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Big Sur is terrific, with lots of beautiful rugged and ritzy places that a google search will quickly turn up. Might I suggest Cone Peak. It's 5000 feet above sea level and just 3 miles from the beach, with a road almost all the way to the top. (you can camp on the side of Nacimiento-Fergusson road overlooking the coast, too). Great entry point to the Ventana Wilderness if you find time for backpacking, even in December. Inland from Big Sur and equally south of SF, Pinnacles was recently made a national park. It can be fully explored in a couple days and, aside from the stunning volcanic scenery, is the first place the Califirnia Condor was reintroduced after very nearly going extinct. These days you can spot quite a few of them if you're willing to wake up early and watch the sunrise from the summit. The park attracts a crowd, and it's worth reserving a camp site early, but it's far less hectic than some of the better known parks. Going east from SF, the Sierras has a number of wilderness areas that attract a fraction of the people you'd find in Yosemite (the valley is an absolute must-see, but it's a zoo outside of winter. The outdoors will require more gear in December, but the snow capped valley rim is one of the most beautiful places I've seen). If the snow is late in falling, I'm partial to Emigrant Wilderness - the same granite as Yosemite, none of the crowds. South of Yosemite, look into King's Canyon. Both should have snow in December, which is a good reminder to check seasonal road closures if you intend a scenic route across the Sierras. North of Yosemite, highways 120, 4, 88, and others typically close. North of SF, Mendocino National Forest has an abundance of dirt roads accessing enormously underutilised public spaces. There's a drive-in campground just south of Snow Mountain (in the Snow Mtn wilderness) that's stunning and empty. Despite the name, it doesn't get much snow. Closer to the city, Sugarloaf above the Sonoma valley makes for a great low-key 1 or 2 day trip that can be worked into visiting a winery or two. The Sonoma coast north of SF also has a lot of beautiful places. Check out Salt Point. A bit out of the way for Vegas, though. Death Valley is mostly on the way to LV and in December will be cool enough to stand. These are a few of my favorites that are varying degrees off the beaten path but all incredible natural places. |