Every stop’s a photo op on this dreamy California road trip — think sunrise surf, redwood forests, neon diners, and cliffside sunsets you’ll never forget.
California’s blend of nature, ocean, and local charm are an immersive journey connecting the mind and body to the destination. Think hands-on cooking classes, hiking naturally diverse national parks, getting the rush of adrenalin in a vintage World War II aircraft, or splashing about in the Pacific Ocean. The ultimate playground is a never-ending tale of letting go and living in the moment.
Before you travel here are a few tips from travel influencer, Sharanya Iyer @Trulynomadly, “The Californian summer is a confusing one. It can get gloomy and gray suddenly, so be prepared and always pack in layers! Solid jackets to protect you on windy days, a sweater or cardigan for the evenings, and also summer clothes when the sun comes out to play. It’s best to have a bit of all, that you can layer up as needed.” As content creator, Aakash Malhotra @wanderwithsky observes, “Outdoor ACs are definitely a Middle Eastern flex, but California’s flex is that you don’t need one — the breeze has more chill than most people I know.”
Day 1, Santa Monica
The car ride from Los Angeles International Airport to Santa Monica is filled with the best travel excitement and anticipation, offering the first glimpse into California’s coastal charm and vibrant lifestyle from outside your car window.
Mornings begin with a beach flow by Beach Yoga SoCal at Tower 24, a rejuvenating and grounding session connecting the fluidity of the ocean and our minds.
Aakash recommends, “Doing beach yoga while jetlagged (10/10 recommend for spiritual confusion and incredible views). Getting chef-level inspired at the Santa Monica Farmers Market, then actually cooking what I picked at The Gourmandise School — which felt like MasterChef meets farmers-only dot com”
Indulge in the local flavours and ingredients at Santa Monica Farmers Market, a community of 75 farmers and vendors spread out over four blocks, promoting the prosperity of California farmers and small food businesses, preservation of the agricultural arts and sustainable food systems.
Taking your stress even further away is the Cooking Lesson and Lunch at The Gourmandise School, a women-owned and operated recreational cooking school in downtown Santa Monica. This immersive experience blends the culinary essence of California and its locally sourced and sustainable ingredients into an intimate session of unique flavours and kitchen skills.
When in Santa Monica, California’s laid-back vibe and small-town charms captivate you instantly. The iconic Santa Monica Pier is packed with fun activities for every age group, restaurants and shops, stunning views, and over a century of local history.
Take a 1.5-hour tour with Bikes & Hikes LA starting near the Santa Monica Pier and concluding on the bike path in front of Perry’s on the Beach and feel the ocean wind in your hair.
A trip to the beach feels incomplete without a sunset picnic. Curated picnic arrangements complete with professionally designed furnishings, chef-curated cheese and charcuterie boards, refreshments, and exciting add-ons in the backdrop of a tangerine setting sun; it cannot get any better!
Santa Monica is a great place to go celeb-spotting, as Sharanya said, “Spotting Arnold Schwarzenegger’s back was the funniest memory from our time in Santa Monica! Turns out, it’s not such a rare sighting! Keep your eyes open ;)”
Day 2, San Luis Obispo County (SLO CAL)
Just a 2-hour drive from Santa Monica lies the charming town of Solvang, a pit-stop on the way to San Luis Obispo County (SLO CAL) and the best way to make the most of your time there is by taking an eMoke tour through the village. Solvang, rooted in Denmark’s eco-conscious traditions, offers sustainable wine tours and farm-to-table dining among other experiences.
A little over an hour’s drive away, Pismo Beach offers unparalleled experiences combining local history and the thrill of adventure. Biplane Guided Tours over Pismo Beach offers an unbeatable trilling ride over the Oceano Dunes SVRA, one of the last remaining coastal dunes in California where you can actually drive on the beach. Banner Airways uses restored WWII-era biplanes, giving you a vintage open-cockpit experience with aerial views of over 80 miles of rugged coastline, including the Pismo Beach Pier and the sand dunes. Taking to the sky over the ocean is nothing short of magical. As Aakash puts it, “A biplane ride over Pismo Beach that made me question gravity.”
