Post on 10-Apr-2018
This edition written and researched by
Sara BensonNate Cavalieri
Beth Kohn
AMAZING ROAD TRIPS35
BEST TRIPSCALIFORNIA’S
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
MAP LEGEND
SYMBOLS IN THIS BOOK CONTENTS
% Telephone Number
h Opening Hours
p Parking
n Nonsmoking
a Air-Conditioning
i Internet Access
W Wi-Fi Access
v Vegetarian Selection
s Swimming Pool
E English-Language Menu
c Family-Friendly
# Pet-Friendly
Tips from Locals
Top Tips
Link Your Trips
Trip Detour
5 Eating
Family
History & Culture
Food & Drink
Outdoors
Essential Photo
Walking Tour
4 Sleeping
CONTENTS
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Welcome to California..................... 7
California Classic Trips................... 8
California Highlights.......................12
If You Like....................................... 22
Need to Know...................................24
City Guide........................................ 26
ON THE ROAD
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIPS................................31
1 Pacific Coast Highways............. 7–10 Days 35
2 San Francisco, Marin& Napa Loop.........4–5 Days 49
3 Earthquake Trail............................ 3 Days 61
4 Alice Waters’ Culinary Tour............. 3 Days 69
5 Napa Valley.....................2–3 Days 79
6 Sonoma Valley......................... 2 Days 91
7 Russian River & theBohemian Highway... 2 Days 99
8 Mendocino & Anderson Valley....3–4 Days 107
9 Lost Coast & Southern Redwoods.................. 4 Days 115
Walk Track/Path
River/CreekIntermittent RiverSwamp/MangroveCanalWaterDry/Salt/Intermittent LakeGlacier
BeachCemetery(Christian)Cemetery (Other)ParkForest
Sportsground
International
Cliff
Capital (National)Capital(State/Province)City/Large TownTown/Village
State/Province
StepsPlaza/Mall
PedestrianOverpass
Tunnel
Walk RouteLinked TripTrip DetourTrip Route
Airport
UndergroundTrain Station
Train/Railway
Cable Car/Funicular
Transport
US Interstate Hwy US National Hwy
California State Hwy
ReservationUrban Area
Trip Stop
Tram
Trip Numbers
2
#9
Walking tour
Trip Detour
Hydrography
Areas
Boundaries
Population
Routes
Highway Route Markers
[Ù97
VUÓ5dk44
Trips
Parking
1
LaneTertiary
TollwayFreewayPrimarySecondary
Unsealed Road
2
CONTENTSCONTENTS
a Northern Redwood Coast.......................... 5 Days 125
b Trinity Scenic Byway........................ 3 Days 133
c Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway........... 3 Days 141
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TRIPS..............................149
d BigSur.............................. 2 Days 153
e Along Highway 1to Santa Cruz........2–3 Days 161
f Around Monterey& Carmel...............2–3 Days 169
g Around San LuisObispo................... 2–3 Days 179
h Santa Barbara WineCountry..................2–3 Days 187
i Lake TahoeLoop.......................2–3 Days 197
j Yosemite, Sequoia& Kings Canyon
National Parks.............. 5–7 Days 205
k Eastern SierraScenic Byway.......3–5 Days 217
l Highway 49 ThroughGold Country.........3–4 Days 227
NorthernCalifornia
p31
CentralCalifornia
p149
SouthernCalifornia
p269
3
Contents cont.
m Ebbetts PassScenic Byway............2 days 237
n Feather RiverScenic Byway.......3–4 Days 245
o Lazy DeltaDawdle....................... 2 Days 253
p Highway 99 ThroughCentral Valley........... 3 Days 261
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIPS..............................269
q Disneyland & OrangeCounty Beaches....2–4 Days 273
r Fun on the SanDiego Coast...........2–4 Days 283
s MissionTrail............................ 5 Days 295
t SoCal PopCulture....................... 3 Days 303
u Route66...........................3–4 Days 313
v Big Bear & Rim of the World Scenic Byway.......2–3 Days 323
w Life in Death Valley.............. 3 Days 331
x Palm Springs &Joshua Tree
Oases.............................2–3 Days 341
y Palms to PinesScenic Byway........... 2 Days 349
z Temecula, Julian &Anza-Borrego............ 3 Days 357
CALIFORNIA DRIVING GUIDE................364
4
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LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
AMY STARBIN, LA
SCREENWRITER &
MOM
For a fun way to cool off when
driving through LA along the coast,
bring the family out to Santa
Monica Pier (www.santamonicapier.org).
Not only do you get a great view
of the ocean, you can also get up
close and personal with sea life at
the aquarium (www.healthebay.org).
Then head up top for a spin on the
carousel used in The Sting or the
solar-powered Ferris wheel.
