As we have been to California a number of times, we knew exactly what we wanted to see again and what we were happy to miss. Whilst we love San Fran, we were happy to miss it this time and instead visit Pinnacles National Park, somewhere we haven't been before. Lassen Volcanic National Park and Redwood National Park are also new places we haven't been before, mainly because we've never been to the top of this state.
The one place we both agreed we didn't want to go to again was LA. Neither of us enjoyed our time in LA in the past, it is far from the glitz and glammar you see on the TV.
There were a couple of places we have been before but just couldn't cut out - Yosemite, Death Valley, San Diego and Lake Tahoe. Although some of these places we would have been 3-4 times already, we just love them so much, we couldn't resist going again!
| State: | California |
| Towns of Interest: (FB) = Firebreak | San Diego (FB) Monterey |
| National Parks: | Channel Islands National Park - not visiting Pinnacles National Park Yosemite National ParkKings Canyon National Park - not visiting Sequoia National Park - not visiting Death Valley National Park Lassen Volcanic National Park Redwood National ParkJoshua Tree National Park - not visiting |
| State Parks of Interest: | Andrew Molera State Park Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Morro Bay State Park |
| Places of Interest: (N) = Night Stay | Death Valley Stovepipe Wells (Small oasis named for its historic site) Devils Cornfield (Odd looking clumps that resemble corn shucks is actually an arrowwood plant ontop of pedestals of soil from the wind and water) Salt Creek Interpretive Trail (Short trail over a dirty path and broadwalk to see the desert) Harmony Borax Works (Borax "cottonballs" were gathered from the valley floor and transported across Death Valley. Museum explains more) Furnace Creek (N) (Check out the vistors center, museum, golf course and tennis) Zabriskie Point (710 foot overlook, the view is breathtaking - best viewed early morning or late afternoon) Devils Golf Course Badwater Basin (Lowest point) Morman Point (Death Valleys most ancient rock) Shoshone (Historic rail road town) Needles (N) San Diego (N) Highway 1 Santa Monica Pier (a large double-jointed pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue with an iconic entrance, the pier is popular with residents and visitors as a landmark that is over 100 years old) Santa Barbara El Capitan State Beach (N) Morro Bay State Park (Morro Rock was created by a volcano just north of Morro Bay's inlet. This state park is crossed by trails and hs a history museum. Its a great spot to get an overview of the natural attractions of the area.) Piedas Blancas (year round gathering spot for elephant seals) Jade Cove (Route 1 skirts Sand Dollar Beach - an excellent spot for seaside picnics, the comes to the signs and turnouts at Jade Cove. Take the short walk to the area's pebbled beaches, which are hemmed in by sea carved cliffs, and search for bits of jade) Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (1,000 above sea level on Route 1. Must do Overlook Trail, which traverses the clifftop above the ocean. Look down on McWay Cove where a creek finishes its journey with an 80 foot waterfall tumbling down at the seaside) Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (This part of Route 1 swings inland, passes through the sparsley populated town of big Sur, which lies scattered along the valley of the Big Sur River. One of the best ways to explore the wilderness in the area is to visit this state park. A hike up to the narrow river can take you to the refreshing pools edged with smooth boulders.Trails also lead through a redwood grove to waterfalls and fishing spots. For a mile south of this park enterance is Sycamore Canyon Road which leads to Pfeiffer Beach. This quiet oceanside stretch has small patches of beach, rocks and caves) Andrew Molera State Park (N) (Wind sheltered beaches, set cut cliffs, flower filled meadows, free-flowing rivers and a 3,450 foot moutain) Point Sur State Historic Park (Massive dome-shaped volcanic rock which is park of this park. Worth seeing the lighthouse) Bixby Bridge (stop and enjoy the dramatric overlook. Pull over at the bridge's northern end for the best view of the land, sea and bridge) Carmel-by-the-Sea (Patchwork of cottages, shops, gallaries, sandy beaches