Must Do California Road-trips
California has it all. Known as the enchanted Golden State, it embraces towering mountains, sun-drenched beaches, mist-shrouded Redwood and skyscraping Sequoia forests, and the supercilious Half Dome that stands proudly over Yosemite National Park. The highlights are seemingly endless, with wild deserts, wine country, and vibrant cities to explore.
Romanticized stories of intoxicating road trips through California have told stories of love and adventure in Hollywood movies for decades. An open road, a classic car, and a sense of exploration and romance are all you need for a perfect weekend getaway or a more extended vacation of discovery.
The beauty of California is that you can jump into your favorite classic car and drive in any direction and stumble across boundless beauty. The Stable has explored the roads endlessly and collated their three favorite Golden State road trips that you can amble along without a care in the world. Being behind a classic wooden steering wheel decelerates the speed at which you live. Enjoy the magical journey and discover extraordinary places.
The Pacific Coast Highway
The gloriously meandering Pacific Coast Highway is one of the world's finest driving experiences. The 85-mile stretch of road is arguably the most beautiful connection between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The impressively jagged coastline weaves you through bays, over cliffs, and affords you impressive views of the Pacific Ocean.
The Big Sur, at first glance, will leave you mesmerized at its sheer raw beauty. The wild crashing seas and the Santa Lucia mountain range envelop this magical stretch of land where the stars and moon guide your nighttime journeys.
Don't hurry this drive; you'll witness world-class scenery along the way, and there are plenty of places to pull over and picnic from your hamper that is bursting with fine foods. Stop at Bixby Bridge, one of the world's highest single-span bridges that crosses the historic Rainbow Canyon. Don't forget to look skywards for a rare glance of a condor playing in the slipstreams.
For the Instagrammable shot, McWay Falls presents you with tree-topped rocks, crashing white surf and eddying pools, and a golden beach. Point Sur Lighthouse sits proudly atop the volcanic rock that appears like a fortress from the depths of the sea. Keep your eyes peeled and look for the mysterious mountain lion, the cranky wild turkeys, or the cheeky raccoons.
The stretch of road through the Big Sur is dotted with artisan clothing and accessory stores, galleries, and a plethora of delicious eateries; there are numerous hot springs for nostalgic healing moments under the stars.
Cocooned by redwood trees, wildflowers and, the sparkling ocean is The Post Ranch Inn. The recycled redwood cabins and cottages are laced along the rocky clifftop and offer total seclusion, breathtaking views, and the company of a wood-burning stove. In the grounds are three heated infinity pools, one of which is lined with sea-weathered jade. Whilst the Post Ranch Inn has its own restaurant and bar, opposite is the Ventana Inn, a delightful cabin with wood-lined interiors, roaring fires, and an award-winning wine list.
Redwood Highway
The Redwood Highway earned the number-one position in Lonely Planet's Best in the US list, and quite rightly so. The remote 175-mile stretch of coastline is home to the world's tallest redwood trees, and the Avenue of Giants, a mere 31-mile avenue, is by far the most famous route with its drive-through tree. At least once in your life, soak up the peace, tranquillity, and sheer magnificence of this ancient forest, which is unlike any other in the world. All along the Avenue of the Giants are other parks, forests, reserves, and beaches, and is a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors and nature.
The only real way to enjoy the impressiveness of these trees is in a classic car. Early mornings will often see the trees cloaked in a mist that burns off as the sun begins to rise. If you like a little adventure, there are many opportunities to embrace fishing, kayaking, rafting, and cycling. If you prefer a hand-in-hand stroll, there are miles of trails to explore. Haste not, this classic drive is to be savored.
The towering trees are elegantly swathed in moss and ferns and reach almost 400 feet in height. They handsomely live in the fertile lands of the coast, riverine, and prairie wildlands. Conservationists became alarmed at the trees' precipitous loss to the logging industry, so the Redwood National Park formed the protectorate in 1968. The park now protects almost 132,000 acres of diverse nature and land. The Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is famed as a backdrop in the original Star Wars movie.
Humboldt County is interspersed with ample charming and quirky towns to explore. Our favorite hotel is back in Big Sur. The Ventana Big Sur has recently undergone a complete renovation under the watchful eye of architectural designer Kipp Stewart. Biophilic design has brought the dense forest and the crashing ocean's natural beauty indoors into the cedar-lined guest rooms and suites with baths covered in locally sourced slate. The hotel boasts 15 safari-style glamping tents set in the redwood forest for those who truly appreciate nature. They offer photography hikes, garden tours, and falconry experiences. The Glass House Gallery showcases works of local artists.
There is no need to search for dining experiences. The Ventana offers gourmet picnics in their favorite hidden locations among the redwoods or in their 160-acres, high above the Pacific.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is one of the most mindblowing national parks in the country and is a Unesco World Heritage site. It's so awe-inspiring that you forget your vocabulary. The overly-verdant Yosemite Valley is surrounded by towering waterfall-stained granite walls and soaring sequoias reaching for the clouds at Mariposa Grove. Half Dome remains stoic as the light skitters across its sheared face. El Capitan looms moodily through the mists of Yosemite Falls, and the jeweled lakes twinkle in the blankets of the wilderness.
Take an amble to the base of the double-tiered Yosemite Falls. It's the highest waterfall in North America at an impressive 2400ft. The roaring Bridalveil Fall will have your pulse pounding as you walk in the footsteps of famed photographer Ansel Adams. Many hiking trails weave their way around the park; they range from undemanding stream and lakeside walks to the highest mountain peaks.
Use Château du Sureau as a homely base for your exploratory days in Yosemite National Park. Enchanting estate grounds surround the Château. Each of the bedrooms is appointed with the finest furnishings for perfect relaxation after a busy day sightseeing. The hotel can pack you a fine and filling picnic for your daily adventures and offer you a glass of Bordeaux in the library upon your return. They also have award-winning The Elderberry House Restaurant.
The Tioga Pass runs dramatically through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California. It is the highest highway pass in the state and is closed during heavy snowfall. This trip is strictly for a wind in your hair soft top classic car. The open road takes you through mountains, meadows, forests, and lakelands.
There are a few highlights that are a must along the way. The road twists and turns and provides remarkable views in every direction. One of the most special is Olmsted Point, a pull-in where the breathtaking scenery of Tenaya Canyon and Half Dome stretches before you.
Lovers of nature will wholly appreciate the Tuolumne Meadows; set 8600ft above sea level, they are the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra. Clear, cerulean lakes, serrated granite peaks, and a painter's paradise of wildflowers decorate the wild and windswept meadows.
Conclusion
There is nothing like the absolute freedom of an open road, a map, some music, and a classic car. Wrap up warm as you wind through mountain ranges and over ridges, feel the wind in your hair as you drive along the Pacific coast, or park up and be at one with nature. The Stable mechanics ensure that they polish, check, and service each car thoroughly so that you can have a peaceful, worry-free journey. Don your driving gloves and take to the quiet roads for a memorable journey.
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