Start off by flying in early to San Francisco (if you have time to spend in SF, check out our san francisco guide). Pick up your rental car and head down along the PCH to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay for lunch. It is a pricy first stop for the trip, but you will make up for it with a super cheap dinner in Santa Cruz. Trust me, the view is SO WORTH IT. You will feel like you are in Scotland, not the Bay Area. Make sure to take the time to walk around and explore after lunch.
Next, continue heading South towards Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Be prepared to be stuck on really windy roads for almost an hour. Upon arrival, stop in to the visitor’s center to grab a map, and they will be able to highlight which trails are best suited for what you are looking for.
After taking in the beauty of the giant redwood trees, head to Santa Cruz to end the night. When you arrive, pick up some wine and snacks for a beach picnic for dinner. Start your picnic at the Beach Boardwalk, pick up some kettle corn, and pick a spot on the beach to settle in. For those who want dessert, Penny Ice Creamery is a MUST afterwards.
santa cruz to paso robles.
Today will be a long day, so feel free to sleep in a bit. Once you are ready to get moving, grab a quick coffee at Verve and then hit the road! Your first stop will be Monterey. I recommend walking down Coast Guard Pierand looking for dolphins and sea lions resting on the rocks. Then, continue your walk down Cannery Row and go to Alta Bakery. If you have time, the aquarium is INCREDIBLE as well.
Next, continue working Southbound and stop at Point Lobos State Park. The picturesque bay here was one of my favorite stops on the drive. Then, continue on and take a photo at the infamous Bixby Bridge. Hopefully you have worked up an appetite, because then it is time to stop at Big Sur Bakery. Nepenthe is another popular option, but I LOVE the quaintness of the bakery. From there, your final stop will be Piedras Blancas Rookery, where you will see thousands of elephant seals basking in the sun on the beach.
Finally, finish your day by driving to Paso Robles. If you make it before 5 p.m., make sure to stop into a winery or two. My favorite tasting room is Field Recordings. If you don’t have time, consider stopping by one before you leave the next day.
sequoia national park.
Then, we spent two full days hiking in Sequoia National Park. It is MASSIVE, so it is difficult to give advice for the park. There will be beautiful hiking wherever you end up, but you will mostly stick to hikes close to your cabin.
santa barbara.
After two full days of hiking, reward yourself with a nice brunch at Scarlett Begonia. All of the food is made fresh on site (including the ketchup!) Next, check out the Santa Barbara Courthouse. For those who want adventure, they will head to Red Rocks Swimming Hole to spend the day outside. It’s a short hike to a natural swimming spot with some fun cliffs to jump off. For those that want a more urban experience, spend the day wine tasting at various Santa Barbara wineries. I highly recommend Melville, Riverbench and Kunin Wines. All are in the Funk Zone. Finally, end your evening with a casual seafood dinner in Stearn’s Warf at Brophy Bros. Be prepared for about a 30-40 minute wait.
los angeles.
In the morning, head to LA. I recommend starting the day chilling in the eclectic neighborhood of Venice. Stroll along the beach, and then take scooters over to Abbot-Kinney Boulevard to see the stretch of coffee shops and boutiques. For brunch, I highly recommend Rose. It was probably my favorite meal of the whole trip (and we saw Arnold Schwarzenegger there!) Then, head to the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art. Finally, end your evening by driving to Beverly Hills and down Rodeo Drive. There are a bunch of great restaurants in the area for you to check out, but I would highly recommend Laurel Hardware.
