It's hard to beat the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the sky-piercing range that dominates the eastern half of California ... overnights, and scenic drives. The most famous route is the John Muir ...

In a recent study, California was ... is about a two-hour drive from Modesto and a little farther from Sacramento, according to Google Maps. It is an “easy and scenic hiking trail along the ...

The park's 38-mile (round-trip) scenic drive features 13 viewpoints along the route. The northern overlooks have the most hoodoos, but the southern overlooks offer the most expansive views.