California Official Visitor's Guide 2023 - 41

21
EXPERIENCE THE
MISSION TRAIL
24
Multiple Locations
Get a glimpse of the California missions' rich
history at these fi ve free-admission properties
along the 650-mile trail from San Diego to
Sonoma: San Rafael Arcángel, Santa Clara
de Asís, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Santa
Cruz, and San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.
22
Fresno
Lasting for a few weeks in late winter, the
Fresno County Blossom Trail is festooned in
rosy sprays of peach and nectarine petals and
white blazes of almonds, plums, and apples.
Revel in the fl owery glory on this 62-mile loop.
23
FIND NATURAL BLISS
ALONG THE SEASHORE
Marin County
Walk on the beach, peer at tide pools, or hike
through pine forests at the 70,000-acre Point
Reyes National Seashore, which is home to
more than 1,500 animal and plant species.
Don't miss the 1870 lighthouse, a nice place to
spot whales from January until April.
DRIVE THROUGH
BLOSSOMING FLOWERS
25
26
27
28
29
Palm Springs Art Museum
WITNESS THOUSANDS
OF BUTTERFLIES
Pacifi c Grove
The Monarch Grove Sanctuary in Monterey
County is open year-round, but November
through March is the prime time to see
monarchs coating the trees and shrubs (just
don't touch). Download the audio tour-also
free-while you're there.
TOUR THE CALIFORNIA
STATE CAPITOL
Sacramento
Sign up at the rotunda's information desk
for weekday tours of the capitol. Or take
one of the daily tours of the 40-acre Capitol
Park, with its array of historic monuments
and gardens, including the World Peace Rose
Garden.
EXPERIENCE MUSEUMS,
MUSIC, AND MORE
San Diego
Many of the best museums and attractions
within San Diego's Balboa Park are free, such
as the Old Masters at the Timken Museum,
the Model Railroad Museum, concerts at the
outdoor Spreckels Organ Pavilion, and the
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden.
WATCH A LIVE
TV SHOW TAPING
Los Angeles
Reserve your seats online for shows like
Jeopardy, Dancing with the Stars, and Jimmy
Kimmel Live, using sites such as On Camera
Audiences or 1Iota.com. Choose from talk
shows like The Kelly Clarkson Show, reality
shows including America's Got Talent, and
sitcoms such as Lopez vs. Lopez. Try to book
at least 30 days ahead of time.
SPEND AN EVENING
AT AN ART MUSEUM
Palm Springs
Some museums only off er a free day once a
month, but the Palm Springs Art Museum,
with a modern and contemporary-art
focus-including a whole house that's a
masterpiece-is free every Thursday evening
from 5-7 p.m.
VISIT SAN DIEGO'S
ORIGINAL OLD TOWN
San Diego
The Spanish settlement where San Diego was
born in 1769 is now a free-access living history
state park, interspersed with crowd-pleasing
shops and restaurants. Admire Old Town's
adobe homes and a schoolhouse from the
19th century and enjoy mariachi bands
performing at the Old Town Plaza.
30
31
32
33
TOUR A PLUSH
DESERT ESTATE
Rancho Mirage
Explore the mesmerizing gardens and lush
grounds of the famed mid-century modern
Sunnylands mansion while listening to the
free downloadable audio tour.
ATTEND A STAR
PARTY IN THE DESERT
Palm Desert
The Astronomical Society of the Desert hosts
monthly stargazing parties, held at big sky-
friendly locations in the Santa Rosa and San
Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
TRY OLIVE OIL PAIRINGS
Temecula
Expand your idea of pairings at Temecula
Olive Oil Company-which also has locations
in San Diego and Orange counties. Enjoy free
samples of the cold-pressed extra virgin olive
oils and small-batch balsamic vinegars, such
as the D'Luscious Lemon Olive Oil and Vanilla
& Fig Balsamico Vinegar.
TAKE A CITY
GUIDES TOUR
San Francisco
Embark on one of this acclaimed
organization's 80 walking tours, all led by
local volunteers-indeed, the San Francisco
Chronicle has called these tours something
that " should be embraced by locals as much
as tourists. " Choose from guided walks over
the Golden Gate Bridge, through Chinatown,
or past the mansions of the Gold Coast.
California State Capitol
VISITCALIFORNIA.COM | 41
THIS SPREAD, FROM LEFT: ROBERTO DANTONI/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; COURTESY PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM;
SUNDRY PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK

http://www.1Iota.com http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

California Official Visitor's Guide 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2023