96 Parks to Explore in California

This is a 275-acre park located at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers off Interstate 5 at the Richards Boulevard or Garden Highway exits. Activity areas include boating, fishing, group picnics, multi-use field areas, archery range and a variety of trails for horses, biking and hiking.

This majestic 1,558 acre park is one of Santa Clara County's most unique regional park and recreation areas. It has the traditional features of an urban park such as picnicking, fishing and play areas, with the complex trail system of many regional wilderness parks. The park's recreational facilities include a hang gliding and paragliding area, a dog park, and horseback riding areas. Ed R. Levin County Park has two lakes.

Elings Park is a 230-acre private park. It is one of Santa Barbara’s most beautiful gathering places for nature, athletics, and culture. It hosts weddings, special events, recreation activities, sports leagues, and more. The park consists of sports fields, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, wedding/special event venues, and landscaped walkways. The park is a hub for mountain biking, youth sports, paragliding, and other outdoor activities.

Ellen Browning Scripps Park is a popular place to hang out in the village of La Jolla. It is considered one of the most photographed locations in San Diego. It’s adjacent to the famous La Jolla Cove, a lovely place for a picnic, and fun for kids or pets to run around. Some hotels and restaurants overlook this green space on the way out to the Pacific Ocean.

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch is a landmark on the former Route 66 at Oro Grande. The large-scale sculptures - installation of bottle-tipped metal scaffolding - erected here on private property is referred to as folk art. The facility is a "historical landmark" known far beyond the region. It addresses the resource consumption of the throw-away society .

Fairmount Park is a park in Riverside, California,designed in 1920 by Mission-style architect Arthur Burnett Benton. It offers a golf course, two tennis courts, public barbecues, boat rentals, sailing and fishing on Lake Evans, running, jogging and walking on the Santa Ana River Trail, a number of exercise classes held in the park, and the playground.

This is a large peninsular park located within Mission Bay, is a popular location for charity walks and runs, bicycle races, time trials and other special events. It is also the home of the annual Over-the-Line tournament.

This popular California amusement park offers a great range of amusements for all ages. Whether you love the thrills of a coaster, the spills of a waterpark, or the gentle fun of classic family attractions, Fiesta Village have you covered!

Franceschi Park is a 15.78-acre public park located at the intersection of Mission Ridge. The site hosts a small picnic area, a large patio that serves as a group picnic area, restrooms, some trails, and a parking lot; and further serves as a resource for the pioneering horticultural work undertaken by Italian horticulturalist Dr. Francesco Franceschi.

Frontierland Park is a Park that offers outdoor recreation and nature preservation. A public space open to the general public.

Glen Helen Regional Park is a county park located in San Bernardino, located at the base of the chaparral covered hills of the Cajon Pass with scenic views of both the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. It is also home to the Glen Helen Amphitheater, the largest outdoor amphitheater in the United States. The park also hosts several off-road races since 1985.

This is a large urban park located in San Francisco administered by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department. It is a large urban park with windmills, bison, museums, lakes and a carousel among its many attractions. . Golden Gate is the third most-visited city park in the United States after Central Park and the Lincoln Memorial.

Grand Park is a 12-acre civic park, stretching from The Music Center to City Hall, providing Angelenos with year-round free public programming and green spaces to connect, create, and celebrate. It include tree-shaded sidewalks, drought-tolerant plants, an interactive fountain plaza, performance lawns and courtyards, plenty of street lights, movable park furniture, and kiosks to encourage the walking and exploration of the area.

Grandview Park is a local elevated park in the Sunset District that's relatively small, but it's packed with botanical and geological wonders.The summit of Grandview Park rises to about 666 feet. It provides one of the last remaining habitats within the city for a number of native plants, including the endangered Franciscan wallflower and dune tansy, and also bush lupin, beach strawberry, bush monkey flower, and coyote bush. The hill is crowned with Monterey cypress trees.

The Great Park is a public park located in Irvine, California, with a focus on sports, agriculture, and the arts.Recognized as one of the most modern metropolitan parks in the world, the carefully designed Orange County Great Park at once pays homage to the military history of this legendary air base while creating exceptional experiences for a new generation. Encompassing a total of 1,300 acres, more than 200 are currently developed and 688 acres are in planning and design.

A large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. It covers around 4,310 acres of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America. This park features a number of popular attractions such as the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, the Griffith Observatory, and the Hollywood Sign. Due to its presence in many films, the park is among the most famous municipal parks in North America.

This is a state park of California containing natural hot springs on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Park amenities include a swimming pool complex fed by the hot springs, as well as a campground, picnic area, and hiking trails.

18-acre (7.3 ha) traditional Japanese garden recognized as one of the oldest Japanese-style residential garden in the Western Hemisphere. Notable features include a bamboo garden, a Zen garden, a strolling garden (the Hill and Pond Garden), tea houses, and the Cultural Exchange Center.

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is a family-friendly amusement park and accredited zoo. Located on sixteen acres. It has many popular features like its carousel, roller coaster, petting zoo, and Puppet Castle Theater. It is home to over 140 species of animal, and a host of attractions and side shows. Though not massive, the park will keep the family entertained for a good portion of the day.

This 354-acre urban park is located in the heart of Santa Clara County's regional park system with the Coyote Creek meandering through the center. It is home to Hellyer Park Velodrome and Cottonwood Lake. Other recreational opportunities at the park include picnicking, hiking, fishing, biking, and a playground.