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California's National Parks Road Trip
An adventurous road trip accelerating you across mountains, valleys, deserts, beaches and cities.
You’ll start on San Francisco’s steep streets, end in Las Vegas’ neon lit glow and in between lace up your boots and face the natural elements in some of the USA’s most jaw dropping National Parks. You'll be fronting Yosemite’s waterfalls, wildlife and granite peaks, embracing the silent wilderness of Sequoia and trekking across Death Valley’s dramatic desert layers. This is a real ‘hit the open road trip’ designed to give you enough time to soak up two laidback southern California cities, stopping in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles along the way.
Itinerary overview
San Francisco
Experience the City by the Bay
Your journey begins in California’s Golden Gate City where cable cars traverse nuttily steep hills and bohemian neighbourhoods boast independent boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants. In San Francisco, culture collides with Pacific Ocean vibes and you’re just as likely to be ducking into museums and cathedrals as you are soaking up seafaring style. Give yourself three nights here to hire bikes and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, see the sea lions at Pier 39 and catch a ride on a classic San Fran cable car. Board the hop on and off open-top Big Bus and do everything from North Beach to Nob Hill in one day or go entirely your own way, from a whale watching tour to waterfront dining and coastal trails to craft cocktail bars.
Yosemite
Land of eagles, condors and bears
In the heart of the western Sierra Nevada mountains, about a four-hour drive from San Francisco, phenomenal scenery comes as standard in the nearly 750,000 acres of Yosemite National Park. Here you’ll finally see those thundering sky high falls, giant glacier domes and ancient sequoia trees. Spring is the time to chase waterfalls, autumn and summer are fabulous seasons to hike and winter, the least crowded time, is for visitors hoping to see the first whisper-quiet drops of snow. Spend a night in Yosemite and stretch out your legs for spectacular hikes across well-sign posted trails or motor across scenic roads to the mega rocks – Half Dome and Clouds Rest are up there with the best. The fearless tackle the sheer rock face of El Capitan while serenity seekers cycle the Valley Loop or head to the glass-like waters of Tenaya Lake. Take the windy drive up to Glacier Point for the ultimate views of America's most iconic valley. Please note: An advanced purchase vehicle permit system is in place for Yosemite National Park. See https://www.yosemite.com/yosemite-reservation-permit/ for more details.
Sequoia
The land of giants
A number of driving routes take you from Yosemite to Sequoia, the quickest is about 2 and a half hours from Yosemite View Lodge to Wyndham Visalia. From here, exploring the National Park is a breeze, whether you’re heading to the tallest tree in the world, General Sherman, or venturing into subterranean chambers to see stalactites and stalagmites. Venture deep into the National Park – home to wilderness trails, wildflower forests and the tallest trees in the world – and you'll feel like a tiny speck. Allow two days here to drive under Tunnel Log, live like fairies in the Giant Forest and explore Crystal Cave;s mythical underground chambers. Look out for deer and marmots on Crescent Meadow, take the tamer hike to Tokopah Falls or the more challenging one to Moro Rock for dizzying canyon views.
Santa Barbara
The American Riviera
Swapping giant trees and crystal caves for California’s central coast, buckle up for the 400 kilometre dive to Santa Barbara. This tiny town’s reputation exceeds its geographic size: just 90 miles north of Los Angeles it’s close enough for its celebrity citizens to catch their agent in the melee of LA, but just far enough away for escapism. Set aside two nights in Santa Barbara to enjoy its Spanish architecture and slow like honey pace. Pootle down to the Pacific Ocean, sip wine on pretty patios and discover your next favourite farm-to-fork restaurant. Drive out to Montecito for the day, stay central and top up your tan on Hendry’s beach or sail off at sunset on a harbour cruise.
Los Angeles
An Oscar-worthy trip
Taking the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles is the classic and scenic route. Choose to stop at sights along the way - Ojai, Ventura and Malibu – or head straight into Tinseltown’s palm-studded landscape where surfing, shopping, museums and movie star attractions await. Remarkably multifaceted, LA is never just Hollywood. First time visiting? Experience 90210’s luxury, take the movie star tours and see the skyline from rooftop bars. Coming back for a second look? Visit Griffith Park, surf in Santa Monica and stroll around LACMA and The Getty. Three nights gives you enough time to take it all in – perhaps a performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall, a hike to the Hollywood Sign, some serious shopping on Rodeo Drive or the 3D rides at Universal Studios.
Death Valley
Discover the beauty of the badlands
California’s beauty beyond the beaches is a scorching surprise. Approximately a four hour drive from Los Angeles brings you to Death Valley, passing through the subranges of the southern Sierra to reach Stove Pipe Wells, the commercial hub. Spanning over three million acres of mountains, canyons, sands and salt flats, it’s impossible not to be captivated by Death Valley’s sculpted beauty. Reserve a night here and get more than a glimpse of the hottest, driest place on the North American continent. Hike Badwater Basin’s salt flats and the ever-moving Mesquite sand dunes, catch sunrise at Zabriskie Point and motor along Artist’s Drive to experience its colourful volcanic rocks. If you’ve never been up close to a caldera, now’s your chance: walk to the bottom of the 600 foot deep Ubehebe crater or take the easier trip around the rim.
Las Vegas
Entertainment Capital of the World
You’re already in the Mojave Desert, and a two-hour drive will take you to drama of a manmade kind. Las Vegas: the showstopping resort city where anything goes. The hotels are opulent, the shows out of this world and the experiences as diverse as your dreams. Palm trees, pool parties and pina coladas or Cirque de Soleil, celebrity restaurants and soothing gondola rides. Allow yourself a night in Las Vegas to be drawn in by the dazzling lights and the thrills of the roulette tables, indulge in a cornucopia of exceptional dining and breath-taking entertainment, and escape the madness with a soaring heli-flight over The Grand Canyon.
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