Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, California

© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motio

A window to the Pacific. Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz, California

Natural Bridges State Beach is a state park located in Santa Cruz, California. Initially, there were three bridges carved out by the sea, until one collapsed in 1905. In 1980, a second bridge collapsed, leaving behind the arch that we see today. The erosion of the waves is relentless, so eventually the final arch will collapse. Beyond the bridges, the park is also a seasonal home to the migratory monarch butterfly. If you time it right, you can see them fluttering through the air or clustered together in eucalyptus groves. The Natural Bridges State Beach also houses monarch butterflies, making this place even more worthy of being on your list of places to visit.