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The 17th of the 21 missions founded by Franciscans in California, San Fernando was established in 1797 to supply food for El Pueblo de Los Angeles. The mission church is an exact replica of the original, destroyed in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. The adjacent convento (living quarters) is the state’s largest surviving adobe structure.

Heavy flooding forced the fourth of the California missions to relocate to this spot only five years after it was founded in 1771. Though struck twice by earthquakes, the mission prospered with the help of Indian converts, many of whom are buried here. The grounds are peppered with fountains and fireplaces. A small museum has other exhibits.

Named after William Mulholland, the architect of the Los Angeles aqueduct, this quintessential LA road winds for about 25 miles (40 km) along a Santa Monica Mountains ridge from Hollywood to the western San Fernando Valley. On clear days, the panoramic views are truly stunning.

This folk art masterpiece is a whimsical trio of spires, adorned with rainbow-colored pieces of tile, glass, pottery, shells, and other scavenged materials. The sculpture, completed in 1954, represents the life’s work of Italian immigrant Simon Rodia. Located in a high-crime neighborhood, avoid after dark.

The Holy Grail for roller coaster junkies, Six Flags has more ways to catapult, spin, loop, spiral, and twist than you or your stomach can imagine. Favorite white-knuckle rides include X, the world’s first four-dimensional coaster, and Super-man: The Escape, which has you free-falling for 6.5 seconds.

This graceful “Mediterranean” town with its Spanish-style architecture and villa-studded hillsides is imbued with an unpretentious charm. With a stately mission and historical adobes, it is also a must visit for wine connoisseurs. Head for the tasting rooms of the wine country around Santa Ynez, a 45-minute drive away.

Ventura’s revitalized Main Street is a fun place to browse through antiques and second-hand stores and for a look inside the Mission San Buenaventura. The town is the gateway to the magnificent Channel Islands National Park. Boat excursions to the islands leave from Ventura Harbor year-round.

The picturesque setting of this friendly seaside resort has captivated artists for over a century. In summer, Laguna hosts three major art festivals, including the Pageant of the Masters, which recreates well-known paintings as living tableaux using a cast of costumed locals. The Laguna Art Museum showcases vintage and contemporary California landscapes.

This memorial to the 37th US president (1913–94) includes a museum, gardens, and the restored 1910 farmhouse where he was born. High-tech exhibits focus on Nixon’s achievements, but also include a gallery about Watergate. A recreation of the Lincoln Sitting Room, Nixon’s favorite in the White House, is another highlight.

A chunk of the Berlin Wall, a cruise missile, and a recreated Oval Office are the highlights of this museum dedicated to the 40th US president (b.1911). Exhibits trace Reagan’s life from his Illinois childhood, through his Hollywood career to his political ascent, first as California governor, then as president during the waning Cold War years.