When it comes to road trips, there’s no place like California. Even if you only have a weekend, you can ski, surf, camp, or hit the amusement parks.
And we love traveling through this breathtakingly beautiful state in our Hyundai Palisade. It has all the room we need for our gear, can go off-road, and it’s versatile enough to camp in when we don’t want to spend money on a hotel.
If you’ve just bought an SUV and you’re itching to get on the road and explore, here are a couple of our favorite trips.
The Eastern Sierra Mountains
When Hollywood depicts California road trips, it’s the coast that gets all the love. But if you haven’t traveled along Highway 395, you’re missing out on some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Running along the eastern side of the Sierras, Hwy 395 is a popular route from Los Angeles to Reno/Lake Tahoe.
Off the Beaten Path: Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
When you get to Big Pine, take the turnoff onto CA 168 and head toward White Mountain Rd. Follow White Mountain Rd. to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center. There are hiking trails that wind through bristlecone pines that are nearly 5,000 years old.
You’ll be doing some uphill hiking at high altitude, so make sure you bring lots of water and trail snacks and don’t forget your sunscreen. You’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of Death Valley and the eastern Sierras.
Camping on site is not allowed, but the Grandview Campground is just a few minutes away.
For Alfred Hitchcock Fans
From The Birds to Vertigo, Northern and Central California provided some incredible backdrops to some of Alfred Hitchcock’s most iconic films.
Start in Bodega Bay, where much of The Birds was filmed. St. Theresa’s church, the schoolhouse, and other buildings from the film remain. Bodega Bay is about 90 minutes north of San Francisco (longer if you stay on Highway 1).
San Francisco
Vertigo is a cinematic journey through San Francisco. Begin at Fort Point, where James Stewart’s Scottie saves Kim Novak’s Madeleine from drowning at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. Then wind your way along Lincoln Blvd. and El Camino Del Mar to the Legion of Honor, where Carlotta Valdes’ portrait hung. Scottie’s apartment is near one of San Francisco’s main tourist attractions, the crooked block of Lombard Street.
The Missions
Mission Dolores in San Francisco was Carlotta’s final resting place in Vertigo. But Hitchcock’s most legendary scenes took place a couple of hours south, at Mission San Juan Bautista.
Located just south of Gilroy, CA, along Highway 101, the mission is the backdrop for the climactic scene where Madeleine tumbles from the tower. While the mission remains open to visitors, the massive belltower was actually created back in Hollywood.
Adventure in Every Direction
There you have it: two of our favorite routes to travel when we pack up our Hyundai Palisade and hit the road. We love these trips because they’re loaded with adventure and history, and you get a lot of bang for your travel buck. But whether you head east, west, north, or south, you can’t go wrong driving through California. Find one at your local Hyundai dealer today!
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