From Scary Roads to Sunny Beaches: My California Adventure (week 1)
California has always conjured up images of golden beaches, endless sunshine, and laid-back surf culture. But on my recent two-week solo road trip across the state, I discovered so much more: towering forests, charming small towns, and unforgettable adventures on (sometimes terrifying) mountain roads. In this post, I’ll share highlights from my journey, from San Francisco to Yosemite and beyond, along with tips to help you plan your own California escape.
– Why I Chose California
– My Flexible Travel Plan
– San Francisco
– Gold Rush Towns and Scary Roads
– Yosemite National Park
– A European-Style Detour
– Saying Goodbye and Looking Ahead
Why I Chose California for a Return Visit
I’ve been to the US a few times before, and even to California when LA was the endpoint of a three-week road trip from New York. Normally I try to visit at least one new country a year, but this year there were no new passport stamps planned—so why go back to a state I’d been to before?
Well, for a few reasons:
Firstly, California is massive. Just because I’ve been to San Diego and LA doesn’t mean I’ve seen everything California has to offer. In fact, I think I’d need at least six months to even touch the sides!
Secondly, I’d earned a voucher with my BA Amex, which normally means a free ticket for a second person, but as a solo traveller, it let me halve the air miles needed instead. That made a return trip to the U.S. just 30,000 Avios plus £100. Destination options were limited, and flights to California happened to fit the timing.
Lastly, the weather! The UK in April is normally pretty rainy. California tends to be sunny, but not too hot that my pale ginger skin would have to go into hiding. As luck would have it, the UK had the best spring weather seen in my lifetime, and I had quite a few days of rain in California. But I’d still always rather be on holiday!
All of these things led to me boarding the double decker plane from London to San Francisco on a sunny spring morning.
“Just because I’ve been to San Diego and LA doesn’t mean I’ve seen everything California has to offer.”
My Flexible Travel Plan
My plan for this trip was not much of a plan at all. I knew I was going to spend a few days in San Francisco at the start and end of the trip, head to Yosemite for a night and then meet up with a friend for a few days. But other than that, I had no plan.
✅ Planning Tip
Some of my best discoveries came from deciding plans the night before. If you enjoy spontaneity, leave room in your itinerary for surprises.
Lack of planning sometimes meant that my choices turned out to be less than ideal, but on the whole it made for a fun trip.
Days 1–2 and 14–15 – San Francisco
I both started and ended my trip in San Francisco. There were quite a few sites to see, so I’ve decided to do a separate post just for the city so I can do it justice. See this post for where I recommend, and where I stayed on a budget.
Day 3 – Gold Rush Towns and America’s Scariest Road
I picked up my hire car on the morning of day three, ready to set off across the state. I had ordered a compact car as I usually drive a small car at home, but ended up with a Jeep Compass against my wishes—having a giant (for me) car would add to my worries later in the day.
✅ Travel Tip – Car Rentals
If you’re nervous about driving big vehicles on mountain roads, double-check your rental car booking and confirm at pickup. Insist on the size you’re comfortable with.
My first stop for the day was the Columbia State Historic Park, an old gold town preserved as a living museum. There were stagecoach rides, old-timey buildings and shops, as well as an old bowling alley, a restaurant, and a cafe with some really tasty ice creams. Before I left, I grabbed lunch at the Charles Street Saloon and had what I genuinely think may be the best pizza I’ve ever had—it’s definitely in my top three!
“Highway 49—America’s scariest road. Sheer drops, no guard rails, and too many confident drivers.”
After lunch, I made the short drive to Jamestown to the Railtown 1897 State Historic Park for some trainspotting. It is only a small place—I probably only spent 45 minutes there—but there were some really cool old trains, including a movie star engine that was in Back to the Future Part III. If you’re nearby and like trains, it’s worth a little diversion, but I wouldn’t go out of your way to visit.
My final stop of the day was to be Mariposa. I was heading into Yosemite the next day so wanted to stay somewhere nearby – staying in the park itself would have been my preference but the cost meant I could only afford one night. Mariposa was only about an hour from the park and had some reasonably priced hotels so it seemed like the best option.
I didn’t however bank on the drive there being the scariest of my life! I’ve always found being a passenger on windy mountain roads, especially when there is a drop at the side, to be scary. Turns out that as a driver on these roads I was absolutely petrified. The journey Google Maps took me was on Highway 49 – which I think is the scariest road in America! There are so many twists and turns, no guard rails, a sheer drop to the side, and way too many confident drivers! At times I slowed down to 15–20 miles per hour as I was so scared of plummeting off the edge. I was still shaking 30 minutes after making it to Mariposa and went in search of a cider to calm my nerves.
