California is a great state to explore! Growing up here, I had the opportunity to live in a few of its beautiful cities – La Jolla, Montecito, and most recently the suburbs of L.A. I have traveled most of the state, from north to south. I’ve even made a stop in Death Valley. My husband and I did a California road trip in 2021 and hit a few spots worth seeing.
Check out the list below and leave a comment or message me if you have any favorite places in California worth checking out!
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Santa Ynez
If you’re driving north from L.A., you may want to stop in Santa Barbara on your way here. Santa Ynez is close to Solvang and Los Olivos – all are spots worth checking out. Solvang is very cute and known for its Danish-style architecture. It’s a great spot to grab an apple Danish and have a look around.
Los Olivos and Santa Ynez are quieter towns. Both have wine and olive oil tastings. We also visited a lavender farm and an ostrich farm. If you like horses and biking, those are two popular activities in these areas as well.
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San Francisco
Make sure you do some research before you head to SF. I’ve been there a few times so I didn’t do all the touristy stuff again, but there is a lot to see in this city – from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz to Ghirardelli Square to Haight-Ashbury to Fisherman’s Wharf.
San Francisco and its surrounding areas like Sausalito also have beautiful hiking. I would highly recommend spending some time outdoors while there. The Palace of Fine Arts is another tucked-away local spot known for its nature and beauty. You can easily drive into Sonoma for a day trip from here too.
Carmel
Close to Monterey Bay, it’s worth doing the famous 17-Mile Drive when visiting Carmel-By-The-Sea (cool name, right?). The scenic route captures history and gorgeous views on the Monterey Peninsula.
I love tennis, golf, biking and hiking in Carmel. Again, you’re close to Monterey so check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
It’s a big state so give yourself plenty of time to experience your California road trip and all the state has to offer!
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