Trip: California Dream – TakeMyTrip.com

The California Dream Trip

7 Days in the Golden State

This week-long trip focuses on the California Coast, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, then heads inland for some time in Yosemite and Bodie. It ends back at LA, with a drive on the old Ridge Route, long since replaced by Interstate 5.

Day 1 & 2

Los Angeles

LA96C – Former Cold War Nike Missile Site, on Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive takes you out of Hollywood and along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains. But if you’re expecting ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Los Angeles: Hollywood Hills, and the Hollywood Sign

There’s no place else in the world quite like LA. It has its own charm, its own style. But most ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Day 3

Driving up the Pacific Coast

Pacific Coast Highway: A Side Trip Up Nacimiento Road

Between Cambria and Monterey, there’s only one road that cuts across the Big Sur mountains, over to US 101: Nacimiento ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Big Sur, along the Pacific Coast Highway

Continue north from Morro Bay, and all of a sudden, you’re in the mountains of Big Sur. The first pull-off ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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San Luis Obispo’s Bubble Gum Alley, and the PCH Northbound

San Luis Obispo provides a great opportunity to get out of the car, and stretch your legs for a bit. ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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El Camino Real to Pismo Beach

You’ll see signs marking the Historic El Camino Real route as you travel up the California coast. Most are hard ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Day 4

Santa Cruz & San Francisco

San Francisco Powell & Hyde Cable Cars, Fisherman’s Wharf

After arriving in San Francisco, I found my hotel (for once, I actually made reservations) and settled in for a ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Santa Cruz, California: Pier & Boardwalk

From Monterey, Hwy. 1 carries you quickly northward, as a four lane (or greater) freeway over much of the route. ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Day 5

San Francisco & east to Yosemite

Tioga Pass Road at Sunset

Here are more great pictures of the moon, lining up perfectly with the road. At this point, highway 120 (known ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Driving from San Francisco to Yosemite

From the Golden Gate Bridge, you can choose either to continue northward to the Richmond- San Rafael Bridge (I-580), or ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Walking Across the Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge looks good, from whatever angle you view it. You’ll find this viewpoint at the side of ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Lombard Street, San Francisco

You’ll pass Lombard Street, the “Crookedest Street In The World”, on the Powell-Hyde Cable Car route, but it’s certainly worth ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Day 6

Bodie & Yosemite

Yosemite’s Bridal Veil Fall

After returning my rental bike and getting back in the car, it was too late to do much more exploring. ...

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Sep 21, 2016

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Yosemite 1-Hour Bicycle Tour

After dealing with the buses, RV’s, and campers that clog Yosemite Valley’s main arteries, I gave up on the car, ...

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Sep 21, 2016

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The Drive Into Yosemite Valley

Once you reach the end of Tioga Pass Road, hang a left, and head towards the heart of the park, ...

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Sep 21, 2016

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Tioga Pass Road, Yosemite National Park

The trip over Tioga Pass Road is a lot less nerve-racking at night. During the previous night’s journey through this ...

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Sep 21, 2016

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Bodie, CA – Ghost Town

Bodie may very well be the best historic example of a wild west gold mining boomtown, and the very best ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Mono Lake, California

Day 6 probably should have been devoted completely to Yosemite, but I didn’t have that kind of time, and there ...

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Sep 20, 2016

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Day 7

The Return to Los Angeles

Santa Monica, California

Once back in Los Angeles, I still had a few hours before my flight departed. So, I grabbed dinner at ...

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Sep 21, 2016

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Old Ridge Route over Tejon Pass into Los Angeles

Between Yosemite and Los Angeles, there’s not a lot of excitement. Hwy. 41 takes you to Hwy. 99, which eventually ...

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Sep 21, 2016

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