Lassen Volcanic National Park is a little slice of Yellowstone discretely located in northern California. Lassen Peak dominates the landscape and is also the largest plug dome volcano in the world. Thanks to the volcanic activity, many forms of thermal features can be found in the area. Manzanita Lake is a pleasant lake with trails around its perimeter that offer fantastic views of the peak.

Yosemite National Park has been inspiring people since before the park's inception. The enormously deep Yosemite Valley is filled with huge waterfalls pouring over the granite cliffs. These same cliffs attract climbers and general travel enthusiasts alike, while the entire area is ripe with hiking for all skill levels. The park was also an infinite abundance of creativity and inspiration for John Muir, who helped pioneer and further and the national park idea.