Now it is time to blend into the local culture and flavours at one of California’s largest farmers markets, the Downtown SLO Farmers Market, a charming community of over 100 vendors spanning across five blocks and offer fresh produce, famous BBQs, crafts, baked goods, entertainment, and more.
Day 3, Morro Bay
Day 3 begins with a short drive to Morro Bay, one of the most tranquil and protected bays in California. Morro Rock, the bay’s volcanic landmark, is over 23 million years old and sacred to the Chumash people. E-foiling is a popular activity here, a unique experience where surfing meets flying on electric hydrofoils that lift you above the water, giving a surreal gliding sensation and a surprising bucket list essential your never knew you needed to check off.
Bless your soul in Santa Margarita Ranch in the company of horses with Central Coast Trailrides’s Horseback Riding experience through rolling vineyards, ancient oaks, and ranch land with wide-open views of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Moreover, Santa Margarita Ranch is owned by three longtime local winegrowing and ranching families who are committed to advancing the land’s legacy of “early California rancho hospitality”.
Wine tastings are popular in the area at Ancient Peaks Winery, a family-owned winery showcasing estate varietals from Margarita Vineyard also providing farm-to-table lunch menu that embraces the local fare of the community. Alternately, The Camp CASS Experience & Tasting in Paso Robles just 30 minutes away, brings together outdoor adventure and luxury tasting along with wine classes, archery, ax throwing, sidecar tours and more. CASS also has on-site accommodation at Geneseo Inn, built of industrial shipping crates.
When in Paso Robles Aakash recommends, “End a day at Sensorio’s Field of Lights in Paso Robles — which genuinely looks like the earth learned to dream” Sensorio is an immersive art installation with a walkthrough exhibit featuring over 100,000 solar-powered fiber-optic lights, and onsite dinner options to enjoy before retiring to your hotel.
Day 4, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
The next morning, California invites you to explore its endless wilderness at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, one of the state’s 9 National parks and famous for its giant sequoias, soaring mountains, deep canyons, and rivers. Sequoia and Kings Canyon’s Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States at 14,494 feet, and the Kings River Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in North America as well as the adjacent Giant Sequoia National Monument and national forest lands offer plenty of ways to explore the natural environment.
Check into Wuksachi lodge, Sequoia National Park’s finest accommodations, nestled amid a majestic sequoia forest and soaring Sierra peaks, before embarking on a journey of your own through the park’s stunning landscape.
Day 5
Immerse the mind and soul on a private hiking tour in Sequoia National Park and the giant trees with a 3.2 miles hike is a moment of self-discovery. Surprises await around every corner. As Sharanya noted, “Catching a Narnia-esque snowfall wonderland in Sequoia in the end of April was not on our bingo cards! It was winter wonderland like we’d never imagined. A definite highlight for me to see the grand ancient trees stand out stark and strong against the snowy white landscape.”
In Sequoia National Park, the Giant Forest has the most impressive collection of sequoia trees. At the General Sherman Tree and Congress trail, meet the largest tree in the world and learn about the Giant Sequoia ecology and the secrets of how these trees became so gigantic. The feeling is truly humbling as you look up to the stature as you gaze up at the towering, ancient trees that inspire awe and hope. Then, explore the Giant Forest grove of Sequoias by visiting an all-star lineup including the oldest known living Sequoia and the beautiful Senate and House groups of trees, a scenic and photogenic spot for many. The beauty of the Sequoias peek through even more in fresh snow as their cinnamon-coloured trunks receive a fresh white dusting of snow.
From December to April, cross-country skis, snowshoes, and other snow-play gear can be rented at Grant Grove, Wuksachi Lodge, and Montecito Sequoia Resort. Ranger-led snowshoe treks are offered on most winter weekends. Other must-see, treepeeping spots include Tharp’s Log, the summer abode of rancher Hale Tharp who built his home inside a fire-scarred sequoia, and Tunnel Log, a fallen redwood cut in 1938 so that cars could drive through.
A journey through California’s diversity is a blessing in disguise. Moving through each changing landscape captures the thrill of living, immersing fully into the moment, and leaving you to come back for more.
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