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Pinnacles National Monument Carrizo Plain National MonumentHanfordArroyo Grand                     

<b>Pinnacles National Monument</b><br>
Central California<br><br>

<b>Distance:</b> 272 miles one-way<br><br>

Pinnacles, wedged between U.S. Highway 25 and Highway 101 near Soledad, Calif., is an otherworldly place of jutting rock spires and twisted towers that looks as though it was wrenched from dinosaur times. "Wrenched" is fitting: The park's craggy upthrusts are the partial remains of an ancient volcano. It's a landscape in which a pterodactyl might choose to make its home, and thus a bird almost as rare (and with an impressive 10-foot wingspan) would feel cozy here too.<br><br>

-- Tom Bentley<br><br>

Read more: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-condor-20100425,0,4891947.story">At Pinnacles, looking in on a condor nursery</a>

Pinnacles National Monument

( Gavin Emmons / National Park Service )

Pinnacles park officials discovered the couple's chick was dead in its egg, so they eventually replaced it with a viable egg from San Diego Wild Animal Park.

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