With an incomparable mix of desert, 沿海, and mountain landscapes, California is home to some of the Earth’s most remarkable natural areas. 事实上, 从 United Nations to a group seeking to protect legendary surfing spots, international organizations have honored locations around the Golden State as among the world’s most special places. If you’re looking for an encounter with some of the best Mother Nature has to offer on Earth Day (April 22)—从 tallest trees to the biggest animals and the finest waves—they’re all right here.
丹娜一点: A Whale of a Town
与海豚, 灰色的鲸鱼, and even the occasional blue whale (the largest animals to ever live on Earth), 丹娜一点 has long been a major hub for watching marine life, both from land and on 船游. Each year the community celebrates its offshore neighbors during the 丹娜一点 Festival of Whales, and the Orange County town has dubbed itself the “Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World.“把这些都加起来, and the town’s commitment to sustainability, environmental education, and the protection of whales earned 丹娜一点 honors as a 鲸鱼遗产地 earlier this year—making it the first U.S. location with this distinction. As Donna Kalez of the 丹娜一点 Whale Watching Company puts it, “丹娜一点 has historically been an incredible destination to watch and learn about whales and dolphins, and now we are happy to share this with the world.”
北海岸: The Tallest Trees on Earth
1980年， Redwood National and State Parks 沿着 北海岸 became the first locations in California to merit designation as a World Heritage Site 从 United Nations Educational, 科学, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Within the redwood groves—surviving remnants of forests that date back 160 million years—you’ll find trees that grow over 300 feet tall and have reached the grand old age of 2,000年. For a great introduction to the glories of these parks, combine the Prairie Creek and Cathedral Tree trails for a 3.两英里长循环 in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, about 50 miles north of 尤里卡.
Yosemite National Park: Granite Grandeur
Waterfalls plunging thousands of feet to the valley floor. Sheer cliff faces that draw top rock climbers from around the world to defy gravity on challenging ascents. 沉默的站着 巨大的红杉 and mountain meadows pixelated with wildflowers. Indeed, the glories of Yosemite National Park are many and varied, earning the iconic 高的山脉 destination its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Glacier-carved Yosemite Valley is the must-see attraction but only the beginning of this national park’s wonders. Open from late May into fall, 泰奥加高中的入学率路 leads to Tuolumne Meadows, a gorgeous high-country expanse with alpine lakes surrounded by granite domes.
马里布: The Perfect Wave
马里布’s Surfrider Beach proves that bigger isn’t always better. Instead, what helped Surfrider Beach earn 马里布 designation as the first World Surfing Reserve 从 Save the Waves Coalition was the sheer perfection of this point break’s waves, and its role in the emergence of California surf culture. As Paul Gross, the former editor of 冲浪者杂志, put it, “马里布 is the exact spot on Earth where ancient surfing became modern surfing.” Along with the landmark 亚当森家 和历史 马里布码头, Surfrider is part of 马里布 Lagoon State Beach. The pier has a terrific perspective on Surfrider’s three breaks, 哪一个, under the right conditions, can be combined into epic 300-yard rides.
圣克鲁斯: Where Surfing Began
In 1885, three Hawaiian princes visiting 圣克鲁斯 crafted and rode redwood surfboards, becoming the U.S. mainland’s first surfers. The rest, as they say, is history. 圣克鲁斯, with 23 prime breaks along seven miles of coastline, has evolved into what the Save the Waves Coalition calls “the best all-around surf town in the continental 美国.” Thanks to the quality of local waves and an active surfing community dedicated to protecting the coast, the coalition named 圣克鲁斯 the fourth World Surfing Reserve in 2011. To catch the scene, check out the action at 轮船巷, then walk over to the 圣克鲁斯 Surfing Museum and see historic photographs and vintage boards.
