USA TODAY 10Best
Best California Attraction: Balboa Park!
Best California Attraction (2017)
The state of California stretches along the Pacific coast for some 900 miles; its attractions – both natural and man made – are as big and diverse as the state itself. We asked a panel of California travel writers to nominate the top attractions on their must-see lists, and for the past four weeks, our readers have been voting daily for their favorites.
The top 10 winners in the category Best California Attraction are as follows:
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 10: Lassen Volcanic National Park
Protecting 165 square miles of alpine meadows, forests and other-worldly volcanic landscapes in Northern California, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to all four types of volcanoes found on the planet: shield, plug dome, cinder cone and composite. Highlights of this highly underrated park include numerous geothermal features – boiling pools, volcanic vents and bubbling mud pots.
Photo courtesy of Visit California/Myles McGuinness
No. 9: Lake Tahoe
Shared by California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is a four-seasons playground for skiing, fishing, swimming, sailing or simply relaxing on the scenic shores. The largest alpine lake in North America is known for its cobalt waters and excellent recreational opportunities.
Photo courtesy of Visit California/Carol Highsmith
No. 8: Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is truly a land of giants. Home to the largest giant sequoia trees on the planet – trees that can live up to 2,500 years and reach heights of nearly 300 feet – Sequoia and neighboring Kings Canyon have 842 miles of trails with less than half the number of visitors as nearby Yosemite, making it a favorite among those looking to avoid crowds.
Photo courtesy of Visit California/Max Whittaker
No. 7: Death Valley National Park
Death Valley may not sound like a very hospitable place – and it isn't – but this arid landscape in the Nevada/California desert is made all the more beautiful by its extremes. The sun-scorched below-sea-level basin with its record temperatures, blistered expanses and waving sand dunes gives way to snow-capped mountain peaks. It's the largest national park outside of Alaska and a place of deep silence and stunning scenery.
Photo courtesy of Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland
No. 6: Disneyland Resort - Anaheim
Park-goers at California's famed Disneyland Resort have two theme parks to choose from, the classic family favorite Disneyland Park and the newer, Golden State-themed California Adventure. With iconic rides paired with new and innovative entertainment options, it's no wonder they call this attraction "The Happiest Place on Earth."
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 5: Pacific Coast Highway
Drivers along the Pacific Coast Highway enjoy jaw-dropping Pacific views to one side and the dramatic cliffs of the Central California coast to the other. The 123-mile stretch between Monterey and Morro Bay takes travelers through Big Sur and past worthy stops like artistic Carmel-by-the-Sea, Hearst Castle and the must-photograph Bixby Bridge.
Photo courtesy of Visit California/Blaise
No. 4: Hearst Castle - San Simeon
Hearst Castle sits perched above the village of San Simeon, overlooking the Pacific Ocean along the Central California coast. This 165-room mansion by the sea was the dream dwelling of William Randolph Hearst, who with architect Julia Morgan, built the castle over the course of 28 years.
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 3: Yosemite National Park - Yosemite Valley
Protected since 1864, Yosemite is one of the nation's most treasured national parks – a land of waterfalls, vast meadows, granite peaks and ancient sequoia trees. Several of the park's highlight could themselves be considered California's top attractions, including Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point and El Capitan.
No. 2: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest of California's state parks, occupies a wide swathe of the California desert where colorful wildflowers put on quite the show each spring. Throughout the year, visitors have the chance to explore palm groves and fields of cacti, on the lookout for golden eagles, roadrunners, mule deer, bighorn sheep or the occasional kit fox.
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 1: Balboa Park - San Diego
Encompassing 1,200 beautiful acres, San Diego's Balboa Park comprises several smaller attractions, including performing arts venues, 17 museums, numerous gardens and recreational trails. A free tram takes visitors around the complex, now listed as a National Historic Landmark.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Tom Bricker (TravelCaffeine.com), Skip Descant (The Desert Sun), Joanne DiBona (Scenic Photos), Katie Dillon (La Jolla Mom), Jessica Doll (Hej Doll), Geneva Ives, Josh McNair (CaliforniaThroughMyLens.com), Tom Molanphy, Wendy O'Dea, Jenny Peters and Joe Truskot (The Salinas Californian) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of travel in California.
