If California had one of the World's Natural Wonders, what National Park would it be? (San Diego: landscaping, beaches)

[RosieSD]

Gosh, you sure left out a lot of beautiful and awesome places. Off the top of my head, I can think of hundreds of places throughout California that you didn't mention that are state and national treasures. That includes quite a few that are ALREADY national parks, national monuments or national forests that you skipped over, like Sequoia National Park, King's Canyon National Park (you know, the places with those "other" big trees), Joshua Tree National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Lassen, Mohave, Shasta, etc. that you didn't mention.

And, of course, Yosemite and Death Valley are already national parks too, so it seems kind of odd to be debating whether they should be made into National Parks.

And while I love the Tijuana River Estuary National Wildlife Preserve (the name for the biggest part of that "wetlands" in IB, in San Diego County alone, there's Torrey Pines (rare pine trees that only grow there and in one other place on dramatic cliffs over looking the sea), Palomar Mountain, The Laguna Mountains, Anza Borrego State Park (the biggest state park in the U.S. acreage wise and awesomely beautiful), miles of beaches, Cleveland National Forest, etc.

But, pick any county in the state of California, and you can find a host of awesome places to list there too -- there really is no county in California that doesn't have some sort of scenic outdoor wonder of one kind or another that is worth a visit.

California is truly a beautiful place. No need to debate which places are "best" or "most scenic." Everyone has their personal favorites. You could spend a lifetime trying to take all of California's wonders in, regardless of whether they're national parks, national monuments, state parks, county parks, or just beautiful places in the middle of nowhere. I know I have.

[I Love Buildings]

^ thanks for educating me more on California's geography. I have alot to explore still!

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Gosh, you sure left out a lot of beautiful and awesome places. Off the top of my head, I can think of hundreds of places throughout California that you didn't mention that are state and national treasures. That includes quite a few that are ALREADY national parks and/or national monuments that you skipped over, like Sequoia National Park, King's Canyon National Park (you know, the places with those "other" big trees), Joshua Tree National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Lassen, Mohave, Alcatraz, etc. that you didn't mention.

And while I love the Tijuana River Estuary National Wildlife Preserve (the name for the biggest part of that "wetlands" in IB, in San Diego County alone, there's Torrey Pines (rare pine trees that only grow there and in one other place on dramatic cliffs over looking the sea), Palomar Mountain, The Laguna Mountains, Anza Borrego State Park (the biggest state park in the U.S. acreage wise and awesomely beautiful), miles of beaches, Cleveland National Forest, etc. But, pick any county in the state of California, and you can find awesome places to list too -- there literally is no area in California that doesn't have some sort of scenic outdoor wonder of one kind or another.

And, of course, Yosemite and Death Valley are already national parks too, so it seems kind of odd to be debating whether they should be made into National Parks.

California is truly a beautiful place. No need to debate which places are "best" or "most scenic." You could spend a lifetime trying to take all of California's wonders in, regardless of whether they're national parks, national monuments, state parks, county parks, or just beautiful places in the middle of nowhere. I know I have.

I agree with most of what you said. While I have spent plenty of time on Palomar Mountain and Mount Laguna, I don't see how either place can be called a natural wonder of any kind, not when you have the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mts not too far away and they aren't even natural wonders but are most definitely more dynamic in every way than the SD County mountains, most of which are relatively low in elevation.

Torrey Pines are unique just because of what they are. However, even San Diego doesn't think too much of them as they are the perfect native tree to plant but exotic Eucalyptus and Palms are preferred.

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

That's a pretty tall statement. Are you sure about that? Remember the guy who posted here, who, as a ranger or guide in Yosemite handling groups of European tourists, said that it wasn't unusual for the visitors to comment that they didn't know what the fuss was about, Europe had much more spectacular scenery than Yosemite? ROFL! That just kills me! They thought Yosemite was just another example of overblown American marketing. Now granted, the Alps and the Norwegian fjords are quite breathtaking. But they don't have redwoods! And you're right about the waterfalls; tall waterfalls like that aren't common in Europe.

