California Summer Getaways

L.A. Conservancy's annual series of classic films screens in the historic theatres of downtown Los Angeles. For some, it's the only way you'll get to see their lavish interiors.

A trip to the lake is always a good summer activity, and you'll find Lake County refreshingly uncrowded.

Summer is wildflower season in Mendocino, making an already scenic coastline even more attractive.

This northern California volcanic park is best visited in summer, before it gets covered in snow.

For the iconic California summer beach atmosphere, you can't beat Pismo Beach.

This luxury, high country camp is only open in the summer.

John Muir called it a rival of Yosemite, but it's much less crowded than its sister park to the north. In summer, you can drive all the way down into Kings Canyon, which is by some measures the deepest canyon in North America.

The Perseid meteor showers occur in mid August, with as many as 60 meteors per hour streaking through the sky. Death Valley, Big Sur, Mendocino and locations along Scenic Highway 395 are some of the best places to see it. Check the exact dates for this year.