As someone who loves visiting California, when the opportunity to do this road trip came up, I jumped at the chance!
It was an early start! 4:45 am, to be exact! Those who know me know I’m not an early morning person, so it was a struggle to be up and ready to depart the hotel to meet the transfer to the airport so early.
Arriving at the South West Terminal at LAX, this was my first experience travelling with Southwest, and I was a little unsure how the check-in and free-for-all regarding seats would work. Check-in was a breeze, with 2 bags at a maximum of 23kg per person. This is a good baggage limit as it is similar to what most international flights offer in and out of the USA. When you are given your boarding pass, it has a Boarding Group number on it. This is important as this determines when you can board the plane. When boarding the plane you can take any vacant seat, I was lucky and got row 4 window – perfect for a quick snooze!
We arrived at San Jose and met our tour guide, ready to explore the Santa Cruz region for the next few days. It was a quick drive to our first stop - a meal at Shadowbrook Restaurant. A charming restaurant that has been operating since 1947, situated on the side of a hill with stunning views. To get to the restaurant you take a short trip in a cable car to enter the main area of the restaurant. Our meal was amazing with fresh salad and local fish and for those of the group who like sweets, a yummy dessert.
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After lunch, we all needed a walk, so we took a stroll to Capitola Village, a quaint village with a relaxed beachside vibe. I wandered around looking at the shops, sampling the local saltwater taffy, exploring the boutiques, and seeing some of the largest seagulls I have ever seen in my life!
Being the lover of good wine that I am, I was excited about our next stop at Nicholson's Vineyards Winery. This small family-owned and operated business is a great place to spend a few hours enjoying the sun, the tranquil gardens, and, of course, the superb wines!
No visit to this area is complete without a visit to Henry Cowell Redwood State Park. All I can say is ... WOW! Some of these amazing trees are over 1000 years old; they stand so tall, strong, and straight. We were given a guided tour, which I highly recommend. The tour guides are volunteers who truly love the Redwoods and the history of the area. Their knowledge and enthusiasm are evident in the information provided during the tour.
Dinner this evening was at a local business called Venus Spirits Cocktails and Kitchen. They served great cocktails made with their own gin and exceptional food. I ate the share plate of Brussell Sprouts on our table and then a second plate off the table beside us! We all walked away feeling full, content, and ready for a good night's sleep!
On day two, our morning was spent exploring Santa Cruz – watching the surfers and visiting the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Built in 1914, the Boardwalk is home to the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, celebrating 100 years in service. Of course, I had to give it a go! For a roller coaster of its age, I wasn’t expecting it to be as thrilling as it was!
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We left our tour guide from Santa Cruz Tourism and headed to our next destination – LUNCH! This lunch was one of my favorite meals of the trip. Fattoria e Mare, located in Half Moon Bay, is owned by Pablo Estrada, who is also the Head Chef. His menu offers something for everyone. The food was sensational, offering a variety of seafood dishes, homemade breads and antipasto plates, and an extensive wine list with many local and imported wines and desserts that are made to be shared!
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The afternoon offered a couple of options for our group. Some decided to Kayak or take a bike tour, while a few of us decided to check out the local shops. I decided an afternoon of shopping was on the cards for me and was very happy with my decision. There are some great little locally-owned businesses offering everything from handmade local products to well-known surf brands (the original Mavericks Surf shop is in the area). Half Moon Bay is a location where everyone can find something to do for an afternoon.
It felt like we had only just finished eating, but we were on to the next meal! A sunset dinner at Sam's Chowder House for our Lobster Boil. Another great meal, this one consisted of fresh lobster for everyone, corn, potatoes and coleslaw washed down with cold local beer. With more than enough lobster to go around, some of our group had more than one!
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The following day, we started driving toward San Francisco. Before we hit the city, we stopped at Filoli Historic Gardens and House. Located 30 minutes south of San Francisco, this beautiful house was built in 1917 and designed by Wilis Polk. The house cost $425,000 USD to construct, about $9 million in today’s currency!
The gardens are spectacular, with many hidden gems, including rose gardens that have been there for over 100 years, walks with secret gardens, vegetable gardens, and a great collection of bonsai trees.
On arrival into San Fransisco, straight away, you notice the architecture, the steep streets, the trams and cable cars and, of course, the San Fransisco Harbour with The Golden Gate Bridge at one end and Alcatraz island at the other. And what better way to experience San Fransico than a Blazing Saddles Bike tour, this 2 hour tour is a great introduction to anyone visiting SFO for the first time. The e-bikes are easy to use and offer assistance when tackling the hills, if you pick the right day you will get the best views of The Golden Gate Bridge!
A must-do while in San Francisco is a night at Club Fugazi. The show combines dancing and acrobatics with a touch of comedy. We were on the edge of our seats as the cast performed some amazing tricks and stunts, keeping us entertained for two hours. You can purchase food and drinks during the show, and a variety of beverages are available.
Our next day started early. We were being hosted by Presidio Tunnel Tops, and we visited the park above the road tunnels—great use of space! On a good day when the San Francisco Harbor has no fog, you would have an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately, we were not that lucky! The parklands offer great spaces to chill out and enjoy the view, places to enjoy a picnic and a hidden gem - the Walt Disney Family Museum. This museum is filled with family keepsakes, many items that the family had collected over the years, including family photos, original drawings and collectables. This is a must-see for all Disney fans. Plan to spend a few hours wandering the hallways reading all the information and snapping plenty of photos.
Pier 39 is a well-known and visited tourist destination. You can visit the resident seal colony that lives and frolics near the wharf, buy souvenirs and San Fransico clothing, eat at one of the many restaurants and bars on the pier, or do what I love to do: people watch. We indulged in a Chili Bread Bowl with a big, no, huge glass of local beer. I can spend hours in this area. It is busy most days, so take your time and soak it all in.
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We were also lucky enough to attend a Giants game at Oracle Park. Baseball is not a sport I have watched before, but I was excited to soak up the atmosphere and experience a game. We know Americans are obsessed with their sport and are staunch about the teams they support and this is the case with all the fans we encountered at the Giants game. To get into the spirit, we geared up before the game at the Giants merchandise store. This is worth a visit, so there is much to choose from. Entering the stadium, we headed to the stands, but first, we stopped at the beer and hotdog stand; only card is accepted in the stadium, something that is common in most USA stadiums across all sports codes.
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The atmosphere within the stadium is electric and contagious, the fans are loud and proud of their team. The food available is everything from a basic hotdog and garlic fries, to lobster rolls and gourmet nachos. Beer is cheap at only $2.50 a can, and water or a coke at over $3…not sure how that works, but as you can imagine, most people are holding a can of beer. Every seat in the stadium is a good one with the best view of the field. If you get the opportunity to attend any sports event while in the USA, make the effort, you will have a great time.
On the last day of our 5-day road trip we visited Alcatraz Island, the home of Alcatraz Prison. This island is only accessible by an organized tour. You purchase your ticket based on a time and need to be at the wharf 30 minutes before departure. I strongly recommend pre-booking this ticket with your travel agent, as many tourists are disappointed to arrive and find out the day's ticket allocations are sold out and they cannot visit. The ferry ride across to the island is only 15 minutes, offering a great view of the harbour and, of course, the famous bridge on a good day.
Once you are on the island its time to explore, you are issued with a listening tour device and the tour is self-paced. Ex-prison guards and prisoners narrate your tour. It’s a tour that will keep you interested and waiting for the next story. I don’t want to give too much away about the tour so you can enjoy it for yourself. All I will tell you is I learn something new every time I go to Alcatraz (I’ve been a few times), I notice something different and enjoy it every time. Like all tourist spots, you exit via the gift shop. Pick up your own piece of memorabilia, a set of prison keys, a prison cup or one of the many books written by or about prisoners.
Unfortunately this was the end of this road trip in California. Time to head back to the airport. The San Fransico airport is easy to navigate. It is clean and offers plenty of options for food and drink once you clear the formalities.
If you would like any more details of any part of my trip, or would like me to replicate this trip, or tailor-make a California road trip for you, don’t hesitate to contact me. California is one of my favourite destinations in the world, so keep an eye out for more California blogs!
