|USA - Road Trips|

7 Day Epic California Road Trip

May 8, 2020 /

California, also known as the Golden State, is the most visited state in America. Home to beautiful beaches, bustling cities and 9 national parks, it has so much to offer for every kind of traveler. So when we had the chance to spend a whole week vacationing in July last year, choosing California was a no-brainer. Add to it the excitement of a scenic road trip, visit to a majestic national park, and exploring the kick-ass city of San Francisco, you have the makings of an ultimate itinerary!

We had booked a round trip from Boston to San Francisco and reached the city around 8 in the evening thanks to the time zone difference. Since we had to leave for the Pacific Coast Highway drive in the morning, a Marriott room close to the airport was reserved in advance . We checked in to the hotel, had a quick dinner and went to bed by midnight so that we could begin the road trip early next morning.

Pacific Coast Highway aka California 101 is one of the most picturesque road trips in the United States. While we were tempted to make multiple stops even before reaching the first destination on our itinerary, we tried not to lose the daylight and stick to the plan..

Half Moon Bay & Davenport Beach

Davenport Beach

The first destination on our map was the Half Moon Bay. The idea was to leave the city center and drive towards the ocean eventually getting on the California 101 highway. After grabbing a filling breakfast, we started our journey along the coast. The drive was gorgeous and it took us more than an hour (40 miles) to reach the next stop on our itinerary, Davenport Beach! The town of Davenport is located a few miles north of Santa Cruz along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. We pulled into the parking area along the highway and walked towards the lookout. The first thing you notice as soon as you reach the edge is the contrasting blue and green waters with a giant rock right in the middle. Due to the placement of the rock and the image it forms, it is also known as the Shark Fin Cove or the Shark Tooth Beach.

Another beach to check out in the area is the Davenport Pier beach. Home to the picturesque Davenport Pier, this beach is a delight for photographers. However it is recommended to take photos from the bluff top and not go down to the pier for safety reasons.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve & Bixby Creek Bridge

  • Bixby Creek Bridge
  • Point Lobos State Natural reserve
  • Bixby Creek Bridge

After leaving the Davenport beach, we made a stop at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (11 miles) for a quick lunch and some coffee – not a good decision as we lost time traversing through the city traffic. It was crowded due to the long weekend but could have been a fun visit had we not been short of time. We drove for another 50 miles and reached our next destination. Point Lobos State Natural reserve is considered the “crown jewel” of California’s 280 state parks. It is a paradise for nature and wildlife lovers. Known for it’s unique geological formations and spectacular flora & fauna, it is home to one of the richest underwater habitats in the world. The weather had taken a turn by the time we reached there. It was no longer sunny but the dewy misty weather was regardless pleasant. Be mindful of the park hours as this park is not open 24/7. We hiked along the rocky coast and spotted some sea lions. It was the most clear water I had ever seen, so much so that we could spot the colorful rocks beneath our feet.

If you are spending a good amount of time at these stops, I would advise breaking the journey at this point and calling it a day. Unless you are really pressed for time and are willing to forgo beautiful hikes or quality beach-time, you may not be able to continue further.

The next stop on our itinerary located 11 miles from the Point Lobos State Reserve was the Bixby Creek Bridge. The drive to this bridge was magical – it was as if we were surrounded by Scottish Highlands on our left and the magnificent Pacific ocean on our right. Located in the Big Sur region and soaring above the bottom of a steep canyon, it is one of the highest bridges of it’s kind. Undoubtedly one of the most instagrammable stops along the Highway 1, the view of the arch bridge, the cliffs and the ocean in a single frame was breathtaking. There are multiple viewpoints from where you can appreciate the bridge. Be patient and park only at the designated parking spots. Believe me, the effort is completely worth it.

Pfeiffer Beach & Elephant Seal Vista Point

  • Pfeiffer Beach
  • Elephant Seal Vista Point
  • Elephant Seal Vista Point

Known for it’s distinctive purple sand (thanks to the presence of various minerals), Pfeiffer beach (16 miles) is part of the Los Padres National forest. The Keyhole Rock with it’s beautiful arch looks majestic against the crashing waves. The beach is even more picturesque during sunset. A section of the beach up north is clothing optional. This region is usually cold year round. The beach could be a little difficult to find due to the absence of road signs and there is an entrance fee to be paid before you head for the parking. It is definitely one of the most stunning beaches I have seen in my life.

