CZ Approved

Cali Coastin

Drive Up -> Las Vegas to Lake Tahoe

We picked up our Mustang convertible through Turo, and while there was a slight delay, it ended up being a fairly easy experience overall.

First stop? Whole foods for road trip snacks (obviously), and then straight to In-N-Out because we were starved. We officially hit the road and made our first pit stop in Beatty, where we grabbed some candy and took a quick bathroom break.

From there, we powered on to Tonopah for gas, then made our way to Walker Lake for a quick picnic with McDonald’s we picked up along the way (because why not lol). Driving through the tiny desert towns along the way was such a unique part of the trip, with quirky signs, vintage diners, and big open roads.

Breaking the 7-hour drive into three mini legs made it feel way more manageable. We arrived in Lake Tahoe around 9 PM, just as an Old Dominion concert was letting out nearby – so the whole area felt alive.

Lake Tahoe –

Stay: Quality Inn South Lake Tahoe

Day 1: The Zephyr Cove Shuffle

We woke up early and hit the free hotel breakfast and wandered to get coffee before starting our day. We had a rough start beach-wise. A lot of the beaches we planned to visit – especially on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe – had parking or entry reservations we hadn’t read about in any of the blogs or sites we looked up. So we ended up scrambling for a bit trying to find a beach that would take us.

Eventually, we landed near Zephyr Cove, just 10 minutes from our hotel. The main parking lot was full, and they redirected us to Nevada Beach, but we persisted. Deep, deep Google searching revealed that local George Whittell High School opens its lot for overflow parking – $20 weekdays, $40 weekends, and up to $100 on holidays. We bit the bullet and paid the $40 for a Saturday, parked at the top of the hill, and honestly just embraced it as a part of the adventure.

We found a tucked away spot down the trail from the main beach and set up in a grassy area with everyone else. The views were unreal. The water? Even better. Lake Tahoe is glacial so it was freezing, but so refreshing in the heat. We ran straight in and later scrambled over to some rocks nearby where people were sunbathing or cliff-jumping. It was too hot for the sand, so we sprawled on the rocks for a while.

We headed back to the hotel around 4:30 PM to shower and get ready for the night. Dinner was at Becket Tavern, a BBQ spot Harry had spotted on the drive in, and it delivered. We sat on the patio with live music, and I had the Smokin’ Chicken Caesar, while Harry got a pulled pork grilled cheese with fries – yum. After dinner, we wandered around Heavenly Village and stumbled into Tipsy Putt – a bar with mini golf and cornhole. There was a bar crawl coming through, so we couldn’t golf, but the host was so sweet and gave us other games to play inside. We ended up staying and having such a good time.

Day 2: Emerald Bay + Kayaking Adventures

We woke up early again because we read that Emerald Bay gets packed as early as 9 AM. By the time we arrived (around 9:30), most of the parking for the Vikingsholm trail was already full. We circled back and parked in the Bayview Trailhead lot and decided to walk along the side of the highway (yes, it was sketchy, and yes, it’s a personal choice lol). Lots of people were doing it though, and it got us to the trail entrance.

The hike down to the Emerald Bay Beach area took about 20 minutes, and once you reach the bottom, there are options to explore the castle or head to the beach where you can rent kayaks. We rented a double kayak for two hours ($80 total) – honestly such a steal. We paddled out to the little island in the middle of the bay, where people had docked their kayaks and boats. There’s a small climb up to a tiny ruin-like structure at the top, with some of the most beautiful views of the mountains surrounding the water.

We spent time exploring the coastline and eventually found a private little cove to pull into and swim. It felt like our own slice of paradise. 10/10 moment. After kayaking, we made our way back up to the car to get ready for dinner, this time across the lake for our 6:30 PM reservations at Gar Woods Grill & Pier. The drive around the lake was breathtaking. Every curve gave us new mountain and lake views.

Gar Woods is this big, rustic-style lodge turned restaurant, and we got there a little early so we just grabbed drinks hung on the deck while we waited. For dinner, Harry got the bacon-wrapped filet & garlic scampi with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and I had the herb-roasted chicken with white wine rosemary jus, lemon feta orzo, and broccolini. Chefs. Kiss.

Napa Valley –

Stay: Hotel Indigo Napa Valley

We arrived around 2:30 PM and immediately hit the pool, which was quiet, warm, and perfect for a midday recharge. Later that night, we got ready and took the local bus into town (lol, it was honestly so easy and only 20 minutes). Dinner was at Los Agaves, where we shared elote, ordered mango margaritas with sugared rims, and I had taquitos while Harry ordered a wild braised lamb shank, which came out in a banana leaf 🤌🏻💋

Day 1: Breakfast, Tastings, and a Wild Walk

We started the day at Winston’s, where I had the best bagel/roll combo with cream cheese, cucumber, and tomato. It was perfect.

