My last visit to California was in the late 80s, when I travelled with two friends. One unforgettable memory? Meeting Billy Ocean at an airport, sharing sandwiches and getting free concert tickets, a backstage tour and a ride on his tour bus!
So, when it came to planning a two-week road trip with my family after my son finished university, California felt like the perfect choice.
San Francisco
We arrived in San Francisco and hopped into an Uber and were immediately amazed by the driverless cars - though I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet!
Early the next morning, we caught the 8:40 ferry to Alcatraz, which I had visited in my twenties. The place was just as eerie as I remembered, and the audio guide was a great way to hear stories from former inmates and guards.
With just one day to explore the city, we jumped on an open-top bus tour, enduring the cold wind as we crossed the cloud-covered Golden Gate Bridge.
We sampled bao buns from a Chinese bakery in Chinatown, recommended by my son Callum, before jetlag finally caught up with us.
Yosemite
After a few bumps getting our Toyota Rav4 Hybrid started and the sat nav working, we headed to Mariposa, a charming town 45 minutes outside Yosemite National Park. With its gold rush history and quirky shops, it’s a perfect base, especially given the high costs of staying inside the park.
The beauty of Yosemite hit us the moment we arrived. We stopped in awe at El Capitan, then began a strenuous 6-8 hour hike up to a waterfall at the height of Ben Nevis.
Carrying three litres of water each, we zigzagged up the mountain in 28-degree heat. I was proud to make it about 75% of the way before tiredly deciding to head back, while my husband and sons made it to the top for a refreshing dip.
Death Valley
After a stop in Lone Pine, we drove through Death Valley, stocking up on gallons of water in case of breakdowns.
The desert heat was seriously intense, and we managed a quick photo at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. The basin is encompassed by towering mountains and salt flats that extend for miles, creating eerie vistas reminiscent of "Breaking Bad".
From there, I took over the driving and found myself on an eight-lane freeway heading straight to the glitz of Las Vegas!
Las Vegas
Our hotel, located just behind the Strip, was perfect for parking. We cooled off in the pool before heading to dinner at the Hard Rock, where we had the best burgers of the trip.
Afterwards, we saw Raiding the Rock Vault. Even though I’m not a huge rock fan, I couldn’t help but sing and dance along to the iconic anthems from the 70s to present.
We walked the Strip to watch the Bellagio fountains, and my youngest son was disappointed to be too young to gamble at 20! At midnight, it was still over 30 degrees, so we retreated to the air con.
The next day, we kept cool at a retail outlet before seeing Cirque du Soleil’s One at Mandalay Bay, a tribute to Michael Jackson.
Grand Canyon
We left the bright lights of Vegas and drove via the Hoover Dam to the Grand Canyon, staying just ten minutes from the park.
We walked part of the rim at sunset, taking in the sheer magnitude of the canyon. The Colorado River has carved through it over millions of years, revealing breathtakingly colourful rock formations on its walls and creating an incredible spectacle.
The next day, we embarked on a 12k walk along the rim, and although Finlay wanted to spot a rattlesnake, it was my husband who shrieked when a harmless garter snake darted past us chasing a gecko.
After the excitement and weary from the heat, we began the long drive to the Californian coast, breaking up the journey with a water park visit outside LA.
Santa Barbara
Skipping the hustle and theme parks of LA, we headed straight to picturesque Santa Barbara, arriving just in time for complimentary wine and cheese at our hotel. We strolled down to the wharf for fresh seafood, a welcome change from the burgers.
The next day, accompanied by a lovely coastal breeze, we enjoyed a scenic bike ride, spotting dolphins swimming in the bay.
Santa Barbara’s tree-lined streets and laid-back vibe made for a relaxing afternoon, capped off by a scrumptious seafood dinner on Stearns Wharf, watching the pelicans soar past as the sun set over the ocean.
Monterey
Though we wished for more time in Santa Barbara, our final stop was Monterey. Our hotel was close enough to walk to Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf, where Paul and Finlay went deep-sea fishing.
Meanwhile, Callum and I took a catamaran ride in Moss Landing’s Elkhorn Slough to see sea otters in their natural habitat - a highlight for me!
There aren’t many places to see them in the wild, so it was amazing to observe so many of them.
The beaches were bustling with Fourth of July activities, and we ended the day with clam chowder in a bread bowl.
The next morning, we went whale watching. After a long wait, we finally spotted a humpback, though the cloudy weather didn’t help visibility. Still, it was thrilling to see.
We finished our trip with a visit to the Monterey Aquarium, famous for its conservation efforts.
With our flight delayed, we managed to watch England’s Euro quarter-final, squeeze in some last-minute shopping and savour one last burger before heading home - our magnificent West Coast adventure complete!
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