ROAD TRIPS 2025
Santa Monica Pier
T here’s a special kind of freedom that comes with four wheels and an open road—especially in California, where the landscapes seem to reinvent themselves every hundred miles. One moment you’re chasing the coastline, the next, winding past granite cliffs or cruising through a desert in bloom.
For this edition of California Road Trips, we teamed up with real travelers who embraced that freedom firsthand. You’ll meet a wheelchair traveler who explored the icons of San Francisco and Yosemite National Park (p. 42), a family of five who tackled three theme parks in one trip (p. 16), and an outdoors enthusiast who set out to experience all nine of California’s national parks (p. 54). Our cover star, Kristen Bell, also shares her family’s favorite Golden State road trips (p. 6).
With Route 66 turning 100 in 2026, there’s never been a better time to hit the road. Whether you follow its legendary path (see an illustrated perspective, p. 28) or carve your own, adventure awaits around every bend.
San Francisco
Kristen Bell
Route 66
VISIT CALIFORNIA; AMANDA FRIEDMAN; LEEOR WILD/TRUNK ARCHIVE; VISIT CALIFORNIA; AMANDA FRIEDMAN
ROAD TRIPS 2025
ROAD TRIPS 2025
Dream, Plan, and Go
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Cover image: Kristen Bell
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GOLDEN GIRL AT HEART
KRISTEN BELL ISN’T A CALIFORNIA NATIVE, BUT SHE’S GOT THE LOOK, THE VIBE, AND THE COMMUNITY-FOCUSED OUTLOOK
HAVING LIVED IN LOS ANGELES FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, KRISTEN BELL IS VERY MUCH A CALIFORNIA GIRL.
From her breakout role as a teen detective on the Southern California–based show Veronica Mars to becoming the narrator of a generation with Gossip Girl, then navigating the afterlife in The Good Place and reigning as Princess Anna in Frozen, Bell’s journey is rooted in a love of adventure that traces back to her Michigan childhood.
She was raised by a single mom, and mother and daughter drove every summer to a camp on “a beautiful plot of land with trees, grassy fields, huge green tents. We’d stay there for a week or two, and it was the highlight of my summer,” she says. “It was so lovely.”
Today, Bell squeezes her family vacations into a packed schedule. She’s a mother to two pre-teens, Lincoln and Delta, and married to actor and podcast host Dax Shepard, who’s also from Michigan. She’s starring in yet another hit TV show, Nobody Wants This, on Netflix. And she always finds time to volunteer (see her list of beloved organizations on page 10).
Bell’s brand of California-ness calls for self-direction. “California is what you make of it,” she says. “If you want to come here and have a party lifestyle when you’re in your 20s, you can have it. If you want to pretend like you live in the suburbs of Anywhere, USA, you can do that. If you want to go to bed at 6 p.m. every night, you can do it.”
She pauses, then delivers in her trademark deadpan wit: “Also, California is not all spa wellness retreats.”
Griffith Observatory
“IT'S SO GORGEOUS UP THERE—YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE CITY. I'M KIND OF STUNNED EVERY TIME I WALK UP THERE.”
- KRISTEN BELL
ROAD-TRIPPING AND ADVENTURING
Bell and her family enjoy sharing time outdoors, a passion she brought with her from the Midwest. “I grew up with off-roading dirt bikers in Michigan. I grew up with people who were adventurous. I grew up camping. And when I started to realize there’s a whole bunch of that here in California, I began to feel at home here.”
For many years, Bell and her family camped at El Capitan State Beach, a popular surfing and swimming spot north of Santa Barbara. “We went for many years with Jimmy and Molly [Kimmel], which was so much fun,” she says.
Bell credits her car-enthusiast husband Dax for instigating many of their road trips. “We have an RV that we drive around every summer,” she says. “Now we are Californiagetting-on-the-road people.”
The family often heads for Glamis, in California’s sandy southeast corner 150 miles east of San Diego. “It’s miles upon miles upon miles of sand dunes. People bring their off-road vehicles and jump the dunes and race. My kids are on dirt bikes. It’s pretty much a huge sandbox—it’s just so gorgeous and unique.”
Bell and her family also drive to Calistoga, where they soak in mud baths and float in hot springs. The Napa Valley town reminds her of the California she saw in movies as a child, she says. “The indoor-outdoor living—that could only exist in California.”
While on the road, Bell and her husband divide responsibilities. “Dax is very competent behind the wheel of almost anything, and he doesn’t need—or dare I say, want—my help. So I take the opportunity to make some sort of picnic or culinary extravaganza that, more often than not, we will not eat because we just stop at a gas station, and the girls fill up on Pringles.”
Even so, Bell makes sure her girls’ minds get some nutrition. “When we’re on a road trip, we’ll usually listen to Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast More Perfect because we like to get the girls thinking. I find that long road trips are when my kids will be open to hearing a more in-depth story and paying attention, and maybe as a family we learn something.”
LIVING (AND LOVING) L.A.