Congratulations to all these winning attractions!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Geneva Ives
Geneva Ives moved to Santa Barbara in 2000 on a... Read More
Geneva Ives moved to Santa Barbara in 2000 on a whim (ok, and to go to college) and never looked back. She loves Santa Barbara because it’s really one of America’s greatest small towns - it just happens to have glorious beaches and celebrity residents, too! Geneva spent a decade managing an adorable, locally owned boutique in downtown Santa Barbara and met her husband when he was working as a waiter at the Cajun restaurant right next door. Together they go on many adventures trying to find the best activities, drinks and dining experiences in the tri-county area.
Geneva Ives
Geneva Ives moved to Santa Barbara in 2000 on a whim (ok, and to go to college) and never looked back. She loves Santa Barbara because it’s really one of America’s greatest small towns - it just happens to have glorious beaches and celebrity residents, too! Geneva spent a decade managing an adorable, locally owned boutique in downtown Santa Barbara and met her husband when he was working as a waiter at the Cajun restaurant right next door. Together they go on many adventures trying to find the best activities, drinks and dining experiences in the tri-county area.
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los... Read More
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jessica Doll
Jessica Doll is a professional photographer,... Read More
Jessica Doll is a professional photographer, travel and lifestyle blogger, and stylish mama who grew up in Northern California. On her blog, Hej Doll, she chronicles her lifestyle which is centered around the simple modern luxuries found in California and beyond. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Jessica Doll
Jessica Doll is a professional photographer, travel and lifestyle blogger, and stylish mama who grew up in Northern California. On her blog, Hej Doll, she chronicles her lifestyle which is centered around the simple modern luxuries found in California and beyond. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
You'll never see Joanne without a camera or two... Read More
You'll never see Joanne without a camera or two strapped around her neck as she travels around the world, together with her photographer husband Tony, to unearth new and exciting destinations to share with her readers. Her professional career includes a long tenure in communications with the San Diego Tourism Authority, where she gained expertise with both the camera and the descriptive word. When she’s not adding fresh images to her Scenic Photos website, she's posting her current adventures on her popular Travel Blog. Joanne is a member of the esteemed Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
Joanne and Tony DiBona
You'll never see Joanne without a camera or two strapped around her neck as she travels around the world, together with her photographer husband Tony, to unearth new and exciting destinations to share with her readers. Her professional career includes a long tenure in communications with the San Diego Tourism Authority, where she gained expertise with both the camera and the descriptive word. When she’s not adding fresh images to her Scenic Photos website, she's posting her current adventures on her popular Travel Blog. Joanne is a member of the esteemed Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).
Joe Truskot
For the past three and half years, Joe Truskot has... Read More
For the past three and half years, Joe Truskot has been responsible for the Living Section of The Salinas Californian which includes recipes, restaurant reviews, and much more. One of his fondest memories places him at his grandmother’s kitchen table, legs swinging underneath the chair, cracking two dozen eggs for her to make biscotti. As both of his parents worked, he was often responsible for making dinner. His cooking skills were increased dramatically when he joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Iran. If he wanted to enjoy the food from home, he would have to learn to make it from scratch. He has spent much of his life in his own kitchen, gathering up family recipes and exploring new foods. He spent 30 years as an arts administrator and is the author of the “Central Coast Rose Manual” – another passion of his.
Joe Truskot
For the past three and half years, Joe Truskot has been responsible for the Living Section of The Salinas Californian which includes recipes, restaurant reviews, and much more. One of his fondest memories places him at his grandmother’s kitchen table, legs swinging underneath the chair, cracking two dozen eggs for her to make biscotti. As both of his parents worked, he was often responsible for making dinner. His cooking skills were increased dramatically when he joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Iran. If he wanted to enjoy the food from home, he would have to learn to make it from scratch. He has spent much of his life in his own kitchen, gathering up family recipes and exploring new foods. He spent 30 years as an arts administrator and is the author of the “Central Coast Rose Manual” – another passion of his.
