From Highway 1 to Route 66, grab your shades and get ready to explore the Golden State.

There are more than 386,000 miles of road in California, according to the Federal Highway Administration. This extensive network of highways and byways crisscross the state and make road tripping an ideal method to explore the Golden State. On this episode of the California Now Podcast, host Soterios Johnson explores itineraries with several seasoned road trippers. He first talks to Active NorCal founder Zach O&#39;Brien, who says there is endless adventure to be found amid the natural wonders in the North Coast and Shasta Cascade regions. From active volcanos to hidden waterfalls and ghost towns, a road trip across the northern part of the state can be an outdoor enthusiast&#39;s dream vacation. Next, Johnson chats with Traveling Newlyweds bloggers Alli and Bobby Talley, who share their favorite foodie finds, dog-friendly hotels, and attractions in the Inland Empire and Central Coast. And finally, Johnson connects with author and historian Jim Hinckley, whose knowledge of how to get kicks along the old Route 66 corridor is downright encyclopedic.

Road Trips: Route 66 and Beyond

From roller skates to birria tacos, this episode takes us southbound on the 5 from Los Angeles to sunny San Diego. Join Host Oneika Raymond on a road trip down one of the most famous coastlines in America to get a taste of southern California culture.We start our journey heading south down Whittier Boulevard to catch a glimpse of the iconic low-riders of LA. We’ll park on a stretch of Long Beach called Junipero Beach. There we’ll speak with roller skater Rubina Bernabe, best known for her roller skating on Instagram, and her organization of the “Don’t Hate, Let’s Skate” anti-Asian violence event.Next, it’s off to Santa Ana to take in a unique music scene that’s growing right next door to the goliath music industry of LA. We’ll stop at GCS Clothing Store and Art Gallery, a store, venue, and cultural center for the Santa Ana scene where we’ll speak with DJ Great Daine about what makes the Orange County music scene so eclectic.After a few hours along the 5, we’ll hit Agave Birrieria for some birria tacos. These tacos served with meat soaked in consomé are making mouths water across the United States after first gaining popularity stateside in southern California.Finally, it’s time to ditch the car when we make it to our destination, The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. With its proximity to all there is to see and do downtown, this hotel makes it easy for guests to see San Diego on foot. And for those looking to explore further out or hit the boardwalk, the hotel offers a fleet of bikes to its guests, free of charge.Thanks to our guests on this episode for sharing their stories along the route. Check out Rubina’s Instagram account at Instagram.com/rollercoastinrubes. We recommend checking out nearby Pigeon’s Roller Skate Shop to try a pair on for yourself: https://pigeonskates.com. You can see more about GCS Clothing Store and Art Gallery at https://www.gcssantaana.com/. To try some birria tacos, head over to Agave Birrieria at https://agavebirrieria.com/. For more about this route — and to get other road trip ideas — visit Marriott Bonvoy Traveler at traveler.marriott.com/road-trip-ideas. Learn more and book a room at the Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter at https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sanwi-the-westin-san-diego-gaslamp-quarter/. If you liked this episode of About the Journey, please be sure to rate, review and subscribe.

