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California Road Trip
An Unforgettable West Coast Road Trip!
California has some of the most famous, scenic and fun places to visit in the USA. The proximity of the destinations in California make sense for a road trip getaway across the state...but don't let the number of destinations fool you! It's still the 3rd biggest state in the country, and could fit the entire country of England in its borders 3 times! If California were a country, it would be the 8th largest money making country in the world!
Whether you're planning a southern CA road trip to places like Palm Springs, LA or San Diego, or a northern California road trip to San Francisco or Yosemite, this guide will walk you through what the state has to offer.
The Road Trip Lens Series:
Southern California
California's National Parks
California has a huge amount of popular national parks that you'll recognize. All are different, as the climate ranges from uninhabitable desert regions like Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley, to the High Sierras of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. A trip to California wouldn't be complete without a visit to the unmatched beauty of Yosemite National Park.
Panda at the San Diego Zoo
San Diego --> Los Angeles
San Diego and Los Angeles might look close together on a map, but they're about 2-3 hours apart, even more if you encounter traffic (which happens a lot!)...speaking of which, you can find out the latest traffic reports for California here.
Huntington Beach Pier
The Massive Urban Sprawl of Los Angeles
Northern California
Big Sur
Pacific Coast Highway
Most of the best things to do and see on California's coast revolve around the Pacific Coast Highway, or are very close by! You can pretty much guarantee that at any given point on Hwy 1 that there's only excellent hotels to stay at, along with some of the best views.
The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco
California Poll
Would you want to live in California if you live somewhere else?
The Big Three
San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles define the entire culture of the state.
Find Yourself in California
Lassen Volcanic National Park
California Links
- Welcome to the State of California
The official site of the state of California. If you're visiting or if you live there, you'll find some good links. - California on Wikipedia
Find out the history of the state up until present day, ecology, population, climate, geography, culture, economy and more on this informative page. - California Map
Download a huge map of California in PDF format. - Visit California
Explore the state region by region, it's very easy and clear. It's very detailed, and they did a great job with this site. It's broken down by activities, wine & dine, outdoor recreation, family fun, winter recreation, golf, and arts & cultur - Everything California
Mottos, slogans, lowest elevation, nicknames, state bird, state flag, you name it, it's all here!
Love Road Trips?
You should read more about road trips here, including what to pack, what to bring, how to plan it, what to see, what not to see, where to stay, and tons more.
Guestbook
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- Author
@MissMalaprop: Sounds like a great trip. We did a similar trip by car in 2005. We were stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains for hours, almost overnight in the wilderness which was unexpected to say the least. Luckily, we got out okay. I can't wait to get back there!
My boyfriend and I did a motorcycle roadtrip through 1,600 miles of Nevada & California in July 2006. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced! We rented a motorcycle in Las Vegas and headed west, through Death Valley and hit the Pacific Coast Highway near San Luis Obispo. We headed north from there, marveling in the beauty along the coast, especially through Big Sur! We stayed for a few days in Carmel & Monterrey to watch the MotoGP races there. Then we went up through San Francisco, over through wine country, and back down the Sierra Nevada mountains. We ran out of gas in the middle of the desert, but luckily the nicest German couple stopped and gave us a lift into the next town and back for gas! It was an adventure of a lifetime!
I'm going on a road trip from LA to SF so I came to this lens to help me plan it. Much thanks, great resource.
Perhaps a long weekend is in order sometime soon... I live so close to Big Sur, but haven't spent more than drivin-through time there in at least a decade!
Look for me! I'll be there in just a couple of days! LOL
Live here and always want good ideas for things to do! Thanks!
Just loved visiting Death Valley. One of my favorite places. The drive from LA was breathtaking too. Some of the scenery and colors in the rocks there were fantastic! Don't go in peak summer though, unless you like being cooked alive!
I am heading over to California from Australia in less than 3 weeks. We are visiting LA, Anaheim, driving up the coast to Monterey and San Francisco, across to Yosemite and Tahoe, then down to Death Valley before leaving the state to see Vegas and the Grand canyon. It is going to be an awesome trip. :-)
Thanks for your lens! It gave me great ideas!