Our first tasting was at Beringer Vineyards (11:30 AM). We chose an outdoor tasting with a charcuterie board, and the pairing were insane. The cheese and wine combos were elite. Afterward, we strolled through their storybook-style garden – like straight out of Alice in Wonderland.

We Ubered to Beringer but decided to walk to our next tasting at V. Sattui Winery through St. Helena. Would we do it again? Debatable. But the stroll down main street was so cute – lined with antique shops, cafés, and dreamy little storefronts.

At V. Sattui, we did a 5-wine tasting; Harry went for reds, I went for whites. The winery looked like a Spanish-style villa and had a full deli and market on site. We didn’t buy anything there (prices were steep), and instead headed back to the hotel to relax and get ready for dinner at Fumé, a local favorite.

Yosemite

Stay: Oakhurst Airbnb

We drove into Yosemite from Napa, and the ride down was gorgeous. Our Airbnb? So cute. We pulled in and were immediately greeted by five deer just roaming the property.

Instead of heading straight into the park, we took the afternoon to chill at Bass Lake, a local gem nearby. We parked by the water, set up our little spot, and spent a few hours reading, sunbathing, and just unwinding.

Later that evening, we grabbed groceries in Oakhurst to make dinner and prep lunch for our early morning in the park. Every source we read said to get there early, and now we’re saying it too.

Yosemite Entry Tips!

We left the Airbnb at 6:30 AM, arrived around 7:30-7:45, and managed to snag a spot in the valley. We grabbed coffee and started our hike on the Mist Trail, although part of it was under construction and didn’t fully loop at the time.

Fair warning: This trail is packed. Like “nearly got taken out by a 7-year-old with hiking sticks” level-packed. Bring your patience. That said – the views? Unreal. It was one of the steepest hikes I’ve ever done, but every slippery, switchback-y step paid off. We reached Vernall Fall first, which was a set of waterfalls where one smaller one spills into a glowing emerald pool before dropping into a second, even larger cascade.

There was a no swimming sign, but it was so hot and so many people were already in the water that we cautiously joined. Not recommending it, as people have tragically fallen, and the current is no joke, but we stayed in the shallow area to dip and cool off.

On the way back down, we stopped by the lower falls where others were wading in and did a second cooldown there. It was the perfect end to a very sweaty day. Back at the Airbnb, we showered, packed for LA, and ended the night watching Free Solo – the Academy Award- winning documentary that follows climber Alex Honnold’s legendary, ropeless ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan. After hiking through that same valley, it hit so different – equal part awe-inspiring and anxiety-inducing.

Los Angeles

Stay: Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel & Spa

We checked into the Beverly Hills Hotel & Spa around 4 PM and decided to keep things easy – got ready and headed out for dinner in the Melrose/ West Hollywood area. We ate at Ysabel (VIBES), where I had the most delicious rigatoni vodka pasta…but not the spicy one. After dinner, we went bar-hopping along Santa Monica Boulevard, stopping at Laurel Hardware and Jones for drinks.

Day 1: Beverly Hills -> Venice Adventures

We woke up early and started our day with a walk through Beverly Hills to the Westfield Century City Mall, where I had to get Chamberlain Coffee – no shame, I’m obsessed with Miss Emma. Then we grabbed breakfast at Café Landwer, where I had shakshuka (so good).

Next stop: a walk around Rodeo Drive to explore the shops and street art. Of course, we had to check out Erewhon and try the famous Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie – and yes, it’s just as good as it looks.

We spent the rest of the afternoon by the hotel pool, soaking up the sun before heading to Santa Monica & Venice Beach for the evening. We caught the most stunning sunset at the Venice Beach Skatepark, walked the Speedway, and then had dinner at Belle’s Beach House. The vibe there was super chill, the food was amazing, and we might’ve had one of the best espresso martinis of the trip.

After dinner, we walked all the way to the Santa Monica Pier – about 50 minutes – and ended up riding the ferris wheel just as Santa Monica lit up for the night. It was ✨ magical ✨. After that, we hit a few bars – starting with Élephante (very Miami/ Ibiza beach club vibe, which surprised us a bit) and ended the night at a British pub, called Ye Olde King’s Head which was much more our speed for the evening.

