28 Reasons a California Road Trip is Good For The Soul!
Our nation is full of so many beautiful
wonders that most people have never seen. Why travel outside our country
when it is do dangerous? Support the communities within our borders.
The California Coast road trip is essential to visiting the USA or west
coast. From tip to tip its cities, coastal towns, and nature are
unmatched
Take a road trip!
Take a road trip!
Hotels Nearby.
The cypress “tree tunnel”
Point Reyes
Located in between the Pacific Ocean and Tomales Bay (and inside of the Point Reyes National Seashore) you’ll find this Monterey cypress “tree tunnel” that leads to an old Point Reyes wireless telegraphy receiving station built in the 1920s. Doesn’t matter if you catch it with a patch of early morning fog enveloping either end, or with the afternoon light breaking through its interlocked branches, either way, you’ll feel like you’ve won the damn day.
From Yosemite and Big Sur, to Joshua Tree and Santa Barbara,
California is home to some of the most beautiful places on the West
Coast, nay, the country, nay, THE WORLD… OK, reverse nay, still just the
country. It’s beautiful enough that no matter how many Half Dome hikes
you take, you’re still never even going to scratch the surface of all
the Instagrammable wonder that the Golden State has to offer.Located in between the Pacific Ocean and Tomales Bay (and inside of the Point Reyes National Seashore) you’ll find this Monterey cypress “tree tunnel” that leads to an old Point Reyes wireless telegraphy receiving station built in the 1920s. Doesn’t matter if you catch it with a patch of early morning fog enveloping either end, or with the afternoon light breaking through its interlocked branches, either way, you’ll feel like you’ve won the damn day.
Point Arena
Named after the spherical sandstone creations, which look like bowling balls (and also, just regular balls), Bowling Ball Beach is located way the hell up Hwy 1. If the tide level is just right, this is one of the most SWTF (Seriously What The F*ck) things in California.
Hotels in the area – Point Arena – 6 Hotels Named after the spherical sandstone creations, which look like bowling balls (and also, just regular balls), Bowling Ball Beach is located way the hell up Hwy 1. If the tide level is just right, this is one of the most SWTF (Seriously What The F*ck) things in California.
Lake Berryessa
The California drought has kinda ruined this one, but when the water levels are right and you’re near the east side of the Monticello Dam at Lake Berryessa, this open bell-mouth spillway (basically what lets them release flows of dam water into Putah Creek) is one of the coolest things you’ll ever stare into (from a very, VERY safe distance) in your life. Creepy bonus: The lake was the site of one of the Zodiac murders!
Laguna Beach
Turns out, Orange County’s only “lighthouse” (known as “Pirate Tower” to locals) was actually a 60ft structure built in 1926 to help California State Senator William E. Brown get from his home on the top of the cliff to the beach below (there’s a metal staircase inside).
Located about an hour southeast of Palm Springs, this is hands down one of the most unique California “hikes” you’ll ever go on, largely because it’s a LADDER hike (!) through a narrow and actually really refreshingly cold gorge formed years ago by the San Andreas Fault. The whole “Painted Canyons” name is thanks to the walls, which are washed with pinks, reds, grays, browns, and greens — especially when you first pull into the canyon. Bonus: A few years back, some wonderful person replaced the wood ladders with metal ones. (Thank God.)
Known to geology nerds as a “karst,” the Natural Bridges were formed when the rushing waters of Coyote Creek eroded through a layer of soluble bedrock and created this Aladdin-caliber Cave of Wonders. Best part? If you really want to explore this thing (and you can), you’re gonna need a bathing suit. Basically if you’re going to California Gold Country, you’ll want to also be going to here.
Steven Spielberg chose this as the location for The Lost World: Jurassic Park because 1) holy crap look at it, 2) it’s an international Biosphere Reserve (what does that even mean???), and 3) it’s a narrow gorge carved out by Home Creek with walls hugged by seven types of ferns, some of which date back 325 million years. It’s a short trail, so double back on it. Twice. OK fine, thrice.
