Skip that, do this: Hidden gems on California's most scenic drives

ROUTE 395

"Route 395 runs east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is full of superlatives," Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta says. One such stop is the big yellow dome on 146 South Highway 395 in Cartago. The fun little stop has metal cacti and a T-rex skeleton. less ROUTE 395

"Route 395 runs east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is full of superlatives," Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta says. One such stop is the big yellow dome on 146 South ... more Photo: Joseph Sohm/Getty Images Photo: Joseph Sohm/Getty Images Image 1 of / 75 Caption Close Skip that, do this: Hidden gems on California's most scenic drives 1 / 75 Back to Gallery

Whether you're a local or a visitor from out of town, you've probably heard the same lineup of California's most scenic routes: the 17-Mile Drive, the drive to Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, the circuit around Lake Tahoe.

Those roads are all stunning, don't get us wrong. But because they're so stunning, they're often crowded, leading to less-than-lovely excursions. The iconic drive to Bixby Bridge, featured on HBO's "Big Little Lies," is so busy that on one recent holiday weekend, there was miles-long gridlock to get there.

In the spirit of diversifying the best things to drive to see in California — and because there's no reason to pay over $10 more than once in your life to see Pebble Beach — we asked Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta for some of her favorite lesser-known gems. Among her picks were lots of quieter spots, perfect for learning California history and getting away from crowds.

"Route 395 runs east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is full of superlatives," she suggests. "You can start near snowcapped mountains and end in Death Valley. Highway 49 travels through Gold Country, which offers as much outdoor recreation as it does Gold Rush history."

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Beteta also recommends California's many state parks, some of which are lightly visited and easily accessible even in busy summer months. Among her top picks are McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park on Highway 89, Bodie State Park in the Eastern Sierra and Red Rock Canyon State Park, an hour and a half east of Bakersfield.

"You really have to see to believe," she says.

Looking for some fun off the beaten path? You can learn more about the great hidden gems along California's scenic drives in the gallery above.

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Katie Dowd is an SFGATE Senior Digital Editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd