Scenic views stretch across California — from rugged coastlines and towering forests to landmarks that shape its cities and culture. Whether you’re chasing a quiet moment, a sense of awe or the perfect photo, the Golden State offers no shortage of places worth the trip.

This story is part of USA TODAY’s Most Treasured Views series, a nationwide project highlighting breathtaking — and sometimes overlooked — sights across the country.

In California, those views span the full landscape, blending natural wonders with historic and architectural icons. Some are world-famous, others invite quieter reflection — all offering a window into what makes the state unforgettable. Here are some of those California treasured views:

17‑Mile Drive, Pebble Beach

This iconic coastal drive delivers one postcard moment after another along the Monterey Peninsula. Visitors wind past rugged cliffs, white-sand beaches and wind‑shaped cypress trees, with sweeping Pacific views at nearly every turn.

Landmarks like the Lone Cypress and crashing surf at Point Joe make this one of California’s most photographed stretches of coastline.

The view: Discover the 17-Mile Drive, a scenic California coastal road trip

Santa Monica Pier

Jutting out into the Pacific, the Santa Monica Pier blends ocean views with classic California boardwalk energy. It’s known for its sweeping coastal vistas, historic charm and the unmistakable Ferris wheel skyline.

Whether you’re watching the sunset or strolling the planks, it’s a front‑row seat to Southern California beach life.

The view: Make it to the end of the road at the Santa Monica Pier

Order our Most Treasured Views coffee table book

Coit Tower, San Francisco

From atop Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower offers panoramic views of San Francisco and the bay, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

The 1930s landmark also features historic murals inside, merging art and scenery into one of the city’s most recognizable viewpoints.

The view: Climb Telegraph Hill to view San Francisco from Coit Tower

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

Perched in Griffith Park, the observatory delivers sweeping views of Los Angeles, from downtown skyscrapers to the Hollywood Sign.

It’s a favorite for visitors chasing cinematic moments — especially at sunset, when the city begins to glow.

The view: How science and Hollywood spectacle collide at Griffith Observatory

Hearst Castle, San Simeon

Set high above the Central Coast, Hearst Castle pairs ocean views with opulent architecture. Visitors look out over rolling hills and the Pacific while touring one of the most lavish estates in the country.

The property’s grand design and history make the scenery feel as dramatic as the setting.

The view: Hearst Castle, a California wonder, inspired ‘Citizen Kane’

Yosemite Valley

Few places in California rival the scale of Yosemite Valley. Granite giants like El Capitan and Half Dome rise above forests and meadows, creating some of the most iconic views in the country.

Waterfalls, cliffs, and open skies make it a defining feature of the Sierra Nevada landscape.

The view: Yosemite Valley offers iconic views of Half Dome, El Capitan

Alcatraz Island

Set in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz offers striking views of both the city skyline and the surrounding waters.

The former prison’s isolation — and its layered history of incarceration and protest — adds weight to the scenery.

The view: Image of Alcatraz Island legacy still dominates San Francisco Bay

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Home to some of the largest trees on Earth, these parks offer views that feel both towering and humbling.

The giant sequoias dominate the landscape, with mountain vistas and deep canyons stretching beyond them.

The view: Walk among giants in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks

Carmel Mission

In the coastal town of Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea, this historic mission blends architecture, gardens and coastal light.

Its preserved design and peaceful setting offer a quieter, reflective California view rooted in the state’s early history.

The view: Carmel Mission, a historic California landmark on Central Coast

Hollywood Sign viewpoints

Seeing the Hollywood Sign up close — or from scenic overlooks — is a classic Los Angeles experience.

The landmark sits against the hills above the city, offering a mix of urban and natural scenery that defines the region.

The view: The best way to visit the Hollywood Sign, according to locals

Manzanar National Historic Site

Set against the stark beauty of the Eastern Sierra, Manzanar is both scenic and sobering. The site tells the story of Japanese Americans incarcerated here during World War II.

The wide‑open desert landscape contrasts with that history, making it one of California’s most powerful places to visit.

The view: Manzanar Historic Site tells story of WWII incarceration

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park showcases where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, with twisted Joshua trees and striking rock formations.

