<p>If you live in the Golden State, or even if you’re just coming for a visit, there’s no excuse for not seeing the wonderful sites of California. One of the best ways to experience nature, and one that is often closer to the big cities than you might expect, is hiking in the State Parks. Southern California offers many short day hikes which mean outdoor recreation, a bright sun, fresh air, and as can be expected, beautiful scenery. One option is the beach, like Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Watch the surfers, the suntanners on their beach blankets, and the 700-foot long pier. If you’d rather get away from the sand for a day, go to the ranch of the cowboy legend Will Rogers State Historic Park. In the Santa Monica Mountains, you can easily find a great trail to the top of Inspiration Point that provides great views of Santa Monica Bay, the San Gabriel Mountains, and Catalina Island. Another easy hike is Malibu Creek State Park, a place that used to be inhabited by Bob Hope and Ronald Reagan. The amazing rock gorge and man-made lake is a great place for visitors to follow through and explore popular film-making areas-from M.A.S.H. to Swiss Family Robinson!</p>