The last destination on our Pacific Coast Highway drive is the wonderful Elephant Seal Vista Point (60 miles) in San Simeon. The rookery hosts up to 24000 elephant seals each year. They are called elephant seals because the male nose resembles an elephant’s trunk. I have been on a seal watching tour before in Newport, RI. However, we had to go on a boat ride and use binoculars to check out the gorgeous species resting still on the rocks. This was however easier to reach (along the coastline) and gave us a closer look at them in their natural habitat. We were lucky enough to visit during the molting season when the elephant seals haul out on land to shed the outer layer of their skin/hair. We also witnessed some of them moving and dragging towards each other, so delightful and cute!

Yosemite National Park

  • Yosemite National Park
  • Mariposa County
  • Mariposa County

We stayed the night in San Simeon and left next morning for Mariposa County (190 miles) where we were going to stay for the next few days. I expected the drive to be bland but it turned out to be surprisingly joyful. Being from the East Coast, I am not used to the scenic rugged mountains all around and getting to drive through them was a bonus! After checking into our AirBnB we went out in search of the famous California sunset views. While we couldn’t find the lake we were searching for, we hit the jackpot with a viewpoint somewhere between Mariposa and Yosemite. The orange hues of the setting sun were out of this world. This was hands down my best sunset viewing ever!

  • Mirror Lake
  • Mist Trail
  • Giant Sequoias

“No temple made with human hands can compete with Yosemite” – John Muir. Yosemite National Park needs no introduction. One of the most visited national parks in the country, Yosemite is a bucket list item for nature lovers. Known for it’s granite monoliths (never seen anything like them before), deep valleys and giant sequoias, Yosemite is gorgeous in all it’s glory. We saw the waterfall, hiked the mist trail & mirror lake trail, and spent some time walking through the giant sequoias. Unlike Acadia National Park and The Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite is not easily admired by auto touring. There are shuttle buses to take you from the parking lot to different spots from where the hiking trails start. It was very crowded due to the long weekend and it took a while before we found a parking spot. If you are planning a trip to Yosemite, you will want to avoid long weekends and give yourself at least a few days to fully appreciate this majestic park.

San Francisco

  • Muir Woods
  • Union Square
  • Golden Gate Bridge

After leaving Yosemite, we looped back to San Francisco (167 miles) for our return flight to Boston. I had been to San Francisco before and am going to list out the best things to do based on the time you have left.
A trip to San Francisco is incomplete without visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. It was misty both times I visited, making for some picture perfect views. Start Day 1 with a visit to one of the most famous bridges in the world.

Next on the itinerary is the Muir Woods National Monument. One of the few places in the world where you can find the incredible coastal redwood trees. The trails are well maintained and you can easily spend a couple of hours hiking through the forest. If you can make time, drive,bike or take a ferry to Sausalito city. Experience a wine tasting, enjoy the waterfront views or simply stroll the quaint town.

Union Square
Sausalito
Alcatraz Island Prison Cell

Begin Day 2 with a visit to the Alcatraz Island. The island can be reached by ferry. Used as a federal prison for the most notorious criminals, the island has an interesting history and numerous stories about the inmates. The whole tour was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience.


Next, buy some souvenirs and enjoy some seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Visit the famous Lombard street also known as the crookedest street in the world. Drive/walk the steep hilly street with numerous hair pin turns adding to the fun. I loved riding the tram in Union square which was followed by a scrumptious sundae at Ghirardelli Square.

San Francisco has so much to see and do! I wish we had more time in the city but hey, there’s always a reason to go back right.. Road trip through the state of California was an enriching experience. The ocean, the beaches, the mountains, the national parks, the city.. everything was so unique and captivating! 654 miles of sun, sand, mountains, beaches and the city!!

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