Top: Pool, Hearst Castle,
Left: Lighthouse, Trinidad
Right: Redwoods
make tour reservations
in advance, especially for
living-history evening
programs during the
Christmas holiday
season. About 4.5 miles
further north along Hwy
1, park at the signposted
vista point and amble
the boardwalk to view
the enormous elephant
seal colony that breeds,
molts, sleeps, plays and
ghts on the beach. Seals
haul out year-round, but
the winter birthing and
mating season peaks
on Valentine’s Day.
Nearby, Piedras Blancas
Light Station (www.
piedrasblancas.org; tour adult/
child $10/5; hcall for hr) is
an outstandingly scenic
spot.
54 p 47
The Drive » Fill your car’s
gas tank before plunging north
into the redwood forests of
the remote Big Sur coast (see
p 153 ), where precipitous cliff s
dominate the seascape, and
tourist services are few and far
between. Hwy 1 keeps curving
north to the Monterey Peninsula
(see p 169 ), approximately a
three-hour, 100-mile trip from
Hearst Castle.
8 MontereyAs Big Sur loosens its
condor’s talons on the
coastal highway, Hwy
1 rolls gently downhill
towards Monterey Bay.
The shing community
of Monterey is the heart
of Steinbeck country,
and although Cannery
Row today is touristy
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ARIZONA
San ClementeIsland
San NicolasIsland
M E X I C O
CatalinaIsland
Channel Islands
MojaveDesert
P A C I F I CO C E A N
SaltonSea
PinnaclesNationalMonument
Joshua TreeNational Park
Death ValleyNational Park
KingsCanyonNationalPark
MojaveNationalPreserve
SequoiaNational Park
Anza-BorregoDesert State
Park
SierraNationalForest
ClevelandNationalForest
SequoiaNationalForest
VentanaWilderness
Kings River
n
River
Kern R
iver
Big Sur
Mt Whitney(14,505ft)
TelescopePeak
(11,049ft)
Morro Bay
Beatty
Goffs
PanamintSprings
StovepipeWellsVillage
PasoRobles
Tecopa
Baker
Pismo Beach
FurnaceCreek
Mojave
Amboy
BlytheNewport BeachIndio
Victorville
NeedlesBarstow
La Jolla
Huntington BeachSeal Beach
San ClementeLaguna Beach
Oceanside
San Bernardino
Tijuana
Long Beach PalmSprings
SantaBarbara
Bakersfield
MontereyFresno
Santa Cruz
San Diego
Las Vegas
Yuma
San LuisObispo
Santa Monica Anaheim
Malibu
Mexicali
Los Angeles
Kingman
LakeHavasuCity
0 100 km0 50 miles#e
1 Pacific Coast HighwaysThe ultimate coastal road trip
takes in beaches, redwood
forests and more. 7–10 DAYS
30 Route 66Dillydally through the desert,
then zoom past retro icons
into LA. 3–4 DAYS
32 Life in Death ValleyOld West mining ghost towns,
strange geology and inspiring
panoramic views. 3 DAYS
26 Disneyland & Orange County BeachesMeet Mickey Mouse, then surf
the ‘OC’ coast. 2–4 DAYS
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OREGON
NEVADA
ShastaLake
MonoLake
LakeTahoe
GooseLake
ClearLake
RedwoodNationalPark
Lassen VolcanicNational Park
YosemiteNationalPark
Point ReyesNationalSeashore
InyoNationalForest
TrinityNationalForest
PlumasNationalForest
ModocNationalForest
MendocinoNationalForest
LassenNationalForest
KlamathNationalForest
Trinity AlpsWilderness
ShastaNationalForest
SouthYuba RiverState Park
Six RiversNationalForest
SanJaoquin
R
PitR
iver
Klamath River
Sacramen
toRiver
Sierra Nevada
Mt Shasta(14,179ft)
White Mountain(14,246ft)
PointArena
Weed
Mendocino
JacksonNapa
AngelsCamp
PaloAlto
San Rafael
Volcano
Sonoma Locke
Alturas
Truckee
Bishop
NevadaCity
Coloma
Sonora
StHelena
Yountville
MammothLakes
Sutter Creek
Calistoga
Leggett
Davis
Arcata
South Lake Tahoe
Fort Bragg
RedBluff
Susanville
Eureka
Berkeley
CrescentCity
Placerville
San Jose
Stockton
Santa Rosa
Chico
Redding
Oakland
Reno
Sacramento
San Francisco
Carson City
Columbia
Medford
Winnemucca
Ely#÷
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5 Napa ValleyFabulous winery estates and
celebrity chef restaurants
grace this region. 2–3 DAYS
19 Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Be awed by giant
sequoias. 5–7 DAYS
21 Highway 49 Through Gold
Country Head for the hills and
California’s historic pioneer
mining towns. 3–4 DAYS
CALIFORNIA
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P IETRO CANALI / SOPA / CORBIS ©
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5Napa Valley Hundreds of wineries inhabit America’s premier viticulture region.
wLife in Death Valley The Badwater salt pan is the lowest point in North America.
qDisneyland & Orange County Beaches Warm sand, art galleries and a walkable downtown await in Laguna Beach.
