California

Santa Monica, California

Amazing Cities:
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco

Amazing Towns:
Lone Pine, Mammoth Lakes

Attractions

Alabama Hills Recreation and National Scenic Area - Lone Pine
Brady Bunch House - Studio City
Cabazon Dinosaurs - Cabazon
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch - Oro Grande
Fender Factory Tour - Corona
"Full House" TV Show Set - San Francisco
Glory Hole - Napa
Grateful Dead House - San Francisco
Hollywood Sign - Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame - Los Angeles
Murphy Ranch - Pacific Palisades
Museum of Western Film History - Lone Pine
Nightmare Rock - Lone Pine
Peggy Sue's 50's Diner - Yermo
Public Art "The Love That Binds" - Laguna Beach
San Diego Zoo - San Diego
Santa Monica Pier - Santa Monica
Teakettle Junction
The Joshua Tree U2 Album Location
Twin Peaks - San Francisco
Zzyzx, California - Zzyzx

Battlefields & Military

White Cross World War I Memorial - Nipton

Beaches

Butterfly Beach (California) - Montecito
Castle Rock Viewpoint - Monterey
El Matador Beach - Malibu
Little Sur River Beach - Monterey
Pacific Beach (San Diego) - San Diego
Paradise Cove Beach - Malibu
Pirate's Cove Beach - Corona Del Mar
Point Loma Tide Pools - San Diego
Point Reyes - Inverness
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego
Wipeout Beach - La Jolla

Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries

Baily Vineyard - Temecula
Cougar Vineyard and Winery - Temecula
Doffo Winery - Temecula
Hart Winery - Temecula

Bridges

Bixby Creek Bridge - Monterey
Mojave River Bridge - Oro Grande

Canyons & Gorges

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park - Granada Hills
Kings Canyon National Park
Mosaic Canyon Trail
Rainbow Canyon (California)
Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles
Solstice Canyon - Malibu

City Parks

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park - Granada Hills
Bernal Heights Park - San Francisco
Shoreline Park - Santa Barbara
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego

Cliffs & Bluffs

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego

Forests

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - Bishop
Los Padres National Forest - Goleta

Ghost Towns

Hiking

Deep Creek Hot Springs - Apple Valley
High Sierra Trailhead
Inspiration Point Trailhead - Santa Barbara
Lookout Trail Viewpoint - Big Sur
Lundy Canyon Trail Head - Bridgeport
Mormon Rocks - Phelan
Mosaic Canyon Trail
Murphy Ranch - Pacific Palisades
Sandstone Trailhead - Malibu
Solstice Canyon - Malibu

Historic Places

Amargosa Opera House and Hotel - Death Valley
Barstow Harvey House - Barstow
General Grant Tree
Griffith Observatory - Los Angeles
Mission Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara
Historic Mausoleum at Old Mission Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara
White Cross World War I Memorial - Nipton

Hot Springs

Lakes

Brees Lookout - Mammoth Lakes
Cathedral Lakes
Convict Lake - Mammoth Lakes
June Lake (California)
Lone Pine Lake - Lone Pine
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve - Lee Vining
Owens Lake Trails Plaza - Oroville

Lighthouses

Pigeon Point Lighthouse - Pescadero

Mountains

Movie & TV Locations

Alabama Hills Recreation and National Scenic Area - Lone Pine
Brady Bunch House - Studio City
"Full House" TV Show Set - San Francisco
Hollywood Sign - Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame - Los Angeles
Museum of Western Film History - Lone Pine

Museums

California Route 66 Museum - Victorville
Museum of Western Film History - Lone Pine
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum - Joshua Tree

Music

National Monuments

Devils Postpile National Monument - Mammoth Lakes
Lava Beds National Monument - Tulelake
Mojave Trails National Monument - Amboy
Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument - Needles
White Cross World War I Memorial - Nipton

National Parks

Channel Islands National Park - Ventura
Death Valley National Park - Furnace Creek
Joshua Tree National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Redwood National and State Parks
Sequoia National Park
Yosemite National Park

Overlooks

Castle Rock Viewpoint - Monterey
Golden Gate Overlook - San Francisco
Lookout Trail Viewpoint - Big Sur
Twin Peaks - San Francisco