The California drought has kinda ruined this one, but when the water levels are right and you’re near the east side of the Monticello Dam at Lake Berryessa, this open bell-mouth spillway (basically what lets them release flows of dam water into Putah Creek) is one of the coolest things you’ll ever stare into (from a very, VERY safe distance) in your life. Creepy bonus: The lake was the site of one of the Zodiac murders!
Laguna Beach
Turns out, Orange County’s only “lighthouse” (known as “Pirate Tower” to locals) was actually a 60ft structure built in 1926 to help California State Senator William E. Brown get from his home on the top of the cliff to the beach below (there’s a metal staircase inside).
Painted Canyons
MeccaLocated about an hour southeast of Palm Springs, this is hands down one of the most unique California “hikes” you’ll ever go on, largely because it’s a LADDER hike (!) through a narrow and actually really refreshingly cold gorge formed years ago by the San Andreas Fault. The whole “Painted Canyons” name is thanks to the walls, which are washed with pinks, reds, grays, browns, and greens — especially when you first pull into the canyon. Bonus: A few years back, some wonderful person replaced the wood ladders with metal ones. (Thank God.)
Natural Bridges
VallecitoKnown to geology nerds as a “karst,” the Natural Bridges were formed when the rushing waters of Coyote Creek eroded through a layer of soluble bedrock and created this Aladdin-caliber Cave of Wonders. Best part? If you really want to explore this thing (and you can), you’re gonna need a bathing suit. Basically if you’re going to California Gold Country, you’ll want to also be going to here.
Pfeiffer Beach
Big Sur
McWay Falls (NorCal tidefall No. 2!!) gets a lot of the Big Sur attention — as it should, it’s freaking ridiculous — as does Bixby Bridge (also great), but Pfeiffer Beach might actually be the gem-ier gem. Not only does it have THE INSANE ROCK FORMATION PICTURED ABOVE (get an Insta of the keyhole at sunset if you want to set a new likes record), but it also has purple sand. Yep. Purple. Sand.
McWay Falls (NorCal tidefall No. 2!!) gets a lot of the Big Sur attention — as it should, it’s freaking ridiculous — as does Bixby Bridge (also great), but Pfeiffer Beach might actually be the gem-ier gem. Not only does it have THE INSANE ROCK FORMATION PICTURED ABOVE (get an Insta of the keyhole at sunset if you want to set a new likes record), but it also has purple sand. Yep. Purple. Sand.
Fern Canyon
Gold Bluffs BeachSteven Spielberg chose this as the location for The Lost World: Jurassic Park because 1) holy crap look at it, 2) it’s an international Biosphere Reserve (what does that even mean???), and 3) it’s a narrow gorge carved out by Home Creek with walls hugged by seven types of ferns, some of which date back 325 million years. It’s a short trail, so double back on it. Twice. OK fine, thrice.
The Seven Teacups
Johnsondale
One of the coolest natural wonders of the Sierras, the Seven Teacups has been described as one of the world’s (WORLD’S!) most spectacular canyoneering challenges. And that’s the rub on this one — you need, like, ropes and stuff to climb it. But if you do (or find a friend who knows what the hell they’re doing and can carry you up or something) you’ll be rewarded on the way back down, which people have been known to take inflatable killer whales and alligators down (just, duh, make sure the water depth is OK before you kill yourself). This is a must-read if you’re gonna actually try this thing. And you should. Because holy shit look at this thing guys. LOOK AT IT.
Hotels in the area – Johnsondale – 9 HotelsOne of the coolest natural wonders of the Sierras, the Seven Teacups has been described as one of the world’s (WORLD’S!) most spectacular canyoneering challenges. And that’s the rub on this one — you need, like, ropes and stuff to climb it. But if you do (or find a friend who knows what the hell they’re doing and can carry you up or something) you’ll be rewarded on the way back down, which people have been known to take inflatable killer whales and alligators down (just, duh, make sure the water depth is OK before you kill yourself). This is a must-read if you’re gonna actually try this thing. And you should. Because holy shit look at this thing guys. LOOK AT IT.