Josh McNair
Josh McNair is an avid photographer and adventurer... Read More
Josh McNair is an avid photographer and adventurer who runs CaliforniaThroughMyLens.com, one of the most visited sites for California travel. With over 1,000 posts, the site covers everything from hiking and road trips to restaurants and beaches and has been visited by over 6 million people in 150 countries since its creation. Josh has done everything from summiting Mt Whitney and running the LA Marathon to driving Pacific Coast Highway and visiting all of the state's National Parks. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Josh McNair
Josh McNair is an avid photographer and adventurer who runs CaliforniaThroughMyLens.com, one of the most visited sites for California travel. With over 1,000 posts, the site covers everything from hiking and road trips to restaurants and beaches and has been visited by over 6 million people in 150 countries since its creation. Josh has done everything from summiting Mt Whitney and running the LA Marathon to driving Pacific Coast Highway and visiting all of the state's National Parks. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Katie Dillon
Katie Dillon originally moved to the seaside... Read More
Katie Dillon originally moved to the seaside community of La Jolla to attend UC San Diego. When the opportunity presented itself, she and her husband set off for a 7 year stint overseas as expats in London and Hong Kong. After traveling the world, they returned to the La Jolla sunshine, with a young daughter in tow. Katie now writes a lifestyle site called La Jolla Mom and is the author of a book called, “Flying With Kids.” Her work can be seen on NBC San Diego, Red Tricycle, Yahoo! Shine and Have Family Will Travel, a Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts blog.
Katie Dillon
Katie Dillon originally moved to the seaside community of La Jolla to attend UC San Diego. When the opportunity presented itself, she and her husband set off for a 7 year stint overseas as expats in London and Hong Kong. After traveling the world, they returned to the La Jolla sunshine, with a young daughter in tow. Katie now writes a lifestyle site called La Jolla Mom and is the author of a book called, “Flying With Kids.” Her work can be seen on NBC San Diego, Red Tricycle, Yahoo! Shine and Have Family Will Travel, a Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts blog.
Skip Descant
Skip Descant is a tourism reporter with The Desert... Read More
Skip Descant is a tourism reporter with The Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs, Calif. He covers the tourism industry in the Palm Springs region, also known as the Coachella Valley. Follow him on Twitter.
Skip Descant
Skip Descant is a tourism reporter with The Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs, Calif. He covers the tourism industry in the Palm Springs region, also known as the Coachella Valley. Follow him on Twitter.
Tom Bricker
Tom Bricker is the founder of TravelCaffeine.com,... Read More
Tom Bricker is the founder of TravelCaffeine.com, a site focused on the travels of he and his wife, Sarah, throughout California, Asia and Europe. A California transplant originally from the Midwest, Tom shares his travel tips on TravelCaffeine, detailing the wealth of entertainment and natural beauty in the Golden State and beyond.
Tom Bricker
Tom Bricker is the founder of TravelCaffeine.com, a site focused on the travels of he and his wife, Sarah, throughout California, Asia and Europe. A California transplant originally from the Midwest, Tom shares his travel tips on TravelCaffeine, detailing the wealth of entertainment and natural beauty in the Golden State and beyond.
Tom Molanphy
The only thing that Tom Molanphy loves more than... Read More
The only thing that Tom Molanphy loves more than the food, art, music, and culture of San Francisco is sharing it with others. San Francisco never gets old for Tom. Tom has lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 2000. His journalism has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, SF Weekly, and 7x7. He teaches writing, journalism and literature at the Academy of Art University in downtown San Francisco. His latest book, Loud Memories Of A Quiet Life, is available through Outpost19.
Tom Molanphy
The only thing that Tom Molanphy loves more than the food, art, music, and culture of San Francisco is sharing it with others. San Francisco never gets old for Tom. Tom has lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 2000. His journalism has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, SF Weekly, and 7x7. He teaches writing, journalism and literature at the Academy of Art University in downtown San Francisco. His latest book, Loud Memories Of A Quiet Life, is available through Outpost19.
Wendy O'Dea
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O’Dea... Read More
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O’Dea moved to L.A. to attend the USC graduate School of Journalism and stayed for the innovative and creative lifestyle the city offers. Other than the traffic and never-ending drought, there’s not much about California she doesn’t love. You can track her gallivanting ways on Instagram via @WendyTravels or at www.theinspiredtraveler.com.
Wendy O'Dea
Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O’Dea moved to L.A. to attend the USC graduate School of Journalism and stayed for the innovative and creative lifestyle the city offers. Other than the traffic and never-ending drought, there’s not much about California she doesn’t love. You can track her gallivanting ways on Instagram via @WendyTravels or at www.theinspiredtraveler.com.