(This article by military culture writer Christina Wood originally appeared in the June 2022 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

California is blessed with an abundance of bucket list destinations, from Disneyland and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge to Yosemite National Park and Napa Valley. But in between — and all around — these popular destinations, countless other riches wait to be explored in The Golden State.

Even with the pandemic in play, more than 3 million people visited Yosemite last year. But Lassen Volcanic National Park attracted just 359,635 visitors, according to the National Park Service. It offers a stunning array of volcanic and geologic features along with clear mountain lakes, meadows strewn with wildflowers, and perhaps most importantly, room to breathe. 

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“Within the boundaries of the park one can find four different types of volcanoes as well as hydrothermal features like bubbling mudpots and steaming vents,” said Park Ranger Kevin Sweeney, who acts as program manager for the park. “Lassen’s naturally dark night skies are another reason to visit and camp in this beautiful national park off the beaten path.”

Just be advised, he said, that the 2021 Dixie Fire tore through parts of the park.

“Many of the park’s most popular attractions survived unscathed, but visitors need to plan before coming.”  

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California boasts nine national parks, each with something that will take your breath away, from the haunting desert vistas of Death Valley and Joshua Tree to the unspoiled beauty of the Channel Islands and the towering rock spires of Pinnacles.

Redwood National Park is a popular destination, but it’s not your only option if standing in the shadow of a towering giant sequoia is your goal. Mighty redwoods can be found in 37 state parks, including Big Basin Redwoods. Founded in 1902, it is California’s oldest state park, but definitely not its last. The state system now includes 280 parks that celebrate California’s incredibly diverse landscapes — from the rugged coastline to the high sierras, and from its arid deserts to its redwood forests.

The rare beauty of the desert with its vividly colored buttes, ancient rock formations, and dazzling night skies make Red Rock Canyon State Park a favorite with campers. You can catch a glimpse of migrating grey whales from MacKerricher State Park, or dive into the underwater wonders of Crystal Cove State Park.

Want to explore the past? At Columbia State Historic Park, you’ll find costumed reenactors and masterfully restored historic buildings that bring the Gold Rush era to life. Bodie State Historic Park offers a hauntingly different perspective on California’s gold-mining past. At its peak, the once-bustling boom town had a population of about 10,000. Today, the ghost town is a National Historic Site. Its abandoned store shelves still stocked with goods, and empty streets are beautifully preserved in a state of arrested decay.

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Ready to wet your whistle? More than 80% of all wine produced in the U.S. comes from California, according to the state’s visitors’ bureau — and not all of it is made in Sonoma or Napa Valley. California has five distinct growing regions, including the unpretentious wine country in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, where you’ll find more than 40 wineries — and an impressive selection of restaurants and tasting rooms — in Amador County, alone.

If wine isn’t your thing, you will be happy to know California is home to more than 1,100 craft breweries, according to the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) — that’s more than any other state. San Diego is particularly proud of its local lagers, ales, and IPAs, but the CCBA reports that 95% of Californians live within 10 miles of a brewery, so you can look forward to enjoying a cold one no matter where you go in the state.

Just imagine what it would be like if all those brewers got together for a celebration! Or you can make plans to attend the annual California Craft Beer Summit and experience it for yourself. Held each September in Sacramento, the three-day event welcomes visitors into California’s beer-making world.

If you are interested in brewing your own beer or want to gain a new level of appreciation for the stuff, you’ll want to be there for the first two days of the event. The third day is set aside for the Summit Beer Festival. With more than 170 brewers gathered outside the capitol building offering tastings, it is the largest craft beer festival in the state.

California, of course, has more than beer to celebrate. From art to avocados, you can enjoy a calendar full of festivals celebrating the state’s many glories.
Art is woven into the fabric of life in Laguna Beach — and has been since the early years of the 20th century, when the area’s natural beauty attracted a community of artists. These days, the small coastal city in Orange County is known for its many art galleries and its four summer art festivals as well as its picturesque coves, tidal pools, and beaches.

If you’ve ever wanted to try garlic ice cream, set your sights on the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. The three-day celebration features lots of garlicky goodies as well as live jazz, blues, reggae, and swing music. If you can’t be there for the festivities, fear not! Gilroy, the self-proclaimed “Garlic Capital of the World,” offers garlic products and souvenirs throughout the year.

Among the towns claiming the title of “Lemon Capital of the World” is Chula Vista, which celebrates with a juicy jubilee every year. At the Avocado & Margarita Street Festival in Morro Bay, enjoy refreshing California flavors and chef demonstrations — and possibly win a year’s supply of avocados. Or head to Cielito Lindo in East Los Angeles. The tiny stand has offered rolled tacos smothered in avocado sauce since 1934. That’s when Aurora Guerrero introduced the flavors of her native Zacatecas — and tacos — to Americans. Her family still owns what many believe to be the first taco stand in the U.S. 

CALIFORNIA FOODIE FACT: You can take glamping to a whole new level at Olancha RV Park, Motel and Tipi Village, where the handmade tipis are equipped not only with comfy bedding, but with air conditioning and heating. Before you turn in for the night, though, try the grass-fed bison served at the Olancha Cafe. And, if you’re in Gold Rush country, be sure to raise a glass at Prospect Cellars, owned by Jamie and Ronn Lubenko. His great-great grandmother planted the first zinfandel vines in what is now the oldest documented vineyard in California.