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Alabama Hills Road through the hills with view of Sierra Nevada (Trip 20)Backwoods
Byways
Far from coastal
California’s bumper-to-
bumper freeways, these
scenic backroads let you
finally lose the crowds –
and maybe yourself – in
cinematic landscapes of
jagged peaks, rushing
rivers and placid lakes.b Trinity Scenic Byway
Watch for bald eagles (or
Bigfoot!) as you dangle your
fishing pole in lakes.
k Eastern Sierra
Scenic Byway Explore real
Wild West landscapes, from
Mt Whitney to the ghost
town of Bodie and beyond.m Ebbetts Pass Scenic
Byway Take the rugged
back-door route over the
Sierra Nevada toward Lake
Tahoe.v Big Bear & Rim of
the World Scenic Byway
Navigate hairpin turns and
dizzying canyon drop-offs
en route to Big Bear Lake.National &
State Parks
Wilderness parklands
protect an astonishing
diversity of life zones, from
misty redwood forests and
snowy mountain peaks to
marine sanctuaries where
migratory whales breach.j Yosemite, Sequoia
& Kings Canyon National
Parks Don’t miss the Sierra
Nevada’s prime-time parks,
with wildflower meadows,
forests and mountain vistas.
a Northern Redwood
Coast See sandy beaches,
calm lagoons where
migratory birds flock, and
the tallest trees on earth.
c Volcanic Legacy
Scenic Byway Alpine
lakes, volcanic peaks, hot-
springs ‘hells’and waterfalls
await.x Palm Springs &
Joshua Tree Oases
Clamber through J-Tree’s
wonderland of rocks and
flowering desert gardens.Bringing Kids
The Golden State
welcomes pint-sized
travelers with open arms.
Just keep them covered in
sunblock and make sure
they see something beyond
just SoCal’s thrilling
theme parks.q Disneyland &
Orange County Beaches
Multigenerational families all
find fun at Disneyland and
California Adventure, then
cruise sunny coastal Hwy 1.j Yosemite, Sequoia
& Kings Canyon National
Parks Amaze your kids with
sequoia trees, huge waterfalls
and wildlife spotting.i Lake Tahoe Loop No
worries, no hurry: take a
slow-moving drive around
the ‘Big Blue’ for swimming
in summer or winter skiing.r Fun on the San
Diego Coast Tour the zoo’s
wild safari park, then treat
tots to Legoland and teens
to endless surf beaches.