WHAT IS A CLASSIC TRIP? All the trips in this book show you the best of Cali fornia, but we’ve chosen seven as our all-time favorites. These are our Classic Trips – the ones that lead you to the best of the iconic sights, the top activities and the unique Califor nia experiences. Turn the page to see the map, and look out for the Classic Trip stamp throughout the book
CALIFORNIA
qw
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Eureka
Monterey
San Diego
LosAngeles
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Santa BarbaraBountiful beaches and a nearby wine country
210 miles
San FranciscoBy Golden Gate Park,
cross the famous bridge
550 miles
Around Hearst Castle
Tour a hilltop mansion, then gape at elephant
seals
350 miles
RedwoodNational Park
With the world'stallest trees
850 miles
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Pacifi c Coast Highways
7–10 DAYS 1000 MILES/1610KM
GREAT FOR…
HJG
BEST TIME TO GO Year-round, but July to October for the sunniest skies.
I ESSENTIAL PHOTO
Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay.
K BEST TWO DAYS
Santa Barbara north to Monterey via Big Sur.
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1Our top pick for classic California dreamin’ snakes along the Pacifi c coast for 1000 miles. Uncover beaches, seafood shacks and piers for catching sunsets over boundless ocean horizons.
Big Sur coast Precipitous cliffs dominate the seascape
3534
Look out for the Classic Trips stamp on our favorite routes in this book.
1 Pacific Coast Highways............. 7–10 Days 35
5 Napa Valley.....................2–3 Days 79
j Yosemite, Sequoia &Kings Canyon National
Parks.............................. 5–7 Days 205
l Highway 49 Through Gold Country.........3–4 Days 227
q Disneyland & OrangeCounty Beaches....2–4 Days 273
u Route66...........................3–4 Days 313
w Life in Death Valley.............. 3 Days 331
5
Beth Kohn A lucky long-time resident of San Francisco, Beth lives to be playing outside or splashing in big puddles of water, and there’s always a California atlas stashed in her red pickup truck in case a back road looks particularly promising. An author of Lonely Planet’s Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Mexico and California guides, you can see more of her work at www.bethkohn.com.
My Favorite Trip k Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway Who can get enough of those hot springs and mountain views?
383
OUR STORYA beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end –
broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies. Lonely Planet was born.
Today, Lonely Planet has offices in Melbourne, London and Oakland, with more than 600 staff and writers. We share Tony’s belief that ‘a great guidebook should do three things: inform, educate and amuse’.
OUR WRITERS
Nate Cavalieri Born and raised in rural Michigan, Nate Cavalieri has a sentimental soft spot for the piquant cow pastures, political radicals and sleepy one-stoplight towns of Northern California. One of his favorite trips traced the stunning Feather River and into the exotic wilds of the northeastern corner of the state. He authors guides for Lonely Planet on the US, Central America and the Caribbean, writes about music and maintains several fictional twitter accounts about professional cycling. He lives in Oakland. Look him up at www.natecavalieri.com.
My Favorite Trip u Route 66 Driving California’s Mother Road – windows down, radio blasting, endless blue skies all around – offered the most iconic road trip experience.
Sara Benson After graduating from college, Sara jumped on a plane to California with just one suitcase and $100 in her pocket. She has bounced around the Golden State ever since, including in the Sierra Nevada, where she worked as a seasonal park ranger. The author of over 50 travel and nonfiction books, Sara also coordinated Lonely Planet’s California guide. Follow her adventures online at www.indietraveler.blogspot.com, www.indietraveler.net and @indie_traveler on Twitter.
My Favorite Trip l Highway 49 Through Gold Country I explored the last lonely stretches of a California highway I’d never driven before. Eureka!
Published by Lonely Planet Publications Pty LtdABN 36 005 607 9832nd edition – Feb 2013ISBN 978 1 74179 810 4© Lonely Planet 2013Photographs © as indicated 201310 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Printed in ChinaAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, except brief extracts for the purpose of review, and no part of this publication may be sold or hired, without the written permission of the publisher. Lonely Planet and the Lonely
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MORE.WRITERS
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Read more about Sara at: www.lonelyplanet.com/members/Sara_Benson
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