Avenue of the Giants

Redcrest, California, United States

The Golden State offers plenty of bucket-list experiences, and you don’t have to spend a lot—or sometimes anything—to try many of them. First up, drive the Avenue of the Giants. This 31-mile stretch runs parallel to Highway 101 and is flanked by the enormous trees of Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

The four parks that belong to the network of the Redwood National and State Parks all offer free admission: Redwood National Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. (Expect to pay small parking fees at the state parks.)

Sacramento River Trail
Redding, CA

Walk across the Sacramento River on Santiago Calatrava’s 700-foot architectural marvel at Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding.

Powell St
San Francisco, CA

Check out three antique cars from the 1870s at the Nob Hill Cable Car Museum in San Francisco.

56 Ross Alley
San Francisco, CA

The small-but-bustling Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in San Francisco has been hand-rolling fortunes into cookies since 1942. Enjoy a freebie—often a warm, not-yet-folded cookie—then browse the shop where you can purchase cookies with your own written fortunes.

3732 Carpenter Rd
Stockton, CA

Stroll the grounds of Stockton’s working Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple, which has more than 90 vividly painted Buddha statues, including one fabulously large lounging Buddha.

2629 S Clovis Ave
Fresno, CA

Lasting for a few weeks in late winter, the Fresno County Blossom Trail is horticulture heaven. You'll find rosy sprays of peach and nectarine petals as well as white blazes of almonds, plums, and apples.

400 S Dolliver St
Pismo Beach, CA

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).

250 San Simeon Ave
San Simeon, CA

Behold the largest pinnipeds on the West Coast—weighing up to 4,000 pounds—as they sunbathe and bark on the rocky beach of the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. This amazing site is located seven miles north of Hearst Castle, right alongside Highway 1.

2800 E Observatory Rd
Los Angeles, CA

Enjoy the public telescope, free films, and sweeping views of Los Angeles from this Art Deco landmark atop Griffith Park.

1200 Getty Center Dr
Los Angeles, CA

At three top museums in L.A., all you need is an online reservation for admission: The Getty Center, The Broad, and the Museum of Contemporary Art/MOCA. (Some parking fees do apply.)

Rancho Mirage, CA

Explore the mesmerizing gardens and lush grounds of Sunnylands, a famed midcentury mansion in Greater Palm Springs. There's also a free downloadable audio tour.

2829 Juan St
San Diego, CA

The Spanish settlement where San Diego was born in 1769 is now a free-access, living-history state park. You'll find plenty of crowd-pleasing shops and restaurants too.

San Diego, CA

Many of the best museums and attractions within San Diego’s Balboa Park are free. This includes 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. Click the "Visit Website" link below to find more bucket list–worthy free things to do in California.