If you’ve lived in Southern California for a while (like your entire life), you may be under the impression that you’ve seen it all. Well, we’re here to assure you that is simply not possible! There’s SO much to see in our beautiful region of the Golden State. This 288-mile road trip will take you to some of the greatest hidden gems in SoCal, traversing everything from the mountains to the coast. There’s always something new to see and explore, so plan a day or even an entire weekend to tackle this trip of unique places to visit in SoCal. Add these stops to your SoCal bucket list because they are bound to ignite your sense of adventure.

The trip covers over 280 miles and is about six hours of driving time. Check out the interactive Google Map HERE to guide you - feel free to add your own stops along the way!

We're starting off our Hidden Gems Road Trip at one of the most unusual man-made wonders in Southern California: Rubel Castle in Glendora.

The small town of Glendora is where you'll discover one of the strangest "castles" you've ever seen. Built entirely by hand by Michael Rubel and hundreds of volunteers, the bizarre structure is made from local river rock and salvaged materials. It's the perfect example of something called "folk architecture", but it's a lot more than an unusual piece of art! The entire property is home to many historic items and unexpected treasures. You could spend hours exploring it all. Learn more about the Rubel Castle and what you'll find here by checking out our previous article on it.

Next, we're headed to the mountains to visit a wonderfully wild destination at Big Bear Alpine Zoo!

You'll enjoy beautiful alpine scenery and plenty of fresh mountain air when you visit the town of Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains. It's here that you'll also find the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, a one-of-a-kind zoo unlike any other in SoCal. This zoo is dedicated to housing and rehabilitating animals who have been harmed, wounded, or injured in the wild. With a 90% rehabilitation success rate, there's no denying that this zoo is doing some excellent work in making animals' lives better. Support a local zoo with an awesome mission when you visit this wildlife park in the mountains. Read more about Big Bear Alpine Zoo here.

After visiting with animals, we'll head to the coast to catch some rays. Located in Laguna Beach, Thousand Steps Beach perfectly embodies SoCal's coastal beauty.

To get there, you'll descend a staircase to a tucked-away beach where you'll find exceptional beauty and tranquility. Don't worry, it's not actually a thousand steps - more like a couple hundred. It's quite a climb back up from the beach, though, so prepare for a bit of a leg workout! Still, the beach's quiet beauty and stunning views are worth every step. Learn more about Thousand Steps Beach and how to find it here.

After soaking up some sun at the beach, we're ready to hit the road to find a delightfully hidden waterfall near Lake Elsinore.

Ortega Falls is a gem of a waterfall that requires a short, half-mile hike to find it. The hike may be short, but you'll be immersed in beauty every step of the way. Surrounded by towering rock formations and lush greenery, the area is a wonderful escape from the madness of the city. And the view of Ortega Falls does not disappoint! The cascade is at its best after a good downpour of rain, but it's known to run even in the dry months. Read up on the hike to Ortega Falls here.

Ready for some more fun on the water? Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is a gorgeous 190‐acre park where there is a lot to see and do!

Home to recycled water lakes that are stocked with sport fish year-round, Santee Lakes is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. There's something for everyone here, whether you enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, camping, or simply a nice walk in a beautiful setting. Amenities at Santee Lakes include camping, cabin rentals, fishing, boating, playgrounds, walking trails, facility rentals, special events, and over 200 bird species. You could spend an entire day here and still not feel like you've had enough time to appreciate all that this park has to offer. Learn more about what this underrated destination has to offer throughout the year.

For our final destination, we're visiting a secluded open-ceiling sea cave in San Diego that never fails to leave us in awe.

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is home to awe-inspiring coastal beauty, hidden beaches, and tucked-away sea caves, like the one simply known as Sunset Cliffs Cave. The cave is only accessible during low tide, so you'll have to time your visit accordingly if you want to actually hike into the cave. However, it's well worth taking the extra time to plan, as there's nothing quite like looking up at the blue sky through the cave's breathtaking open ceiling! Be sure to read more about this natural wonder in California and how you can see it.

There are so many fun things to do in SoCal, we’ve only just gotten started. This road trip is a good way to get out there and discover more of what makes California so interesting. Have you been to any of these hidden gems in SoCal? What’s your favorite stop on this road trip? Sound off in the comments!