Glass Beach
Fort Bragg
While years of dumping Fort Bragg garbage along the coastline in the ’50s and ’60s was mostly the worst thing ever, it wasn’t totally and entirely, thanks to Glass Beach — a beach filled almost entirely with sea glass. Just don’t take any of it with you — because of souvenir hunters and the waves (which are constantly grinding down the glass), it’s actually diminishing. Don’t be that guy.
Hotels in the area – Fort Bragg – 31 HotelsWhile years of dumping Fort Bragg garbage along the coastline in the ’50s and ’60s was mostly the worst thing ever, it wasn’t totally and entirely, thanks to Glass Beach — a beach filled almost entirely with sea glass. Just don’t take any of it with you — because of souvenir hunters and the waves (which are constantly grinding down the glass), it’s actually diminishing. Don’t be that guy.
Mossbrae Falls
Dunsmuir
Yep. That’s in California. One of the most scenic waterfalls in the Golden State, Mossbrae Falls are fed by springs, which course down a moss-covered canyon wall and create this eye-bulger. Just make sure you use the right access point — one of the trails is closed.
Hotels close by – Dunsmuir – 17 HotelsYep. That’s in California. One of the most scenic waterfalls in the Golden State, Mossbrae Falls are fed by springs, which course down a moss-covered canyon wall and create this eye-bulger. Just make sure you use the right access point — one of the trails is closed.
Enchanted Forest
Shady Dell
This way WAY Northern California redwood forest on the Lost Coast is like any other redwood forest, except it’s known as the Enchanted Forest (!!!) and is home to insane candelabra trees and the three fairy godmothers who’re trying to keep Princess Aurora safe. Maybe. Seriously though, the Lost Coast is one of the true gems of California, and this right here is one of the true gems of the Lost Coast.
Hotels in the area – Enchanted Forest – 26 HotelsThis way WAY Northern California redwood forest on the Lost Coast is like any other redwood forest, except it’s known as the Enchanted Forest (!!!) and is home to insane candelabra trees and the three fairy godmothers who’re trying to keep Princess Aurora safe. Maybe. Seriously though, the Lost Coast is one of the true gems of California, and this right here is one of the true gems of the Lost Coast.
Poppy Reserve
Antelope Valley
Fields of the California state flower, literally for as far as you can see. It’s one of those things that makes you feel incredibly small in the grand scheme of things.
Hotels in the area – Antelope Valley – 6 HotelsFields of the California state flower, literally for as far as you can see. It’s one of those things that makes you feel incredibly small in the grand scheme of things.
Zabriskie Point
Death Valley
Ninety-nine percent of Death Valley is super death-y. But 1% — this 1% — comes alive. Named after a VP of an old borax company who used 20-mule teams to transport borax (Wikipedia-five!), it’s maybe the most beautiful-looking rock place in the entire state. Also it was featured prominently on U2’s The Joshua Tree album cover. So there’s that.
Hotels in the area – Death Valley – 6 HotelsNinety-nine percent of Death Valley is super death-y. But 1% — this 1% — comes alive. Named after a VP of an old borax company who used 20-mule teams to transport borax (Wikipedia-five!), it’s maybe the most beautiful-looking rock place in the entire state. Also it was featured prominently on U2’s The Joshua Tree album cover. So there’s that.
Inspiration Point
Anacapa Island
It might look like Hawaii, but it’s actually a tree-less uninhabited island 2,400 miles away from there in the good old Golden State, and just 12 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. After grabbing a boat over to Anacapa from Ventura or Oxnard Harbors, you can start the relatively easy 2-mile figure-eight loop hike that takes you past various sights (including the last permanent lighthouse built on the West Coast) and overlooks, but none as awe-inducing as Inspiration Point, where you’ll get a view of a couple of islets and the heftier Santa Cruz Island off in the distance.
Hotels in the area – Ventura – 51 HotelsIt might look like Hawaii, but it’s actually a tree-less uninhabited island 2,400 miles away from there in the good old Golden State, and just 12 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. After grabbing a boat over to Anacapa from Ventura or Oxnard Harbors, you can start the relatively easy 2-mile figure-eight loop hike that takes you past various sights (including the last permanent lighthouse built on the West Coast) and overlooks, but none as awe-inducing as Inspiration Point, where you’ll get a view of a couple of islets and the heftier Santa Cruz Island off in the distance.
