44 Carrizo Plain National Monument California Valley Wandering in Carrizo Plain is like stepping back in time to California three centuries ago, when pronghorn and tule elk grazed the boundless savannahs. These are the largest remaining native grasslands in California-vast, treeless prairies that turn green every spring before exploding in wildflower blooms. The Chumash Indians hunted these lands for thousands of years. See their pictographs of snakes, deer, and human figures at Painted Rock, a 50-foot-high sandstone canvas. 45 Santa Rosa Island Channel Islands National Park California's second-largest island- three hours by boat from Ventura-has pearl-white beaches, archeological sites, and diminutive island foxes. There's substantial ground to cover, so give yourself time by camping at Water Canyon campground. Walk along the coastal crescent of Bechers Bay to admire Caribbean-blue waters. Hike to Lobo Canyon to see rare succulents growing within eroded sandstone walls. VISITCALIFORNIA.COM | 29 PREVIOUS SPREAD: RACHID DAHNOUN/TANDEMSTOCK.COM. PREVIOUS PAGE: GARY KAVANAGH/GETTY IMAGES. THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: NATHAN YAN/STOCKSY; BUYENLARGE/GETTY IMAGEShttp://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM