What's the attraction: Jack London, author of books such as “The Call of the Wild” and “White Fang” and a noted adventurer, built his Beauty Ranch in Sonoma County. Part of the ranch is now home to Jack London State Historic Park, where there’s plenty to keep visitors busy. Jack London SHP is on the list of California parks set to close in June 2012 due to budget cuts, so be sure to see it before it’s too late.

For the history buff: Jack London’s wife Charmian built the House of Happy Walls in his honor after he died. Now it houses a museum that displays photos of London’s world travels, a model of the Snark, his sailing ketch, his office, including the desk where he wrote many of his works, and more. Many of the furnishings on display in the House of Happy Walls were designed for the Wolf House, London’s dream home which burned down just after its completion in 1913.