Hetch Hetchy Valley
Yosemite
You’ve probably already checked out many of Yosemite’s heavy hitters, but you may well have skipped this out-of-the-way valley tucked away in the northwest corner of the park, a good hour-plus drive from the Yosemite Valley floor. It comes complete with multiple lakes, meadows, waterfalls, soaring peaks, a (somewhat controversial) reservoir, and plenty of excellent wildflower viewing in the spring. Best of all, thanks to its remote-ish location, hiking trails are often gloriously uncrowded.
Hotels in the area – Yosemite – 174 HotelsYou’ve probably already checked out many of Yosemite’s heavy hitters, but you may well have skipped this out-of-the-way valley tucked away in the northwest corner of the park, a good hour-plus drive from the Yosemite Valley floor. It comes complete with multiple lakes, meadows, waterfalls, soaring peaks, a (somewhat controversial) reservoir, and plenty of excellent wildflower viewing in the spring. Best of all, thanks to its remote-ish location, hiking trails are often gloriously uncrowded.
Kelso Dunes
Mojave Desert
What happens when sand blows in for 25,000 years? It piles up until you’ve got 45 square miles of sand dunes that reach 700ft tall and an area that sure does look like it would make a great backdrop for the next Star Wars movie (and, actually, scenes from the original were shot not all that far away). Just driving through is cool enough, but you can also take a marked 3-mile hike and do this trippy “singing sand” thing with your feet while you’re at it.
Hotels in the area – Mojave – 10 HotelsWhat happens when sand blows in for 25,000 years? It piles up until you’ve got 45 square miles of sand dunes that reach 700ft tall and an area that sure does look like it would make a great backdrop for the next Star Wars movie (and, actually, scenes from the original were shot not all that far away). Just driving through is cool enough, but you can also take a marked 3-mile hike and do this trippy “singing sand” thing with your feet while you’re at it.
Burney Falls
Burney
You don’t have to worry about catching these falls on a good day as they pretty much never stop flowing thanks to the underground springs that feed into them from above. At 129ft-high and 250ft-wide, the whole thing is pretty massive, flowing 100 million gallons of water every day into Lake Britton. Bonus: The falls sit within pine-dotted McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, a solid spot for hiking, fishing, and camping.
Hotels in the area – Burney – 4 HotelsYou don’t have to worry about catching these falls on a good day as they pretty much never stop flowing thanks to the underground springs that feed into them from above. At 129ft-high and 250ft-wide, the whole thing is pretty massive, flowing 100 million gallons of water every day into Lake Britton. Bonus: The falls sit within pine-dotted McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, a solid spot for hiking, fishing, and camping.
Indian Canyons
Palm Springs
If you’re looking to actually see an oasis, this is the real-deal. A bubbling stream in the middle of a canyon preserve just a few miles from Downtown Palm Springs keeps this cluster of thousands of palm trees growing and green all year long, making it one of the world’s largest fan palm oases. You’ll have to pay nine bucks to get into the tribal-owned preserve, so spend the day hiking one or more of the multiple trails, passing pools, streams, waterfalls, and maybe even some bighorn sheep and tarantulas (for real, we’ve seen them) along the way.
Hotels in the area – Palm Springs – 205 HotelsIf you’re looking to actually see an oasis, this is the real-deal. A bubbling stream in the middle of a canyon preserve just a few miles from Downtown Palm Springs keeps this cluster of thousands of palm trees growing and green all year long, making it one of the world’s largest fan palm oases. You’ll have to pay nine bucks to get into the tribal-owned preserve, so spend the day hiking one or more of the multiple trails, passing pools, streams, waterfalls, and maybe even some bighorn sheep and tarantulas (for real, we’ve seen them) along the way.
Bumpass Hell
Lassen Volcanic National Park
It may not smell beautiful thanks to the
sulfur, but as the largest geothermal area in the park, the scene is
pretty stunning with boiling mud pots, active steam vents, geysers, and
color-stained soil and rocks. And if you’re wondering about the awful
name, the place was named after Kendall Vanhook Bumpass, a miner who, in
the 1860s, slipped into one of the mud pots and had to have his leg
amputated as a result of the burns. So, you know, stay on the trails.
