rewarding quick hikes in the entire Sierra Nevada. Learn More →
6. Explore the Deep Canyon Scenery of Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in North America, yet it remains far less crowded than its neighbor Yosemite — making it a true gem for families who want wilderness without the wait. Kings Canyon Village sits at the canyon floor, where the Kings River rushes past towering granite walls and ancient sequoia groves. The drive down into the canyon on Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is itself an experience worth the trip. Learn More →
7. Hike Among the World’s Tallest Trees in Redwood National and State Parks
The coast redwoods of Northern California are the tallest living things on the planet, with some reaching over 380 feet — taller than a 35-story building. Walking through an old-growth redwood grove is an almost cathedral-like experience, with shafts of light filtering through the canopy far above. The Lady Bird Johnson Grove and Tall Trees Grove are accessible family hikes with awe-inspiring payoffs. Learn More →
8. Explore Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree sits at the collision of two desert ecosystems — the Mojave and the Colorado — creating a surreal landscape of twisted Joshua trees, massive boulder formations, and stark desert beauty. It’s a rock climber’s paradise and a stargazer’s dream, with some of the darkest skies in Southern California. Visit between October and April for the best temperatures; summer heat can be extreme. Learn More →
9. Explore Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is a land of extremes — the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the country, yet paradoxically one of the most beautiful. Sand dunes, painted badlands, salt flats, and snow-capped peaks all coexist within its 3.4 million acres. Visit in late fall through early spring to experience its alien landscapes at their most comfortable and, in wet years, carpeted in wildflowers. Learn More →
10. Stand at Badwater Basin, the Lowest Point in North America
At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is not only the lowest point in North America but also one of the most surreal: a vast expanse of white salt polygons stretching to the horizon, ringed by mountains that rise thousands of feet above. A short walk takes you onto the salt flat, where you can look up at a sign on the canyon wall marking sea level far above you. It’s one of those places that makes you feel very small in the best possible way. Learn More →
11. Watch Sunrise at Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is perhaps the most photographed spot in Death Valley — a sweeping overlook above a maze of golden badlands eroded into waves and ridges over millions of years. Sunrise turns the entire landscape shades of amber, orange, and purple, and the short walk from the parking lot means even the youngest family members can take it in. Set your alarm and get there early; you won’t be the only one with this idea. Learn More →
12. Experience Death Valley’s World-Class Dark Skies
Death Valley is an International Dark Sky Park, and on moonless nights its skies fill with more stars than most people have ever seen — the Milky Way stretching horizon to horizon in a blaze of light. With no nearby cities to create light pollution, this is one of the best places in the lower 48 to stargaze with your family. The park’s remote location and dry air make for exceptional visibility year-round. Learn More →
13. Visit Pinnacles National Park and Watch for California Condors
Pinnacles — California’s newest national park and a gem right here in Monterey County’s backyard — protects the dramatic volcanic spires and talus caves of the Gabilan Range. It’s one of the best places in the world to spot California condors, North America’s largest land bird, soaring on thermals above the crags. Hike the Bear Gulch Cave Trail with a flashlight for a magical underground experience kids will never forget. Learn More →
14. Explore Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Peak is one of the few places in the contiguous United States where you can see all four types of volcanoes — plug dome, shield, cinder cone, and stratovolcano — in a single park. Lassen last erupted between 1914 and 1921, and the landscape still bears the dramatic scars of that volcanic activity alongside pristine alpine lakes and wildflower meadows. It’s dramatically less crowded than Yosemite and just as stunning. Learn More →
15. See the Bubbling Geothermal Features at Lassen
Bumpass Hell, Lassen’s largest hydrothermal area, is a steaming, hissing, sulfur-scented wonderland of boiling mud pots, fumaroles, and vivid blue-green pools — a powerful reminder that the volcanic forces beneath the park are very much alive. The 3-mile round-trip hike to Bumpass Hell is one of the most unique walks in the national park system and utterly fascinating for curious kids. Stick to the boardwalks — the ground crust is dangerously thin in places. Learn More →
16. Hike, Spot Wildlife, and Kayak Through Sea Caves on the Channel Islands
Often called “California’s Galápagos,” the Channel Islands are home to plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth, from island foxes to endemic scrub jays. Accessible only by boat or small plane, these five islands offer snorkeling, sea kayaking through dramatic sea caves, whale watching, and some of the most pristine coastal wilderness in the state. Santa Cruz Island is the most visited and a great starting point for first-time visitors. Learn More →
17. Visit Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego is California’s largest state park, covering more than 600,000 acres of Sonoran Desert in San Diego County — and it’s one of the best wildflower destinations in the American West during a good rain year. The park is famous for its giant metal sculptures scattered across the desert, its slot canyons, bighorn sheep, and skies so dark they attract astronomers from across the country. Borrego Springs, the small town at its center, is a certified International Dark Sky Community. Learn More →
18. Visit Mono Lake’s Otherworldly Tufa Towers via Highway 395
Mono Lake is one of the oldest lakes in North America — a vast, alkaline expanse punctuated by ghostly tufa towers, calcium-carbonate spires that rise from the water like something from another planet. The lake is a critical stopover for millions of migratory birds, and the surrounding Eastern Sierra scenery along Highway 395 through Lee Vining is some of the most dramatic in California. It’s an easy and unforgettable detour on any Yosemite or High Sierra road trip. Learn More →
Download the Complete Guide
Want all 250 experiences in one place? Download our printable PDF guide — perfect for road trips, planning sessions, or keeping on the fridge as a reminder of everything California has to offer.
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