| Destination | Closest Major Airport | Car Rental Req? | Notes |
| Alcatraz | San Francisco | No | Ferry Service from Pier 39 |
| Angel Island | San Francisco | No | Ferry Service from Pier 39 |
| Anza-Borrego Desert | San Diego | Yes | |
| Big Sur | San Jose | Yes | |
| Catalina Island | John Wayne | No | Leave on the ferry from Newport Beach. |
| Channel Islands National Park | Los Angeles | See note | Islands are accessible only by ship or small airplane from Ventura or Santa Barbara. |
| Clear Lake | San Francisco | Yes | |
| Death Valley | Las Vegas, Ontario, Palm Springs | Yes | Don't attempt to visit Death Valley in the summer. Many travellers have suffered from exposure in the 100+ degree (40+ Celsius) temperatures. The drive may take up to six hours from Los Angeles. |
| Disneyland | John Wayne, Los Angeles | No | |
| Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site | Oakland or San Francisco | Yes | Park tours require special reservations. |
| Fresno | Los Angeles or San Francisco | No | Commuter flights available. |
| Golden Gate National Recreation Area | San Francisco | No for most parts | |
| John Muir National Historic Site | Oakland or San Francisco | Yes | |
| Joshua Tree NP | Palm Springs, Ontatio | Yes | Another area not to visit during the summer months. Come in the Winter. |
| Knotts Berry Farm | John Wayne, Los Angeles | No | |
| Lake Arrowhead | Ontario | Yes | |
| Lake Tahoe | Reno | Yes | Commuter flights can take you right to the lake. |
| Lava Beds National Monument | Sacramento | Yes | And it is a long drive, about three to five hours! |
| Malibu | Los Angeles | No | |
| Marine World/Africa | San Francisco, Oakland | No | Ferry Service from Pier 39 |
| Marshall Gold Discovery | Sacramento | No | |
| Mexico | San Diego | See Note | You could also fly to Tiajuana. Car rentals may be a problem given Mexican travel conditions. You might have to take a bus to the border and rent your car in Mexico. All cars should have Mexican auto insurance, an extra fee will be required. |
| Muir Woods | San Francisco | No | |
| Napa Valley | Oakland, San Francisco, or Sacramento | Yes | |
| Pinnacles National Monument | San Jose | Yes | |
| Point Reyes National Seashore | San Francisco | Yes | |
| Redwood National Park | San Francisco | Yes | Commuter flights available. |
| San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park | San Diego | Yes | |
| Santa Barbara | Los Angeles | Yes | |
| Santa Monica Mountains NRA | Los Angeles | No | |
| Sequoia/Kings Canyon | San Jose, Hollywood Burbank | Yes | |
| Stanford University | San Jose or San Francisco | No | |
| State Capitol | Sacramento | No | |
| Sutter's Fort | Sacramento | No | |
| Universal Studios | Hollywood Burbank, LAX, Ontario | No | |
| UC Berkeley | Oakland or San Francisco | No | |
| UCLA/Westwood | Los Angeles (LAX) | No | |
| Whiskeytown/Shasta/Trinity NRA | Sacramento | Yes | |
| Winchester Mystery House | San Jose | No | |
| Yosemite | Sacramento,Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco,Reno | Yes |
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