Los Angeles to San Diego: Rolling into SoCal

Happy Easter, Passover, and Spring to all our listeners! This week Kim is giving us the low down on her massive road trip from Seattle to Disneyland, including stops along the California Coast. If you have ever thought of taking an epic California coast road trip, don&#39;t miss this episode! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Thank you Listeners!! 01:18 - Talking with Kim about her road trip 01:50 - Itinerary 07:15 - Redwoods 08:45 - Fort Bragg 14:52 - San Francisco 22:37 - Unplanned stops 26:30 - Cambria 33:06 - Ventura 37:37 - Disney 40:19 - LA 41:58 - Going home 43:05 - Final tips 50:15 - Where to take a family photo 52:30 - Kim’s Favorite Travel Gear 56:28 - Coming next week TIPS FOR PLANNING A CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP <li>If you rent a car and drive one direction and fly back, you can drive from Seattle to Southern California in a week. Even if you are not a Seattle or California resident you could still have a great road trip if you plan to make your road trip one way and take flights.</li><li>It is highly recommended that you take your California road trip from north to south. Since you will be on the right side of the road, it makes it easier to get off and back onto the highway at scenic overlooks. Though you should know that if you are not a fan of heights, driving on the Pacific Coast Highway from north to south can have quite a few spots where there will be a drop off on that side of the road that may make you nervous.</li><li>If you plan on visiting the Redwoods on your road trip. You may be tempted to stop as soon as you start seeing them, to start you exploring but you should really wait until you get to Crescent City, then get on the 101.</li><li>Fort Bragg (not a military base) in California makes a great overnight stop. This is where you will also find a glass beach. The glass there is actually from a dump that years ago pushed the glass to the shore where it got washed up after storms. Keep in mind that this cove that will have the glass is somewhat hard to get to, go make sure you have good shoes if you are adventurous enough to find and explore the beach. And remember to leave the glass on the beach and leave no trace!</li><li>If you are planning on visiting San Francisco on your trip you should definitely think about renting bikes and riding across the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also walk the bridge but that will take quite a while. There is a lookout on the other side of the bridge that has a great view of the bridge and city.</li><li>Don’t be afraid of making any unplanned stops. They could out to be a highlight of your trip!</li><li>You may want to think about staying in Monterey, California. There is so much to do in Monterey and nearby Carmel, plus starting from this area instead of San Francisco will give you more time to stop along the coast.</li><li>Make sure to fill up on gas, bring snacks, and use the bathroom before you leave the Monterey/Carmel area, as there are not many places to stop until you get to Big Sur.</li><li>Piedras Blancas is a great place to stop and see the Elephant Seals. If you or your child have any interest in animals you may want to think about making this one of your planned stops. Springtime is a great time to see them otherwise they may not be there.</li><li>Universal Studios LA is very different than Orlando. There are less rides and it is more about the movie sets. If you do plan on going, it is highly recommended that you do the studio backlot tour. This is an absolute must if you plan on going to Universal on this or any trip you make to California. Make sure to ask to ask to be in the third car of the tram!</li><li>Make sure to have a mapped plan of the route you want to take. If you just rely on GPS to get to each point on your trip. The GPS may want to keep taking you on the shortest or quickest route rather that the one you want to take. If it does you could miss out on some coastal views or additional stops you want to make.</li><li>Plan accordingly for gas prices they tend to be pretty high in California. Also make sure to be aware of rush hours when you are driving to or from cities on your route. This could get you caught in some slow traffic if you don’t try to plan around them.</li><li>If you are renting a car and you have any issues with the car try to get the car to the nearest rental company, depending on which you used, and they may be able to help you quicker that waiting on hold if you call them to find out what to do.</li> BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO If you are going to San Francisco you should definitely get a shot on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge where you can have the bridge on one side and the city on the other. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Kim loved wearing her leggings for driving around since they are so comfortable and perfect for the long times in the car. One huge time saver would be to make sure everyone has slip on shoes, which will make taking stops that much quicker when getting out of the car. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/things-to-do-in-fort-bragg/">Things to do in Fort Bragg</a> <a href="https://northcoastbrewing.com/">North Coast Brewing Co.</a> <a href="https://www.thebeachcombermotel.com/">The Beachcomber Motel</a> <a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/best-place-to-see-redwoods/">Best Place to see the Redwoods on the California Coast</a> <a href="https://www.presidiolodging.com/lodge-at-the-presidio/">The Lodge at the Presidio</a> <a href="https://we3travel.com/tips-for-driving-the-california-coast/">Tips for Driving the California Coast</a> <a href="https://www.oceanpointranch.com/?utm_source&#61;google-local&amp;utm_medium&#61;organic&amp;utm_campaign&#61;gmb"> Oceanpoint Ranch</a> <a href="https://we3travel.com/pelican-inn-and-suites-where-to-stay-in-cambria/">Pelican Inn &amp; Suites in Cambria</a> <a href="http://www.robinsrestaurant.com/">Robin’s Restaurant</a> <a href="http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/Linns_Restaurant.html">Linn’s Restaurant</a> <a href="https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/ventura/vntca/hoteldetail?cm_mmc&#61;GoogleMaps-_-CP-_-US-_-VNTCA"> Crowne Plaza Hotel</a> <a href="https://www.alamo.com/en_US/car-rental/home.html">Alamo Car Rental</a> <a href="https://vacationmavens.com/078/">Visiting Los Angeles with Kids</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid&#61;84422&amp;refid&#61;stpr">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast">Google Play</a>and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at &#43;1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/">Stuffed Suitcase</a>and <a href="http://we3travel.com/">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens">Facebook</a>or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

126 California Coast Road Trip

Hear about travel to California&#39;s premier wine region of Napa and Sonoma as the Amateur Traveler talks again to free lance journalist Jill Robinson about this area with more than just wine... but a lot of that

AT#527 - Travel to Napa and Sonoma, California

There&#39;s nothing worse than a wasted meal, according to Esquire&#39;s Food and Drinks Editor Jeff Gordinier—and if you follow his suggestions, you won&#39;t be in danger of facing any wasted meals on your next California road trip. Gordinier is the author of Hungry: Eating, Road-Tripping and Risking It All with the Greatest Chef in the World, and he joins California Now Podcast host Soterios Johnson to talk about his favorite culinary destinations from San Diego to Wine Country, and why food and road trips go so well together, particularly in California. Johnson also speaks with Gail Fornasiere, who knows more than most about the magic of Santa Catalina Island. The 21-mile-long island off the coast of Southern California is a popular destination for day-trippers and vacationers, blending a rich Hollywood history (Marilyn Monroe lived there before she became famous!) with a relaxing modern vibe. As Johnson learns during this episode, Catalina offers something for just about everyone.

