Top 8 most beautiful monuments in California2026 ranking

You can't visit Los Angeles without checking out the giant letters, the symbol of Hollywood. There are some really pretty viewpoints where you can kill two birds with one stone, getting both the sign AND a nice panorama of the city. Lake Hollywood Park is cool, and so is the Griffith Observatory! Great photos in the making! If you are passing through Hollywood, don't miss a tour of one of the studios (Warner Bros, Universal, or Paramount, for example). That was seriously my favorite activity!

I had limited time in San Francisco and chose not to lose half a day visiting Alcatraz. Even though I dreamed of seeing it after watching The Rock, I had pretty mixed feedback from friends about whether the tour was worth it. For the experience, I would have liked to go at night, but that is only possible from Tuesday to Saturday. In the end, I opted for a cruise around the bay. It lets you see the monuments and the prison towers from very close up. Everything looks completely abandoned, and it gave me the chills to imagine the living conditions of the prisoners and the escape attempts from this tiny island surrounded by currents.

Beyond the fact that the houses are really pretty and their architecture is incredible, you have a gorgeous view from the park right across the street. It is a panorama of the Painted Ladies and the San Francisco buildings, and it is truly magnificent! The whole neighborhood is really pretty to walk through, with houses that are more impressive than the next. Since I went during Halloween, the decorations were incredible!

Obviously, if you are visiting San Francisco, it would be hard to miss, as it is a true symbol of the city. Crossing by car is a toll road, but you can do it on foot for free. It is fun to do, but with the traffic, it is not necessarily the most pleasant experience! You are happy to reach the end and enjoy the view. We took the Hop On Hop Off bus back, which allows you to tour the city. If you get the chance, I recommend taking a bay cruise, and if possible at sunset! In addition to the experience, you will get magnificent photos of the Golden Gate, the city of San Francisco, and Alcatraz!

It is part of the game when you arrive on Hollywood Boulevard to walk with your eyes glued to the ground in search of the names of celebrities you know. This big boulevard really captures Los Angeles, especially at night: the excess, the celebrities, the neon lights, but also the poverty and begging. It is a must-do if you are passing through Hollywood, and why not catch a show while you are at it? I missed the chance to see Hadestown while I was there, but the experience has to be worth it! And the little hidden gem: the Amoeba Music store if you are a fan of vinyl, old CDs, and more!

This symbol of Hollywood is nothing exceptional in itself, but you will regret not having seen it and taken your photo with the sign in the background. Several viewpoints allow you to admire it. I recommend going up to the Griffith Observatory to gaze at it at sunset, or driving up into the nearby hills to get a little closer. Nothing memorable, but it is nice for the memory.

A legendary spot for Hollywood cinema! Still, I was disappointed. There is no need to spend more than an hour or two there. I had fun looking for the stars of my favorite celebrities, but the place, taken over by almost nothing but tourists, isn't that interesting. At night, it is actually pretty sketchy and you can smell cannabis on every street corner. You can, however, find some nice souvenirs at the La La Land store and admire the Chinese Theatre, which is definitely worth a look. Just behind it, a shopping center offers a nice view of the Hollywood sign if you climb up to the third floor.

After seeing La La Land, I dreamed of seeing this observatory and the heights of Los Angeles! Perched on the hills, the site offers a spectacular view of the city and the Hollywood sign. I went there in the evening to catch the sunset. At night, the view is even more beautiful. Get there by 7pm at the latest, because the parking lot is not very big. Inside, the observatory has a Foucault pendulum and educational exhibits on the solar system. Unfortunately, I was not able to get into the telescope room, which had a wait time of nearly 45 minutes.

This quaint little town really puts you in the middle of a western movie set, with its main street lined with wooden shops. It is an old mining site that has been converted into a tourist attraction. Admission is $8 per vehicle. Several short activities are available, like gold panning and a magic show. I took the little train ride. It is a nice way to see the scenery and learn more about the lives of the miners. In the few artisan shops, you can find some nice souvenirs, especially some very cool cowboy hats. It is not an essential stop, but it is a good place to pull over if you are driving, like I was, between Los Angeles and Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon.

The symbol of the city! Its orange red color is iconic. Unfortunately, it is hard to see the whole thing, as the bridge is often partially in the fog, especially in the morning. Bring a good sweater because it can get chilly, even when I went in June. From the Presidio of San Francisco park, you get a very nice view and several good spots to take photos. You can go across the bridge by car, on foot, or by bike. I chose to walk across it to take the time to enjoy the scenery. The boat is also a good option to admire it from underneath.