Denver Ventures, the investing firm previously known as Denver Angels, is asking a judge to reject a lawsuit by Angels co-founder Paul Foley, calling it “far-fetched,” “untethered to the facts or the law,” and “an imaginary and elaborate conspiracy theory” designed to harm it.

“Despite its salacious accusations and egregious claims,” it says, “(Foley)’s complaint amounts to nothing more than a disgruntled minority member who is unwilling to accept his lone objection was insufficient to unwind a business deal he originally approved but now regrets.”

Foley, a Boulder-area startup founder and investor, was one of the four managers of Denver Angels between 2019 and 2022 and is still a 20% owner of that firm alongside fellow co-founders Kenneth Monfort of Monfort Cos., David Prichard and Zachary May.

In a March lawsuit, he accused his business partners of conspiring with Jackson Killion, in-house lawyer for Denver Angels, “to siphon all of the value and success of Denver Angels for their personal benefit” by moving its assets to Denver Ventures, which he does not co-own.

In a series of motions to dismiss last week, the nine defendants in the case all asked Denver District Judge Sarah Wallace to end that high-dollar lawsuit in its entirety.

“Contrary to (Foley)’s allegations, the license agreement did not siphon all value from Denver Angels or otherwise convey Denver Angels’ assets to Denver Ventures. Nor did the license agreement somehow divert funds from Denver Angels,” their motions claimed.

“The license agreement merely permitted Denver Ventures to use Denver Angels’ brand and assets to promote its new investment fund in exchange for monetary compensation.”

Paul Foley  (LinkedIn)

The company took on the Denver Ventures branding around this time last year.

“Despite agreeing that a new investment fund was in Denver Angels’ best interests and being involved in that process, Foley at some later point became displeased,” Denver Ventures says.

Foley’s lawsuit, which seeks eight figures in damages, accuses the many defendants of theft, securities fraud, racketeering and more. Foley claims that the once-thriving Denver Angels is about worthless, meaning his 20% stake in the firm is, too.

“The record here is extensive, and I’m confident the documents and agreements support my claims,” Foley said in a statement to BusinessDen on Friday. “Not only did I not approve the fund and structure, but they also removed me as manager because I wouldn’t approve.

“The motions to dismiss were an anticipated litigation tactic meant to delay and distract, and I look forward to moving on to demonstrate the merits of the complaint in court.”

The individual defendants — Monfort, Prichard and May — say they cannot be sued because their entities, not themselves as individuals, own Angels and made the decisions that Foley disapproves of. Denver Ventures similarly argues that it cannot be sued because it only signed a licensing agreement with Denver Angels and there is nothing improper about that.

Foley “lumps (all) defendants … into a wild conspiracy theory alleging all defendants have attempted to steal Denver Angels’ assets and profits,” last week’s motions complain.

Denver Ventures and its owners are represented by four lawyers from Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes in Denver: The father-son duo of Stan and Andrew Garnett, plus Nicholas Eaton and Kate Leisner. Denver Ventures’ lawyer, Killion, and his firm Caddis Consulting are represented by Derek Anderson at Winget Spadafora and Schwartzberg in Boulder.

“We look forward to the complete facts coming to light and are confident they will show that (Foley’s) claims are unfounded,” Andrew Garnett said on behalf of his clients Friday.

“We feel strongly about these motions (to dismiss) and even stronger that at the conclusion of this full legal process, defendants will be fully vindicated, and it will be shown that the defendants acted appropriately, in good faith, and consistent with their obligations,” he added.

Foley’s lawyers are Lauren Thompson and Elliot Fladen of Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher.

On a stretch of sidewalk in downtown Seattle this summer, you might notice a small vinyl marker shaped like a drop of water. Scan it with your phone, and the street will begin to shift—plants might bloom across the pavement, animals crawl or slither, water cascades, and stories unfold. Follow the next marker, and the next, and you’re moving through a different kind of FIFA World Cup experience—one that turns the city’s streets into a stage for storytelling.

As Seattle prepares to host six matches at Lumen Field, the city is investing not only in infrastructure and fan zones but also in a wide-ranging slate of public art meant to animate streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. Through programs such as the World Cup 2026 Community Celebrations and a series of downtown activations called We Still Dream a Future, the city has funded free festivals, installations, and performances designed to reflect Seattle’s cultural breadth.