Day 2: Downtown & Flea Market Finds

This day was HOT HOT HOT. We started at Smorgasburg LA in Downtown, wandering through stalls filled with food, handmade art, clothes, and all sorts of flea market finds. Sticking to the local and vintage theme, we headed over to the Silver Lake Flea Market, where the vibe was very boho-meets-modern-vintage – lots of layers, sheer textures, chunky jewelry, and brands like I.AM.Gia, Guizio, and more.

We considered this our Downtown LA day and decided to hit the Hollywood Sign while we had the car in the area. We then drove through Hollywood Boulevard (we were way too hot to get out and walk it) and while it wasn’t the most exciting stop, it was still fun to cruise through.

After a rest at the hotel, we got ready for a more low-key evening. Dinner at CouCou, a gorgeous French spot tucked between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. We shared the most stunning lobster pasta dinner, followed by what I still consider – to this day – the best vanilla soft serve sundae I’ve ever had. We ended the night with a walk to the Sunset Strip to explore some bars. It was a slower Sunday, but we still had a great time – and yes, we made a stop at TomTom (cue the Vanderpump music).

Day 3: Malibu by Miley

Alexa, play Malibu by Miley Cyrus. Our last full LA day was a dreamy one. We had a late breakfast, then headed to Malibu Beach around noon and spent about two hours in the waves…until I got rudely attacked by a rogue wave, after that, we decided we earnt a visit to Malibu Farm Pier Café to reset.

We spent a little more time soaking up the sun, then freshened up at one of the public beach showers (bless), and got ready for our dinner at Nobu Malibu. Holy. Heck. What a meal. What a view. We were lucky enough to get a table with a sunset waterfront view, and everything – from the food to the ambiance – was just chef’s kiss. We called it an early night since we had a travel day ahead to Santa Barbara, but this was the perfect was to close out LA.

📍LA Quick Favorites

To Eat

  • Ysabel
  • Café Landwer
  • Belles Beach House
  • CouCou
  • Malibu Farm Pier Café
  • Nobu Malibu
  • Chamberlain Coffee
  • Erewhon

Bars

  • Laurel Hardware
  • Jones
  • Élephante
  • TomTom
  • Ye Olde King’s Head

Santa Barbara

Stay: Casa Jardin – Boutique Stays

We arrived in the ever-beautiful Santa Barbara around 1:30 PM from LA, and simply put – Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to. It had that Spanish coastal charm that immediately took me back to the towns I visited in Spain, and maybe it was just the time of year, but it felt so quaint.

We needed a coffee pick-me-up and stopped at Handlebar Coffee Roasters, which was exactly what we needed. After recharging, we hit State Street to browse through the MANY vintage stores, and honestly, I was relieved I had no extra room in my suitcase because I wanted everything.

We wandered down State Street through the farmers market (which just happened to be happening that day – gorgeous) and made our way all the way to the pier, where we laid on the beach while the sun was still warm. Later, we went back to our place to get ready for a casual dinner at Sandbar in downtown (huge margs). BTW: the sunset that night? 10/10.

Dinner was great and, surprisingly, the whole town still felt uncrowded – maybe because college hadn’t started yet and students were still away. After dinner, we walked it off a bit and then spotted McConnell’s Ice Cream…and who can say no to that? Then we headed home for the night.

Day 1: Vintage Finds, Box Crab Glory & Beach Walks

We tried to be up pretty early for our only full day in Santa Barbara, and let me just say, we’re definitely going back. We started by walking through the historic part of town to Dart Coffee Co for espresso and a breakfast burrito. They share a space with a taco place called Tamar and the whole setup was really creative.

After more vintage shop browsing, it was time for the main food event of the trip: the 3lb box crab from Santa Barbara Shellfish Company. Holy heck. I’ve had my fair share of lobster in Maine and crab in Maryland, but this? This was something else. They gave tools and everything, we felt like kids cracking into it, and somehow… we ate the whole thing.

To walk it off, we did a 50-minute scenic walk to Butterfly Beach, and honestly? It was one of the most beautiful stretches we walked the entire trip. It’s worth noting: Santa Barbara (and San Diego) were noticeably cooler than other spots we visited, so we didn’t swim, but we enjoyed the warmth and beach breeze.

That night, we went back to catch the sunset – again, gorgeous – and kept it super casual for dinner. We ended up at The Cruisery, and I’m not joking when I say I had some of the best chicken tendies of my life. Sometimes, you just need a no-frills meal to balance the fine dining.

