Spanish-flavoured San Diego County is brimming with opportunities for watersports. Other attractions include numerous museums, as well as historic attractions such as 18th-century Spanish missions and the Cabrillo National Monument , which commemorates the 1542 landing of Spanish explorers. Moving inland from the south coast, California's warm Deserts Region is an area of expansive landscapes, brilliant skies, traces of pioneer history and glittering resort cities. Natural phenomena abound - from the solitude of Death Valley National Monument to the vast Joshua Tree National Monument . In spring, the desert explodes with displays of wild flowers.
Wildlife ranges from migrating waterfowl and big horn sheep to sidewinder snakes and eagles.
This is a land of contrasts, where visitors can enjoy the quiet pleasures of the back country one day and experience the excitement of a sunny resort in the Coachella Valley the next. Although the land is arid, reservoirs provide irrigation. Other options include trekking ancient Native American lands, boating down the Colorado River , rock-hounding, fishing on the Salton Sea , watching wildlife in a nature reserve, exploring a rustic ghost town or driving along historic Route 66 . California's natural diversity is significantly greater than that found in many nations of the world, a fact best appreciated by exploring the State Parks . These 275 parks preserve California's unique natural resources for posterity while offering an abundance of recreational and educational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, bicycling and camping.