When I arrived at the town I was pleasantly surprised with the number of bars, restaurants and shops – there was plenty of choice, and even a quiz night at the local craft beer bar. I spent a few hours in a really cool dive bar, The Hideout Saloon, but decided to leave in order to look after my imaginary sick boyfriend after a local guy took too much of a liking to my English accent!
Day 4 (and half of 5) – Yosemite National Park
I headed out early the next morning to drive to Yosemite. This was the highlight of my entire trip, so I’ve written a standalone post so I can do this wonderful place justice. See my One Day In Yosemite post to read all about my time here.
✅ Budget Tip – Yosemite Accommodation
Staying inside Yosemite National Park is incredible but can be pricey. Book well in advance, or look for options in nearby towns to save money.
Days 5–7 – A European-Style Detour
After I left Yosemite I headed south to meet up with a friend. He is currently hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, but had taken a few days off so we could hang out. After a four-hour drive I picked him up in Tehachapi and we headed to our hotel in a place he’d suggested – Mojave.
✅ Destination Tip – Mojave
Don’t assume every dot on the map is a town. Mojave is mostly motels on a highway. If you want an actual town and atmosphere, stay in Tehachapi instead.
Luckily there was a bar and a burrito restaurant, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time. But don’t make the mistake we did, and do your research!
The next morning, in the pouring rain, we drove to Solvang. Ideally I wouldn’t have headed here at this point in the trip as I was going to be driving close by in about a week’s time. But it was somewhere my friend fancied visiting, and given he was only off trail for a few days, I was happy to go.
Solvang is a beautiful town up in the hills that’s been designed in the style of a Danish village. We spent a fun afternoon here exploring the independent shops, including about an hour in the book shop, sampling ciders from the various pubs and just enjoying the vibes.
✅ Insider Tip – Solvang Weekends
Solvang is a popular weekend getaway. Hotels book up fast and prices soar on Saturday nights. Reserve early if you plan to visit.
We booked our hotel last minute which meant this ended up being the most expensive accommodation of the trip. I definitely think Solvang is worth a visit on your road trip – there are plenty of nice shops and restaurants to explore and a few coffee shops for your morning caffeine boost.
After hitting up one of these cafes for breakfast we hit the road and headed back to Tehachapi for the night, via a stop at Santa Barbara beach. Tehachapi is a small but charming town, however not somewhere that you need to head out of your way to. We spent the evening at a cool dive bar and (yet another) pizza place before getting an early night as my friend was heading back on trail early the next day.
Saying Goodbye and Looking Ahead
The next morning I said goodbye to my friend as I dropped him off at the trailhead to continue his adventure. As I write this he’s still on trail and having a great time. I’d love to have the confidence, and physical ability, to do what he’s doing — I think it will be a real achievement to complete the entire trek, especially solo.
But as he set off into the sun I headed out to enjoy the rest of my solo adventure and explore more of California. There were too many cool places to write about so I’ve split the trip into two – read about the second week of my road trip in my next post!
💰 Accommodation & Car Hire Costs
Most posts I read that provide “budget” hotel options are not normally budget in my eyes—if a room for one person costs £100 a night, it isn’t budget! So here’s exactly where I stayed during my two-week trip, plus what I paid. Some were affordable, some… not so much.
🚗 Car Hire
11 days – £273.35
🏨 Accommodation
| Location | Hotel | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (2 nights) | The Fitzgerald Hotel | £129.86 |
| Mariposa | Mother Lode Lodge | £70.63 |
| Yosemite | Curry Village Non-Heated Tent | £128.76 (not budget) |
| Mojave | Aerospace Inn (between 2) | £50.07 |
| Solvang | King Frederik Inn (between 2) | £268.12 (definitely not budget) |
| Tehachapi | SureStay Hotel (between 2) | £80.06 |
| Barstow | California Inn | £47.91 |
| Carpenteria | Motel 6 South | £72.15 |
| San Simeon | Silver Surf Motel | £43.03 |
| Monterey | Pelican Inn | £48.78 |
| Santa Cruz (2 nights) | The Aqua Pacific Hotel | £149.89 |
| San Francisco (final night) | Amsterdam Hostel Private Room | £64.15 |
💵 Total Spent
Car Hire & Hotels: £1426.76
(or £1227.63 when 2-person stops are split)
✅ Tip: If you’re traveling solo, factor in that accommodation costs can quickly add up—booking early and mixing in hostels can save a lot.
Have you road-tripped in California? What was your most memorable stop?