Culinary Road Trips, Catalina Island

Episode Notes
Christopher Reynolds of the Los Angeles Times discussed the 40 best things to see and do in California in fall, then Nina Ichikawa uncovered some of the state&#39;s less known Chinese history (and sights).

S1E422 - All About Travel to California

A humanist cult, a Danish hideaway, a gravitational anomaly, towering trees, a spoiled rich kid&#39;s castle, clothing-optional hot springs, and the cutest animals (and weirdest) imaginable: welcome to Highway One, the most beautiful highway in the world! In this episode, we cover everything you need to plan your trip up the California Coast and all the weird history you never knew about the stops along the way. Planning a road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway? We&#39;ve got a few blog posts that will help:<li><a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/pacific-coast-highway-road-trip-itinerary/?utm_source&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_medium&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_campaign&#61;Podcast">The Ultimate 10-Day Highway One Road Trip Itinerary</a></li><li><a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/central-coast-california/?utm_source&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_medium&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_campaign&#61;Podcast">8 Places to Visit on California&#39;s Central Coast</a></li><li><a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/craft-beer-and-bikes-los-angeles/?utm_source&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_medium&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_campaign&#61;Podcast">Self-Guided Los Angeles Brewery Tour</a></li><li>Travel Guides:<a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/things-to-do-in-mendocino/?utm_source&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_medium&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_campaign&#61;Podcast"> Mendocino</a>,<a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/things-to-do-in-morro-bay/?utm_source&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_medium&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_campaign&#61;Podcast"> Morro Bay</a>, &amp; <a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/things-to-do-in-paso-robles/?utm_source&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_medium&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_campaign&#61;Podcast">Paso Robles</a></li>We’ve also created a<a href="https://practical-wanderlust.ck.page/2a11bc25e6"> free, printable Highway One itinerary</a>! The 7-page PDF also includes our <a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/the-ultimate-san-francisco-walking-tour/?utm_source&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_medium&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_campaign&#61;Podcast">San Francisco Self-Guided Walking Tour</a>. Plus, we’ll also send you our favorite tips to help you plan an amazing California road trip!For more ridiculous adventures visit us at <a href="https://practicalwanderlust.com/?utm_source&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_medium&#61;Podcast&amp;utm_campaign&#61;Podcast">PracticalWanderlust.com</a> and follow &#64;practicalwanderlust on <a href="https://instagram.com/practicalwanderlust">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://youtube.com/practicalwanderlust">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://facebook.com/practicalwanderlust">Facebook</a>!Audio production &amp; music composition by Tyler Hafer.

California Highway One Road Trip (or "The Best Highway in the World")

On the first-ever road trip edition of the California Now Podcast, host Soterios Johnson gets out of the studio and explores Southern California’s awe-inspiring night sky. His stargazing adventure begins in sunny San Diego: After selecting the perfect set of wheels, Johnson jets to the Fleet Science Center to get a sense of our solar system and learn the best practices for star sighting. Then it’s time to dig into some earthly delights (hold the hot sauce) at Roberto’s Taco Shop before heading east toward the desert. A stop in the mountain town of Julian provides the opportunity to visit a bed-and-breakfast, that caters to amateur astronomers. Just before sunset, Johnson arrives in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the only International Dark Sky Community in the state of California, to enjoy a guided tour through the universe. After a luxurious night at La Casa Del Zorro, Johnson drives through Joshua Tree National Park—he takes the less-traveled Southern Entrance and as a result enjoys relative solitude—as he continues on to learn about a star party in Twentynine Palms. To order a copy of California Road Trips: 50 Life-Changing Adventures, a high-end publication that includes more about this itinerary (and 49 others), please visit Amazon.com.

Road Trip: Searching for Stars

Every year, from February to May, 1,800 acres of desert plateau spring to life with color. Purples, yellows, oranges, and blues all come together on the sprawling arid landscape to emulate an Impressionist painting; a fluid composition of light and hue, playing with intensity and movement. The four-petaled, burning orange poppy is illuminated as it contrasts with a vast, blue California sky. This week on the See America Podcast, the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in Los Angeles County, California.

Destinations

Interests

California Road Trip

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