By the time you reach 50, you know all too well that there are days when happiness comes easy — and there are days when you have to fight to achieve anything at all. Sometimes, the bad days turn into bad weeks or bad months. Still, no matter what is getting you down, you can always overcome your negative thoughts and emotions by celebrating life.

Celebrating life is more than simply living — it is appreciating your current place, valuing the people around you, and loving who you are today. You can celebrate life in small ways on even the most mundane days by taking time to mediate on your privileges, but one of the most satisfying ways to celebrate life is to explore the world and bask in places of beauty.

California is one of the most diverse and naturally picturesque states in the U.S., which makes it an excellent place to discover life’s loveliness. While you work through your bad times, you should seek out these wonderful places in California to celebrate life.

1. Alamere Falls

Though Alamere Falls isn’t as broad as Niagara Falls or as tall as Angel Falls, its placement on the coast makes this “tidefall” a rare and stunning sight. Plus, the coastal waterfall is only reachable from an 8.5-mile round-trip hike on the Coast Trail in Point Reyes, so Alamere Falls is more an enduring experience than a simple vista.

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