Hotels in the area – Lassen Peak – 7 Hotels
Spring Mountain
Napa Valley
Once you take the 5-mile drive from the
valley floor below, you’ll be 2,600ft up, on the eastern side of the
Maycamas mountain range, where the views of the mountains, rolling hills
treetops and vineyards in the distance are pretty insane. And — bonus —
you’ll get to taste wine afterward as the Spring Mountain District sits
right on the border of Napa and Sonoma Counties and is its own
appellation, home to a few dozen (really good) wineries.
Hotels in the area –Napa Valley – 157 Hotels
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
Rancho Palos Verdes
This secluded cove on the Palos Verdes
coastline feels a gazillion miles away from Los Angeles in part because
it’s about 30 miles from Downtown, which actually equals a gazillion in
LA freeway math. It encompasses a couple rocky beaches, clear tide pools
featuring the park’s namesake, and even an actual cave (exciting!). You
can traverse the area via multiple trails to the top of the bluffs
(look out for Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Wayfarers Chapel), and back
down to the pools. Note that part of one pool is currently closed
thanks to unstable cliffs (nothing like ruining a perfectly good day
with a cliff falling on you), but there are others to check out, so
bring those funky-looking water shoes if you have ’em.
Hotels in the area – Rancho Palos Verdes – 74 Hotels
Cap Rock
Joshua Tree
There’s amazing scenery and those funky
Joshua Trees everywhere you turn in this 800,000 acre national park that
blends two different deserts, but visitors often stay closer to the
edges of the park. For this wonder, you’ll want to head deep into the
park to check out this groovy-looking rock formation with a boulder
sitting on top of it (which at certain angles looks like it’s defying
gravity) against a backdrop of JTs. You’ll get the most beautifulness
for your buck in the early AM. It’s also become a makeshift memorial to
musician Gram Parsons, since his remains are buried there after a couple
of his friends stole his body from the airport and incinerated it in
the park. It’s a long story…
Hotels in the area – Joshua Tree – 12 Hotels
Black Sands Beach
Sausalito
Yes, this beach on a pristine cove is
adjacent to one of the country’s biggest metropolises, but since access
requires a decent trek down (and then an even more strenuous one back
up), it manages to stay pretty desolate. And the beach is actually made
up black sand (but you knew that), so it heats up nicely, providing a
little warmth in the face of those blustery NorCal days. Which is maybe
why you’ll probably spot some nudists here and there… so at least take
your socks off.
Hotels in the area – Sausalito – 19 Hotels
Secret Sea Caves
Cabrillo National Monument
These super-cool oceanfront caves beyond the tide pools and cliffs within this San Diego national park
have technically been closed to the public for years, and we’re not
telling you to break any rules or laws, but people seem to still keep
going to them at low tide and posting videos like these, photos like these, and instructional posts like these. Just saying.
Hotels nearby – Cabrillo National Monument – 29 Hotels
Rainbow Falls
Mammoth Lakes
You’re pretty much guaranteed to see a
rainbow (but no promise of a unicorn) if you time it right at this 100ft
waterfall, thanks to all the mist the falls put out. Your best bet at
getting some good rainbow pics is midday when the sun is high in the
sky. The length of hike to get there varies and depends on where you
park, but figure at least a 3-mile round-trip… and make sure to continue
on to check out the lower falls too.
Hotels in the area – Mammoth Lakes – 993 Hotels
Hidden Beach
Klamath
Rugged and rocky bluffs covered in lush
spruces? Check. Washed-up driftwood strewn about? Check. A giant rock
jutting out of the ocean with a pine tree growing on it? Yep, that too.
The thing is, this beach is not just hidden, but more or less completely
off the radar of most visitors to Redwood National Park, where the
secluded spot can be reached only via some coastal trail hikes with nary a redwood tree in sight.
Hotels nearby – Klamath – 6 HotelsMore Road Trip Remedies To Keep You Well.
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