California Road Trips - 2019 - 8

ROAD TRIPS 2019

TO GO
Yosemite
National Park

A ny t i m e i s r i g h t f o r a C a l i f o r n i a r oa d
t r i p, b u t i f t h e r e a r e s p e c i a l ex p e r i e n c es
you wa n t t o c a p t u r e, t i m i n g m a t t e rs

WHAT TO SEE
WATE R FA LL S
in Yosemite National Park

W I LD F LOW E R S
in Death Valley National Park and
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego

Disneyland Resort

A MUS E ME NT PAR K
AT TR AC T I O NS
at Disneyland Resort and
Universal Studios Hollywood

Death Valley
National Park

D E S E RT TR I PPI N G
in Greater Palm Springs
and beyond

AUTUMN
D E LI G HTS
in the Sierra Nevada
Sebastopol

Mammoth
Mountain

S N OW
ADV E NTU R E S
in Lake Tahoe and
Mammoth Lakes

8 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

BEST TIME TO VISIT
Yosemite is known for its waterfalls, which number
among the world's tallest. But the famous falls
are fed by melting snow, which peaks during the
April-to-June thaw. Strategize a spring trip to
see 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls in full glory. (Yearround, ﬁnd watery splendor at Burney Falls or
McCloud Falls in the Shasta Cascade region.)

Legions of wildﬂower fans were born when California experienced a rare "super bloom" in 2016
and 2019. But desert ﬂower power is ﬂeeting.
Death Valley and Anza-Borrego start blooming in
mid-February, and higher-elevation deserts begin
a few weeks later. Coastal and inland areas boast
blossoms from April to June.

Plan to visit theme parks on weekdays (Mon.-
Thurs. are best) in January, February, May, and
September through early December. About 18
million people will visit Disneyland this year (especially to see the new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge);
Universal Studios Hollywood will see 10 million
(particularly for the revamped Jurassic World).

California's deserts are achingly beautiful any
time of year, but summer can be dangerously
hot. Expect the desert to hit triple-digits by late
May and not cool down until October. Schedule
desert road-trips for October to April-or plan
to spend all your time in a swimming pool.

In mountain regions, plan leaf-peeping trips for
late-September through October. In foothill
regions and in Southern California's mountains
at Big Bear Lake, colors typically last through
November. Apple picking happens in October and
November in Julian, Watsonville, Sebastopol, Oak
Glen, and Camino's Apple Hill.

Several ﬂuffy feet pile up at Lake Tahoe's snowplay areas from mid-December through April.
Mammoth Lakes and June Lake hold the snow
sometimes until early summer. Many smaller
mountain roads aren't plowed in winter-check
with the Caltrans Highway Information Network
(800/427-7623) before you go.

FROM TOP: H PETER JI/GETTY IMAGES, CAVAN IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES, PAUL HIFFMEYER/DISNEYLAND RESORT,
WITOLD SKRYPCZAK/GETTY IMAGES, MICHI TERMO/GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN

WHEN
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California Road Trips - 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Road Trips - 2019