San Diego

Stay: Pacific Terrace Hotel – Pacific Beach

Wow, San Diego. You are absolutely stunning. We got into the Pacific Beach area around 4 PM and immediately wanted to make the most of our time. After checking in (our hotel was literally right on the beach path), we got dressed for dinner. At first, we were definitely dressed for warmer weather, but quickly realized how cold it gets at night there and had to change.

We took advantage of our hotel’s happy hour specials before heading to dinner at Waterbar, where I had some amazing mahi mahi tacos. We then walked off our dinner with another 50- minute stroll down the beach path.

We had heard the Pacific Beach can attract a bit of a younger, college crowd – and that was definitely the case. We hopped between Open Bar and PB Shore Club before calling it an early night.

Day 1: Sea Lions, Pool Dreams & Gaslamp Drinks

We started the morning with a walk in La Jolla (pronounced la hoy-uh) and saw so many sea lions. I was in awe.

Afterward, we headed to The Lafayette Hotel Pool Club, which was totally my request, and I am forever grateful Harry indulged me. This historic hotel, a former haven for Hollywood stars in the 1940s, recently got a $31 million maximalist makeover, and I had to see it. Think zebra print, velvet accents, cabanas, and the dreamiest pool you’ve ever seen.

That night, we got ready for dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter. We ate at Rustic Root, then wandered the strip until we found The Tipsy Crow, where we stayed for a couple drinks before heading back to the hotel.

Day 2: Açai & The Zoo of All Zoos

We started the day with açaí bowls from Açaí Carioca, just a few minutes from our hotel – and I still dream of that bowl. No idea what made it so good, but wow.

Then it was off to the San Diego Zoo, and as someone who loves a zoo, this was something else entirely. The park was huge and beautifully designed, and they even had an aerial tram that crossed the zoo from above. It was clever, fun, and honestly so relaxing.

After heading back to rest and change, we went to Leila for dinner – top three meal of the trip, hands down. This Persian-Lebanese restaurant was straight out a movie: starry ceilings, waterfalls, glowing fire pits, and the smell of fresh pita in the air. We had an incredible meal and a cozy, beautiful night.

Day 3: Safari Park & Goodbye, Coastal Weather

We woke up bright and early for our final activity: the San Diego Safari Park. With our combo ticket, we got to see both parks and paid the $20 fast-pass line for the African tram and got to see giraffes, zebras, and more.

This is where we finally felt the temperature shift – it was HOT inland. Thankfully we had a change of clothes in the car (go us), and we got ready for the desert leg of the trip.

Palm Springs

Stay: Ace Hotel & Swim Club

We got into Palm Springs around 4:30 PM and were immediately hit with that desert heat. We were super thankful that this part of the trip was all about relaxing – because let me tell you, that 110 degree heat was HOT.

Our room at the Ace Hotel had a gorgeous layout and a private patio just steps from the pool. We changed into swimsuits and spent the afternoon at the pool bar, soaking it all in.

The hotel had everything: breakfast, lunch, dinner, gym, spa, and even a bingo night (yes, we went). There were DJ sets on some nights which were super fun without being overwhelming. The whole vibe was boutique and perfectly laid-back.

One evening, we ventured out to Bar Cecil, a romantic, highly-reviewed spot nearby. We walked there – which was a bold move in the heat – but the quiet streets were actually kind of dreamy. The dinner? Divine. It was the perfect date night.

Overall, we spent 3-4 days here just doing nothing and everything at the same time. Pure peace.

Joshua Tree

Stay: Airbnb

We had just one night in Joshua Tree, but it was the perfect final stop before heading back. We arrived in the afternoon and were relieved to find it slightly cooler than Palm Springs (a balmy 98° degrees instead of 110° lol). Our Airbnb had a pool and a washer/dryer, so we swam and did laundry to prep for our return home.

That night, we ate at Joshua Tree Saloon and had a relaxed evening. The next morning, we stopped at Mas o Menos for a quick desert photo booth pic (because #content) before heading out.

And…that drive back to Vegas? Brutal. Our car’s A/C gave out, and there were no real stops along the way. I’ve honestly blocked it out.

Final thoughts…

This was truly the most magical 3 weeks of my life. I had never done a road trip like this – so many stops, so many landscapes, so many memories. We agreed we’ll be back to Yosemite in a cooler season to explore more, and next time, we’d probably take a day from LA and add it to Santa Barbara or San Diego. We loved LA, but Santa Barbara and San Diego had more activities we didn’t get to fit in, and their vibe just felt so us.

From beach towns to mountain hikes, sunset diners to desert stargazing – this road trip was everything.

zwolakclaire
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