Top Things to do in California
The 10 Best Historic Sites in California, United States
California is a fertile, peaceful place where you’ll find a near-equal balance of vineyards and deserts, beaches and mountains, hippies and traditionalists. Catch an epic wave in Big Sur or swirl a glass in Napa Valley. Be dazzled by the Joshua Tree night sky or just star-gaze in Hollywood. Swish down the slopes of a Tahoe ski resort, or cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge with the top down and the music blasting. Above all, don’t forget to soak up some Golden State sunshine.
Restaurants in California
1. Wayfarers Chapel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 395 reviews
Wayfarers Chapel is nestled in a grove of towering redwood trees. Lloyd Wright designed the Chapel out of glass, wood, and stone elements that come together at 30 and 60 degree angles. It opened in 1951 to serve as a place for all wayfarers on life's journey to stop and give glory to God and is famous for its organic architecture. With its breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, the 3.5 acres that the Chapel sits on feature beautifully landscaped gardens with trees forming arbored walkways leading to gardens replicating the forest floor, expansive lawns, an outdoor amphitheater, and a rose garden with a walk of honor featuring engraved pavers. Wayfarers Chapel is a Swedenborgian church that welcomes people of all faiths to their worship services and to celebrate other important passages of life, including memorial services, baptisms, and weddings. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the National Memorial to Emanuel Swedenborg.
Reviewed By waynefromcali - Yucaipa, United States
The beautiful Wayfarers Chapel located in Rancho Palos Verdes California is a beautiful chapel overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Designed by the son of Frank Lloyd Wright,Frank Wright,this chapel is made almost entirely of glass and nautical type woods.Thousands of couples have "tied the knot" in this scenic location overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean in Rancho Palos Verdes. . . . #wayfarerschapel #ranchopalosverdes #wedding #marriage #californiasoul # californiadreamin #californiadreaming #waynesalvatti #photografxworldwide
2. Battery Spencer
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 204 reviews
Reviewed By beagleshnout - Branson, United States
Which I am one. I tour Coastal Artillery forts/batteries whenever I travel. This is a must. The view of the ocean is wonderful. The entire Marin Headlands area with Fort Baker, Fort Cronkite, Fort Barry etc is fantastic for the outdoors hiker and military history buff.
3. Alcatraz Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55,332 reviews
Park rangers conduct tours by recounting the prison's thrilling history along with intriguing anecdotes about Al Capone and other legendary figures that made a "home" here.
Reviewed By Piggin01
I did the night tour it was amazing and very interesting love that former inmates and staff did the audio recording for the tour which is easy to follow and very informative would highly recommend and would do again
4. Bodie State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,470 reviews
One of the best preserved ghost towns.
Reviewed By eel217 - St. George, United States
I loved my visit here! It is well worth making time to come here (you can spend 1/2 day and absorb a lot). It is such a fascinating place. The state park has done a great job of preserving the buildings. Take your time as you walk around and make sure you look through the windows of the buildings and you will see some amazing things - a cool glimpse into what life was once like. Nothing has been restored on the inside of these buildings (everything is in a state of arrested decay), so it is truly a ghost town - what remains is exactly how the people who lived here left it. Too cool!
5. Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,969 reviews
Visit the Santa Barbara Courthouse to enjoy a free Self-Guided Exterior Tour and a virtual tour of the Mural Room interior. Use your cell phone or tablet to explore Santa Barbara’s iconic Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse. The web-based tours can be found at sbcourthouse.org. The Courthouse is closed to visitors during Covid.
Reviewed By cresapsd - San Diego, United States
Coincidentally our stay in Santa Barbara was during the annual Fiesta Days and we enjoyed free concerts in the courthouse sunken garden as well as a docent led tour. The tour was very interesting and entertaining. The courthouse is not to be missed and don’t forget to check out the breathtaking view from the courthouse clock tower
6. Old Mission Santa Barbara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,679 reviews
Visitors can tour this historic Franciscan mission that features twin bell towers and lovely gardens.
Reviewed By PetriHat - Los Angeles, United States
The historic mission is both working monestary and historic landmark. Take a self guided tour for $9 and experience the inner gardens, cemetery, and church before entering the museum to see the history of the missions and how they interacted with and impacted the native Chumash culture.
7. Golden Gate Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49,332 reviews
Stretching 4,200 feet and towering as high as a 65-story building, this well-known bridge is the gateway to San Francisco.
Reviewed By SandeeHoff - Villas, United States
Crossed this iconic bridge and wish I had time to walk or bike over it, simply put it an amazing bit of history and is phenomenal engineering. Lives up to all photos I've seen, if time and health allow I'd get out of car and experience it!
8. Sierra Towers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By 84trudig - Los Angeles, United States
My parents lived in this building years ago...and since then I have been inside many units as a real estate agent...building is and always will be an icon with views to sea and glorious mountain views...
9. Vikingsholm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 778 reviews
Built as a summer home in 1929, this grand castle on Emerald Bay is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere.
Reviewed By 8-drank-was-merry - Naples, United States
Vikingsholm is a Scandinavian styled mansion/castle nestled down in the trees below highway 89, lakefront at the tip of Emerald Bay. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight had it built in 1928/1929 with inspiration of ancient buildings she saw on a trip to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. The Mansion is open for tours late May to late September, from 10:30 am - 3:30 pm on the half hour. The tour costs $15 for adults and $12 for students, kids under 7 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Center building on the trail just past the mansion/castle. In the center of Emerald Bay there is a small island, currently known as Fannette Island. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight reportedly took guests out to the island for high tea. If you would like to visit the island, you can rent kayaks at the lake shore (for 1 or 2 hours). The tour of the mansion is short, but informative and supports a good cause - renovation and revitalization of the structure. The hike down to the park is gorgeous and it is recommended to make a day long experience in the area. A hike up to Eagle Falls and Lake is wonderful with gorgeous views. Or just relaxing and hanging out around Emerald Bay.
10. La Purisima State Historical Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 384 reviews
Reviewed By chrisk450 - Palm Springs, United States
Unlike many of the restored California Missions which sit in touristy city centers, La Pursima Concepcion is in a lovely, oak-filled rural valley outside Lompoc, reminiscent of the early days of California when the missions were founded. I had fond memories of this place as a kid -- the size of the grounds and the rustic quality of the restoration work made it different from most of the other missions. Happily, it has kept that sense of authenticity. The self-guided mission tour is both substantial and informative; the old mission grounds have animals and fields just like one would have encountered two centuries ago, along with shady courtyards and fountains to sit and relax. There are some lovely trails through the mission's "backlot," and dogs are welcome so long as they are kept on a leash. All in all, one of the most interesting and educational of the Missions, and well worth the $6 for parking.
