Cabrillo National Monument (pictured)
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, CA 92106-3601

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. The drive to Cabrillo National Monument will take you through diverse areas that tell of the Point Loma peninsula's history. In Spanish, "loma" means "hill" and is a fitting description of the rolling topography of the area. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park documents archaeological remnants-- human occupation of the Point can be traced approx. 7,000 years.

In 1797, the Spanish constructed Fort Guijarros on the eastern side of the peninsula, as a means of guarding the entrance to the harbor. 55 years later in 1852, the southern portion of Point Loma was set aside as a military reservation. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery was established in 1934 and today honors over 86,000 veterans and dependents who are interred there. Residential neighborhoods on Point Loma were originally established by generations of fishermen and remain varied today, with small cottages tucked next to multi-million dollar homes. Catalina Boulevard is part of San Diego's 59-mile Scenic Drive, and affords spectacular panoramic views of the ocean and city on your way to Cabrillo National Monument.

Devils Postpile National Monument
the Sierra Nevada near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls (named for the colors of the rainbow that form in the mist), and pristine mountain scenery. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world's finest examples of columnar basalt. Its columns tower 60 feet high and display an unusual symmetry. Devils Postpile National Monument is located at 7,560 feet above sea level just west of the Sierra Nevada crest. The Monument's campground sits near the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin river and offers 21 first-come, first-served sites.

Lava Beds National Monument
Tulelake, CA

Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. More than 700 caves, Native American rock art sites, historic battlefields and campsites, and a high desert wilderness experience! Lava Beds National Monument Crystal Ice Cave Tour contains some of the most spectacular ice formations among Lava Beds' many caves. Because of the sensitive nature of this cave's formations and its cold environment, Crystal Ice Cave is open to park visitors only on small ranger-guided tours during the winter months. Tours of no more than six visitors are offered every Saturday at 1 p.m. from December through March and last 3+ hours. This is a strenuous excursion for people 12 years and older in very good physical condition. Tour participants must use upper body strength to ascend a sheer, 50-foot long sloped ice floor on a rope, must be able to crawl through a tight hole, and have enough fitness and coordination to negotiate loose, boulder-strewn floors and icy patches safely. This tour is not appropriate for people with major medical conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, or osteoporosis, or those with a fear of heights or tight places.

Muir Woods National Monument
Mill Valley, CA

On Jan. 9, 1908, Pres. Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation establishing Muir Woods National Monument. William and Elizabeth Kent had donated the woods to save the trees, and asked that it be named after John Muir. Upon learning of its dedication, Mr. Muir declared, "This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world."
Muir Woods has many accessible trails with views of the redwood forest. Muir Beach is about 3 miles away, Stinson Beach is about 10 miles away, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area also has several beaches. Muir Beach is a small beach with a seasonal lagoon behind it. It's a great place for bird-watching, playing on the beach, and hiking. There is a small picnic area with grills and outhouses. There are no lifeguards on duty.

Pinnacles National Monument
5000 Highway 146
Paicines, CA 95043

Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Two talus caves at Pinnacles: the Bear Gulch Cave and the Balconies Cave require flashlights for hikes through the caves. As long as the hibernating colony of Townsends big-eared bats shows no signs of disturbance, half of the Bear Gulch Cave is open for almost ten months each year, from mid-July through mid-May. During especially warm springs, however, it's possible that the entire cave will be closed before mid-May if the maternity colony is present.

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
Honolulu, HI, Alaska and California

Spanning nearly all of the Pacific Ocean, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument preserves and interprets the stories and key events in the Pacific Theater leading up to the U.S. entering World War II, its impacts on the mainland, through to the Peace Treaty in Tokyo Bay, Japan ending the war.