This Scenic Road Trip Takes You To All 7 Wonders Of Southern California
There’s plenty to see and do in Southern California all year long, but we thought it might be fun to put together a road trip that will inspire you to explore SoCal’s great beauty. And nothing seems quite as intoxicating as taking a road trip to see the seven wonders…of Southern California. Ready to see where we’re headed? Pack your bags, fuel up the car, and get ready for one of the most scenic road trips in Southern California.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
If you love a road trip, then you're in store for one thrilling adventure.
Please note, this isn't a quick one-day road trip. Plan out an entire weekend or longer for this adventure so you can really stop and enjoy each location. Especially when you reach the Channel Islands, as that is an adventure in and of itself. Pick and choose where you'd like to start the trip and take it from there. Just remember, the stop listed for Channel Islands National Park isn't your final destination as you'll have to board a boat to travel to the island. Here's an itinerary for this scenic road trip to the seven natural wonders in Southern California.
On this road trip you'll head to Death Valley where you'll get to see the awe-inspiring beauty of Zabriskie Point. Dating back millions of years from a lake that dried up over five-million years' ago, this is one of the most incredible natural wonders in Southern California that will make your jaw drop.
Time to head to the Mojave National Preserve to visit the spellbinding Lava Tube that can be experienced in the town of Baker, California. Show up at just right the time and you'll get to see a bright and shining ray of light shooting through the cave entrance. Reachable by a local hiking trail, you'll want to come prepared with comfortable shoes and plenty of water for one of the most wonderous places to visit in Southern California.
Located inside Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, you'll find the Arroyo Tapiado Carrizon Badlands Mud Caves which are made up of nine slot canyons and 22 caves. You'll want to take some time to explore this mesmerizing cave system, so make sure to pack some hiking boots for this incredible journey that will show you one of the most beautiful places in Southern California you never even knew existed.
SoCal may not be known for its waterfalls, but you better believe we have them, and some pretty good ones, too. One of the most noteworthy waterfalls and natural wonders in Southern California is Cedar Creek Falls which has an 80-foot waterfall that is quite spectacular to see. You can reach this beauty by taking a local hiking trail that starts at:
Address: 15519 Thornbush Rd, Ramona, CA 92065
To reach this unique cave in SoCal, you'll want to head to The Cave Store in La Jolla. This is the only sea cave in Southern California that is accessible by land.
Address: 1325 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Located in the town of Agua Dulce, which translates to "Sweet Water" in Spanish, the Vasquez Rocks are an impressive rock formation that's been gracing this land for over 25 million years. Whether you show up for a quick snapshot or you want to climb the rocks for yourself, this is a fun adventure that will completely inspire you when you see it for yourself.
Address: 110700 Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, CA 91350
Southern California is home to Channel Islands National Park where you'll find eight of the channel islands on the U.S. coast. Although you're not able to reach the islands directly on this road trip, you can view them and board a charter boat to reach them from this destination in Oxnard, CA. Quite spectacular and mesmerizing to see in person, this is one wonder that could be experienced all by itself in an entire weekend. This is truly one of the most magical places to visit in Southern California.
What do you think of this seven wonders road trip, one of the most scenic road trips in Southern California? We think it’s the perfect way to explore the southern half of our great state.
Looking for more road trips to experience in Southern California? Then you may also like this quirky road trip that will take you to SoCal’s most unique roadside attractions.
Address: Zabriskie Point, California, USA
Address: Mojave Desert Lava Tube, California, USA
Address: Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves, Arroyo Tapiado, California, USA
Address: Cedar Creek Falls Trailhead, 15519 Thornbush Rd, Ramona, CA 92065, USA
Address: La Jolla Sea Cave Kayaks, 2164 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
Address: Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, 10700 Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, CA 91350, USA
Address: Channel Islands, Oxnard, CA 93035, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Scenic Road Trips In Southern California
July 26, 2021
Melissa M.
What are some of the most beautiful places in Southern California?
Aside from Southern California’s seven natural wonders discussed above, this part of the state is filled with breathtaking placess wherever you go. Surround yourself with towering redwood trees with a trip to Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Orange County, a beautiful place just waiting to be explored! Coronado is always a magical place to visit. Don’t forget to swing by and see Hotel del Coronado (or even spend the night if you can)! You can read about more beautiful places in Southern California in this article.
What are some of the most unique places to visit in Southern California?
There’s a unique park in SoCal that is filled with…dinosaurs! Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center in Riverside has botanical gardens as well as a dinosaur trail with over 10 dinosaur sculptures. This park is open to the public and free to visit! We have also compiled a list of the most unique and weird places to visit in Southern California including the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and the Museum of Death in Los Angeles.
What are some other road trips I can take in Southern California?