and a spanish mission. Follow the scenic road to the Carmel River State Beach, a less crowded sea shore) 17 Mile Drive (Toll road loops the Montrey Peninsula) Pacific Grove (For spectacular vista by following Ocean View Boulevard along the shores of Monterey Bay, stopping off at Lovers Point Park and Point Pinos Lighthouse. Sunset Drive with good views, parallels the pacific side of the peninsula and leads to Asilomar State Beach, where the sand is perfect for strolling) Monterey (Try the well marked walking tour that goes through the historic district) Pinnacles National Park (east enterance) (Nx2) Yosemite Mariposa Grove Museum (2 mile spur road takes you to Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias - museum and tram tour highlight the trees and the sites) Wawona (N) (Little village in Yosemite - nice place to stop for a little wander) Glacier Point (16 mile spur road that encompasses some of the best vista's in Yosemite. The first stop is Badger Pass and it is where skiing is done in the winter) Yosemite Valley (Nx2) Lake Tahoe (Nx2) Lassen Volcanic National Park (N) Route 89 (Leads to visitors center and viewing areas - snakes through skirting steam vents, boiling mudpots, gaseous fumaroles, and cone shaped moutains of cinder and ash) Broadwalk (Leads to many of the sites, and visitors are advised to stay on the trail because parts of this region where the Earth's molton interior escapes to the surface have been known too collapse) Lassen Peak (Volcano that errupted in 1914 and the parks tallest volcano) Eureka (Charming bayside town recalls California's gold rush days. Lots of Victorian houses line the picturesque streets. Has a busy harbor and an Old Town with lots of shops and eateries all in vintage buildings ) Redwood National Park (Nx2) General Sherman (Pictured on thousands of postcards and posters. This tree is 83 metres high and has a diameter of 11 metres. It is considered to be more than 4,000 years old and was hollowed by a forest fire 800 years ago) Fern Canyon (Used in the backdrop of jurassic park and walking with dinosaurs. One of the most mysical areas of the National Park. Moss and ferns dripping from either side of 50 foot canyon walls, really good in the morning) Scenic Drives (lots of scenic roads in the park including Howland Hill, Coastal Drive, Newton Drury and Davidson Road) |
| Routes of Interest: | Highway 1 (Coast road) 17 Mile Drive (Monterey scenic drive) Highway 101 from Leggett to Cresent City (coast road for the north of the state) Route 119 (from Crescent City to Oregon) - 33 mile scenic drove through spectacular moutain scenary - not doing |
| Where to Stay: | Death Valley The Ranch ($179) The Inn ($309) Fiddlers’ Campground ($18) - opposite The Ranch - With your nightly rental, guests enjoy the Ranch’s natural spring-fed swimming pool, shower facility, coin operated laundry and sports courts including a Tennis Court, Shuffleboard, Volleyball, Bocce Ball and Basketball Court Needles Needles KOA ($30) San Diego El Rancho Motel ($136) - on Coronado Howard Johnson Express Inn National City/San Diego South ($96) Comfort Inn Gaslamp Convention Center ($191) Embassy Suites San Diego Bay - Downtown ($165) Coronado Island Inn - B&B El Capitan State Beach El Capitan State Beach Campsite ($35) Ocean Mesa RV and Campground ($70) Andrew Molera State Park Andrew Molera State Park Campsite ($25) - FCFS Only Alternative is to Camp at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park ($35) Pinnacles National Park Pinnacles Campground ($23) - is accessed only from the east side of the Park as there are no connecting roads between the two entrances of Pinnacle Yosemite (Wawona) Wawona Campground ($26) - must be booked 5 months in advance Yosemite (Village) Lower Pines ($26) Upper Pines ($26) North Pines ($26) Lake Tahoe Camp Richardson Camping ($45) Lassen Volcanic National Park 8 campgrounds in the park - 4 can be reserved and 4 are FCFS: Butte Lake ($15) Volcano Adventure Camp - kids one Juniper Lake ($12) Manzanita Lake ($24) Summit Lake North ($22) Summit Lake South ($20) Southwest Walk-in ($16) Warner Valley ($16) Redwood National Park There are four campgrounds in the park: Jedediah Smith ($35) Mill Creek ($35) Elk Prairie ($35) Gold Bluffs Beach ($35) |
| Useful Links: | http://goop.com/a-coastal-california-road-trip/ |
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