I was born in Los Angeles and raised in Pismo beach California. I never should have left. Great Lens
I have taken the road trip through California many times. It is so beautiful!
Great lens!
Monterey Bay Aquarium would be a great place to visit as well (especially during the times when they have a great white shark on exhibit). About 100 miles south of San Francisco.
I love California!
Don't forget Sequoia National Park, where the largest living things on earth are--the Giant Sequoia's!
I love driving the Pacific Coast highway...blessed and added to my United States Travel Angel lens.
I live in California, but I love learning more about my state. Lassen is one of my favorite places... maybe we could keep it a secret? smile....
Love your lens! I live in California but I am always looking for new places to explore. Adding to my favorites and ***Blessed by an Angel***.
Excellent lens! Squidoo Angel blessed :)
Saved this as a favorite a while back but came back to bless this lens. I am a Californian and have been all my life. I appreciate it when people portray it well and you did. Great lens!
A great lens for visitors to California. I've lensrolled it to my DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer Series lens. You've done some excellent travel lenses.
This lens sparks many ideas and inspirations as I plan my California parks tour.
Informative lens and you can't talk about visiting California without mentioning some of the different wine regions - LOL.
I made this trip in 1989 - saw most of these places and more - one terrific trip over three weeks! I envy you folks who live there!
I added this to the featured list at my California_ lens--great job. I enjoyed the trip immensely!
Nice lens that I am adding to my California Destinations since it is mostly Southern California at this point. Lots of great stuff here!
wow nice lens that tells it all.. would certainly remember this site the next time we r planning a road trip... anyway i lenrolled this site for my 2 Irvine Lens.. great job
Nice lens. I'm lensrolling this to my Santa Barbara California lens.
Well next time I want to travel across State I know where to come for all my resources :) Blessed by an Angel.
Cool lens. I voted I would like to live in California :)
Wonderful lens! Good design and lots of useful information. I've added this to the lensroll on my California Vacation Bucket List lens.
Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
There's so much to do and see here in California . . . you did choose some great destinations.
Ahh.. I gotta get to some of these places. 5*.
[in reply to CCGAL] WE also camped at Jedidiah Smith Sate Park and it was lovely. But the park in this area we loved most was Prairie Creek, which in in the midst of the redwoods. We were entertained by raccoons around our campfire every night.
You did a very nice job; California is huge! I live near Monterey. I will include this lens as a great California lens.
I'm on the east coast. I guess I'll stay here away from the earthquakes, although it is cold here in winter!
Thanks for the lensroll to my Colma lens. I'm going to lensroll this to my hometown lens about Pleasant Hill. I mention all the wonderful places close by, but don't go into detail. This lens will do the trick. Nice job.
- Author
CCGAL- I will definitely remember that for the next time we go on a CA road trip! We've been to Redwood National Park, but not to Crescent City, so we'll definitely be going there next time we visit. Thanks for stopping by and for the lensroll!
I am just a *teensy* bit disappointed that my part of California wasn't included in your lens, but we ARE a little on the HIDDEN SECRET side of things. I live in Crescent City, in Del Norte County right smack dab in the middle of the Redwood National Park, the Smith River National Recreation Area, and right next to Jedidiah Smith State Park. We are 21 miles south of the Oregon border, and have the ONLY natural harbor in California north of San Francisco. I hope you will consider including us on your next road trip -- I could show you lots of stuff that only the natives here know how to find.
Other than that, it's a GREAT lens on California and I am going to add it to my featured lenses on my Crescent City, CA lens. Nice job!
Good information,, Thank you
Aitch,
I am lucky enough to have visited many of the places you have featured here.
You have been Blessed by a Squid Angel
Great ideas for a California road trip, there's so much to do in CA!
Another great lens - you must be great to travel with!
Good job Kiwi! Welcome to the "Best Places to Visit in California" Group. Glad to have you aboard.
What a fantastic resource! Thanks for submitting it to Travelmania Group.
Tapir Travel
Wow... Thanks for featuring my Eagle Rock lens (on historic Route 66). I'll lensroll this to my Livermore wine lenses too. Welcome to All Things Travel. Blessings to you!
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