The most visible of those efforts will unfold downtown and in Pioneer Square, where large-scale projects aim to meet visitors where they already are—walking, gathering, and exploring between games. One of the most ambitious is Future Arts Way, a 2.5-mile interactive route linking Seattle Center to King Street Station. Developed by the nonprofit Future Arts, the project uses augmented reality to layer digital storytelling onto physical sites, connecting visitors to local small businesses, Coast Salish histories, and color-splashed artworks along the way.

“This is truly an effort to bring important untold stories that have been living in this land for a very long time … back onto the land using technology,” says Future Arts executive director Yuliya Bruk.

The heart of the route is a major installation at Third Avenue and Pine Street. Titled Other Earth 2026, it combines large-scale vinyl, augmented reality experiences, and hand-painted murals to present hypnotic artwork inspired by perspectives that have traditionally been “othered.” Drawing on Coast Salish ecological knowledge, Afrofuturist design, and ethnobotanical research, the installation imagines a downtown landscape where water, plant life, and ancestral histories resurface through both physical and digital layers.

“We want visitors and residents to see a city that feels alive with possibility—where art, culture, and community are not just on display, but are happening all around them.”—Kate Fernandez, Downtown Activations Supervisor

Elsewhere along the route, visitors encounter smaller launch points—QR-coded markers that unlock location-specific artworks and narratives. The experience can be as brief or as immersive as one chooses, whether pausing at a single stop or walking the full path through Belltown, downtown, and Pioneer Square.

“Our goal is to put things out there that leave a lasting memory and leave someone changed,” Bruk says.

Future Arts Way is just one piece of a broader downtown effort. Earlier this year, the Unity Loop mural project unveiled two gargantuan-scale works to the city’s urban core. The blue-green waves of United Currents by Seattle artist Leo Shallat now grace a wall at Spring Street and Fifth Avenue, while two young figures in grayscale leap 17 stories at 1306 Western Avenue in the United by Nature mural by Greek artist INO. Produced by Street Art for Mankind, the works are designed to reflect themes of counterculture, human rights, and civic unity, positioning Seattle as both a creative capital and a welcoming global city.

Meanwhile, just outside Lumen Field, the 9-foot-tall Vital Spirit sculpture by Gerard Tsutakawa adds another focal point. The undulating bronze (one side jagged, one side gentle) represents “the coming together of the peoples of the world,” according to Tsutakawa. It’s designed to welcome visitors while reflecting the energy and movement of the surrounding stadium district.

“We want visitors and residents to see a city that feels alive with possibility—where art, culture, and community are not just on display, but are happening all around them,” says the city’s Downtown Activations supervisor, Kate Fernandez. “Whether it’s a large-scale installation, a live performance, or a spontaneous dance workshop, the goal is for visitors to feel that they’ve stepped into a shared civic experience—one that is imaginative, welcoming, and deeply human.”

That same ethos carries into the many smaller, more intimate projects funded through the city’s We Still Dream a Future initiative. In Chinatown–International District, for example, writer and artist Taha Ebrahimi (author of Street Trees of Seattle) and Vanishing Seattle founder Cynthia Brothers are leading a series of free walking tours from June to September that weave together neighborhood history and urban forestry. Participants will learn about migration, displacement, and resilience through both first-person stories and the living landscape of notable trees, including what might be the largest loquat tree in the state.

“At its root, community is developed in person, locally,” Ebrahimi says. “As our city continues to grow and attract new people, we want to ensure a future that celebrates the people and places that came before us.”

That balance—between global attention and local meaning—runs through many of
the projects tied to the World Cup. While the event is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Seattle, much of the art has been designed with a longer horizon in mind.

For Bruk, that future-facing perspective is essential. “We wanted to make sure Seattle showed up in the world’s eye as being grounded in technology that really uplifts cultural stories,” she says, “and that our community is left with something that we feel proud of afterward.”

If these efforts succeed, the legacy of the World Cup may not just be measured in attendance or revenue, but in something less tangible—how the city chose to tell its own story while the whole world was watching.