Parks & Forests

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park - Granada Hills
Alviso Marina County Park - Alviso
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - Bishop
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - Borrego Springs
Bernal Heights Park - San Francisco
Channel Islands National Park - Ventura
Death Valley National Park - Furnace Creek
Emerald Bay State Park - South Lake Tahoe
Gray Whale Cove State Beach - Half Moon Bay
Joshua Tree National Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - Big Sur
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area - Los Angeles
Kings Canyon National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Los Padres National Forest - Goleta
Pinnacles National Park
Redwood National and State Parks
Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles
Sequoia National Park
Shoreline Park - Santa Barbara
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego
Yosemite National Park

Presidents

General Grant Tree

Roadside

Cabazon Dinosaurs - Cabazon
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch - Oro Grande
"Full House" TV Show Set - San Francisco
Nightmare Rock - Lone Pine
Peggy Sue's 50's Diner - Yermo
Teakettle Junction
Zzyzx, California - Zzyzx

Rock Formations

Alabama Hills Recreation and National Scenic Area - Lone Pine
Buttermilk Boulders - Bishop
Castle Rock Viewpoint - Monterey
Mobius Arch Stone - Lone Pine
Mormon Rocks - Phelan
Potato Chip Rock - Ramona

Scenic Areas

Alabama Hills Recreation and National Scenic Area - Lone Pine
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park - Granada Hills
Avenue of the Giants - Weott
Badwater Basin
Battery Spencer - Sausalito
Buttermilk Boulders - Bishop
Cannery Row - Monterey
Castle Rock Viewpoint - Monterey
Deep Creek Hot Springs - Apple Valley
Devils Golf Course
Devil's Punchbowl
Dumont Dunes
Golden Gate Overlook - San Francisco
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
Hot Creek (Mono County) - Mammoth Lakes
Inspiration Point - Corona Del Mar
Kelso Dunes
Kings Canyon National Park
La Jolla Cove - La Jolla
Leaning Tree - Inverness
Lookout Trail Viewpoint - Big Sur
McWay Cove - Big Sur
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes - Death Valley
Minaret Summit - Mammoth Lakes
Mobius Arch Stone - Lone Pine
Mormon Rocks - Phelan
Mosaic Canyon Trail
Mount Tallac
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum - Joshua Tree
Potato Chip Rock - Ramona
Rainbow Basin Natural Area - Barstow
Rainbow Canyon (California)
Redwood Giganten - Myers Flat
Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles
Solstice Canyon - Malibu
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - San Diego
Tecopa Hot Springs - Tecopa
Temple Crag
The Racetrack
Top of the World - Laguna Beach
Travertine Hot Springs - Bridgeport
Twin Peaks - San Francisco
Whitney Portal - Lone Pine
Wild Willy's Hot Spring
Zabriskie Point - California

State Parks

Alviso Marina County Park - Alviso
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - Borrego Springs
Emerald Bay State Park - South Lake Tahoe
Gray Whale Cove State Beach - Half Moon Bay
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - Big Sur
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area - Los Angeles
Runyon Canyon Park - Los Angeles

Tourist

Glory Hole - Napa
Hollywood Sign - Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame - Los Angeles
Murphy Ranch - Pacific Palisades
San Diego Zoo - San Diego
Santa Monica Pier - Santa Monica
Twin Peaks - San Francisco

Waterfalls

Brees Lookout at Hot Creek in Mammoth Lakes, CA

From Vegas to Tahoe - Route 395 Is the Ultimate California Road Trip
Tourists know about the Pacific Coast Highway road trip, and sure, that’s a spectacular oceanside drive. But U.S. Route 395 is the California road less traveled and more spectacular.

Bixby Creek Bridge in Monterey, CA

Coast to Coast: The Best Things to See on a Cross-Country Drive
When you're ready to plan a cross-country drive, your route will be dictated by highways, major cities and iconic landmarks. We'll highlight the best things to see on a cross-country road trip, and help you decide what you have to check out.

Goblin Valley State Park

An Epic Denver to Sequoia Road Trip
Planning a Denver to California road trip? There's plenty to see along the way. If you've got 10 days, here's a suggested road trip itinerary that takes you through multiple National Parks, a few awesome hikes, and easy driving between stops.

Rental Car Shortage

Rental Car Shortage Causing Price Spike Across U.S.
After a year of shedding unused vehicles, rental car companies have found themselves with a massive shortage in their fleets as we head into the spring and summer travel seasons.