Never saw his post, but yeah, I'm sure about that. I worked seven summers plus holidays in Yosemite (from the time I graduated Mariposa High School until I finally finished college). Front desk clerk at Yosemite Lodge and the Ahwahnee Hotel. A big chunk of our visitors were European and to a person they all were very enthusiastic and amazed by Yosemite. I was told time and again by international visitors how lucky we were. I can only remember one old guy who was a photographer from Utah who was disappointed. He kept telling me how Grand Teton, Glacier and Yellowstone were better. Personal preference I suppose.

Europe has some really beautiful places (spent nine months in England and travel as much as I could while there). The natural beauty of the American West is unparalleled. We've got so many amazing national parks and Yosemite's one of the best.

[Unsettomati]

If California had one of the World's Natural Wonders, what National Park would it be?

Death Valley
Yosemite
Mt. Jacinto Peak
Big Sur Coast
Those really tall trees by NorCal's Coast (Redwoods?)
Lake Tahoe
South San Diego Wetlands

San Jacinto Peak is in a state park, not a national park.
There is no national park on the Big Sur coast.
Nor at Tahoe.
Nor in the San Diego wetlands.

If anything, I'd probably go with the redwoods or sequoias. Half Dome/Yosemite Valley would be a close second.

Originally Posted by I Love Buildings

I'd like to point out an honorable mention to Mt. Jacinto Peak for being one of the few places on Earth you can overlook both the ocean and the desert 10,000ft above sealevel while also seeing snow. On a clear day you can see the DTLA skyline 100 miles east believe it or not.

It's 'San Jacinto Peak'.

For those confused at the San Diego Wetlands, it's like a mini Florida-Everglade wildlife preserve right beside Imperial Beach.[/quote]

While they're nice, the wetlands of San Diego Bay are 'like a mini Everglades' in the same way as saying that the Santa Monica Mountains are 'like a mini Himalayas'. In other words, not at all.

[I Love Buildings]

^thanks for all the corrections. It will be useful for others interested.

It seems to me Yosemite is dominating the polls.

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I

Torrey Pines are unique just because of what they are. However, even San Diego doesn't think too much of them as they are the perfect native tree to plant but exotic Eucalyptus and Palms are preferred.

The reason that San Diegans don't grow Torrey Pines is that they ONLY survive in the very small micro-climate immediately surrounding Torrey Pines State Park (i.e. parts of Del Mar, La Jolla). Plant one in downtown, in Mission Valley, or El Cajon and it'll be dead in a year.

San Diegans don't have much choice when it comes to native trees that grow widely. Most of San Diego county is chapparal, and really our only native trees in the chaparral area are oaks. Thus, we supplement with trees like Eucalyptus, Palms, Calif. Peppers, and a thousand other trees.

Have a great weekend enjoying our state's beauty!

[astrologypandit01]

I'd like to point out an honorable mention to Mt. Jacinto Peak for being one of the few places on Earth you can overlook both the ocean and the desert 10,000ft above sealevel while also seeing snow. On a clear day you can see the DTLA skyline 100 miles east believe it or not.

For those confused at the San Diego Wetlands, it's like a mini Florida-Everglade wildlife preserve right beside Imperial Beach.

[sourdough]

Want to see a beautiful salt marsh reserve, the world's largest Torrey Pine and enjoy the World's Safest beach in one place?
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...+ca+salt+marsh
Carpinteria, CA - World's Largest Torrey Pine
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...s+safest+beach

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

The reason that San Diegans don't grow Torrey Pines is that they ONLY survive in the very small micro-climate immediately surrounding Torrey Pines State Park (i.e. parts of Del Mar, La Jolla). Plant one in downtown, in Mission Valley, or El Cajon and it'll be dead in a year.

World's largest Torrey Pine is in Carpinteria ,Ca.
http://www.californiacuriosities.com...t-torrey-pine/
Carpinteria, CA - World's Largest Torrey Pine