Path along the alpine meadows of the Pacific Crest Trail

How To Prepare to Hike the Pacific Crest Trail
Who’s up for a 2,650-mile trek across the United States? Whether you choose to thru-hike or section hike, you’ll be blown away by the scenery from the deserts of southern California to the rugged vistas of northern Washington.

Highway 1 Slip Out near Big Sur, California

Highway 1 Falls into the Ocean in Big Sur, California
A section of Highway 1 about 20 miles south of Big Sur, California has fallen into the ocean debris from a torrential rain storm struck the road.

Badwater Basin

Visit the National Parks Virtually Through Amazon Prime
If you already pay for Amazon Prime, you may not realize that you have access to some awesome National Parks content on their streaming service.

Temecula Wine Country Tour

Temecula, a Hidden Gem in Southern California Wine Country
Temecula is considered “Southern California wine country,” a counterpart to Napa and Sonoma several hours north.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

A Musical Journey: The Ultimate List of Rock, R&B & Country Destinations in the USA
There's so much rich music history in the USA. Whether you like rock, blues, R&B, or country, there are plenty of great spots to bring a little electricity to your next road trip.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park closed due to poor air quality
According to the National Park Service's website, Yosemite National Park is "closed to all visitors and vehicular access due to significant smoke impacts and hazardous air quality throughout the park."

Death Valley National Park

Want to get paid $50k to Travel the National Parks? Michelob is hiring!
If you've always dreamed of quitting your job to road trip America in a RV and visit the National Parks, we've got great news for you. Michelob Ultra wants to pay you $50,000 to do it!

Delicate Arch at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah

The Best Five National Parks in America
Looking to visit your first National Park? While you could visit any of the 62 parks and not likely come away disappointed, there's a few that stand above the pack for their spectacular scenery and awe-inspiring features. Here's our ranking of the best National Parks in America.

Joshua Tree National Park

Soak up the Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park
Every time I visit Joshua Tree National Park, I come away with a rejuvenated appreciation for the grandeur of the California desert.

Kentucky Horses

Kentucky: The Most Underrated Road Trip State?
Whether you like hiking, horse racing, bourbon—or all of the above—Kentucky has so much to offer.

Slot Canyon Hikes

Three Awesome Slot Canyon Hikes in New Mexico
The first time I walked into one of these sculpted canyons, I was awestruck. Relief hit when I entered the cool and shady womb-like ravine.

San Antonio, Texas

10 Fun Things to Do in San Antonio, Texas
While it may be overshadowed by Dallas and Austin, San Antonio has plenty of must-see attractions beyond just the Alamo.

The Forest in Fall in Plymouth, Vermont

New England's Fall Foliage Puts on a Show in October
The last few weeks have been peak season for fall foliage in New England, and I spent the weekend of October 9-11 wandering New Hampshire and Vermont looking for perfect photo opportunities.

Path along the alpine meadows of the Pacific Crest Trail

How To Prepare to Hike the Pacific Crest Trail
Who’s up for a 2,650-mile trek across the United States? Whether you choose to thru-hike or section hike, you’ll be blown away by the scenery from the deserts of southern California to the rugged vistas of northern Washington.

Ririe, Idaho Rest Stop

Top Five Things To See in Idaho
Most people don’t know much about Idaho beyond its reputation for potatoes. That’s really not fair given how much there is to see in the state.

Badlands National Park

Five Must-See Stops in South Dakota
Whether you’re a nature-lover, history-buff, gambler or thrill-seeker, South Dakota and its Black Hills will delight you — and it will do so in the most low-key and relaxing way imaginable.

Niagara Falls State Park

Beyond the Big Apple: A road trip through Central & Western New York
In just a few days in Central and Western New York, you can experience some truly amazing natural wonders, picturesque scenery, classic Americana, and impactful history.

Rocks off the coast of Indian Beach at Ecola State Park in Clatsop County, Oregon on October 4, 2020. Photo by Peter Stringer

Wandering the Pacific Northwest for a Weekend Roadtrip
On a recent long weekend, I wandered the PNW with a fantastic drive around the region highlighted by stops at Mt. Rainier, the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, before a fantastic day on the breathtaking Oregon Coast.

Bixby Creek Bridge in Monterey, CA

Coast to Coast: The Best Things to See on a Cross-Country Drive
When you're ready to plan a cross-country drive, your route will be dictated by highways, major cities and iconic landmarks. We'll highlight the best things to see on a cross-country road trip, and help you decide what you have to check out.