Bell’s love for her Southern California home has deepened over time. The Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025 showed the city’s indomitable spirit and unyielding altruism, she says. “In the weeks following the fire, you couldn’t find a place to volunteer because they were all full,” Bell remembers. “That’s a statement on how much L.A. cares about its community.”
Calistoga
Calistoga is known for geothermal hot springs and vineyards planted on volcanic soil.
Glamis Dunes
At Glamis Dunes, also known as Imperial Sand Dunes, ATV riders zoom up and down sand mountains.
El Capitan State Beach
El Capitán State Beach offers miles of sand and surf (renovations are underway in 2025, but you can still visit the beach).
“NOBODY WANTS THIS IS A BIT OF A LOVE LETTER TO MY TOWN.”
- KRISTEN BELL
The Good Place
Veronica Mars
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Nobody Wants This
Bell recently hosted the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, and as of press time, she is working on Season 2 of Nobody Wants This, a Netflix series filmed in Los Angeles. The show, which follows the love story of an agnostic sex-and-love podcaster and a rabbi, features many L.A. building exteriors and businesses. “It’s a bit of a love letter to my town,” Bell says. “It's a thing we’re all very proud of about the show.”
When she has time off from filming, Bell regularly hikes up the trail to the Griffith Park Observatory and Planetarium. The famous Los Angeles landmark is part of Bell’s origin story—it was often referenced in Veronica Mars as a place in town to see the real stars.
“It’s so gorgeous up there—you can see the entire city,” she says. “I’m kind of stunned every time I walk up there. You have a perfect view of the Hollywood sign, and you also recognize it from different films that have been shot there.
“For me, it gives me a moment to pause and appreciate how I got here.”
PORTRAIT: LEEOR WILD/TRUNK ARCHIVE; PALM TREES: MARC RASMUS/GETTY IMAGES; TREKANDSHOOT/SHUTTERSTOCK; CHARLES O'REAR/GETTY IMAGES; SKYAK/GETTY IMAGES; STEVENSTARR73/GETTY IMAGES; COLLEEN HAYES/NBC/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION; WARNER BROS. TELEVISION/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION; HOPPER STONE/NETFLIX/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION; UNIVERSAL/EVERETT COLLECTION
ROAD TRIPS 2025
9 WAYS TO WANDER
Highway 128
REAL TRAVELERS. AUTHENTIC STORIES. In the following pages, you'll discover real-life road trips taken by digital creatives, photographers, artists, and writers. They journeyed to inspiring new places, captured images, and created memories that reveal their personal ways of seeing and storytelling.
Despite a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, their stories prove that the most memorable trips aren’t about where you end up, but what you discover along the way. Let their experiences spark your next adventure.
VISIT CALIFORNIA
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / LOS ANGELES • ANAHEIM • CARLSBAD
Full-Tilt Fun
DIGITAL CREATOR ALESSANDRA MARTINEZ AND HER FAMILY LIVE IT UP WITH PRINCESSES, PIRATES, AND PINK CUPCAKES
Universal Studios Hollywood
W e’re a theme park family. My husband and I have four kids ranging from 4 to 16 years old, but their different ages don’t matter when we visit theme parks. For the kids, it’s all about the excitement and having fun. For me, it’s all about seeing everyone smile.
On this four-day trip around Southern California, we rode amazing rides, ate imaginative food, and made the most out of every moment.
Universal Studios Hollywood
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD
We’re huge Harry Potter fans, so we had a great time at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We came to the park dressed in Gryffindor school uniforms—white button-up shirts, gray vests, ties, slacks, round eyeglasses. Our eight-year-old daughter, Giana, wore a Hermione costume, the full dress with a cape and a wand. This was her first time on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride inside the castle, where you “fly” over the Hogwarts grounds. I thought she might be scared, but she loved it.
The 4D rides were amazing. Our five-year-old, Luka, had been watching YouTube videos about Jurassic World—The Ride. He was tall enough to ride it this year, and he was super excited about that. But Super Nintendo World was the biggest hit for Luka and his brother Tiago, who’s four. The kids got to meet their favorite characters—Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. Giana took photos of them with her little Polaroid camera, and she loved that.
The kids were dying to eat at Toadstool Café, which is based on the Mushroom Kingdom. We ordered these really cute soup bowls with a mushroom head on top, which we took home as souvenirs. For dessert, we tried the Princess Peach cupcake. It’s a glittery pink cupcake with strawberry filling and a little crown on top, and it’s delicious.
Disneyland Resort
DISNEYLAND RESORT
I lived in Orange County for almost 20 years, so I’ve spent a lot of fun days at Disneyland. Now all six of us love going there.
We started our first day in the park by riding the all-ages rides that the little ones could do, like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, It’s a Small World, Mad Tea Party, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Giana rode Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time, and she loved it. We ate some of our favorite Disney foods—Mickey beignets, churros, and the pull-apart cheesy bread from Maurice’s Treats, which is to die for.
On our second day, Giana wore her princess dress, and she got to meet Belle from Beauty and the Beast. One of the things I love about Disneyland is the one-on-one interactions with the characters. Those moments really add to the magic for the little ones.
At lunchtime, we moved over to Disney California Adventure Park. We ate delicious birria tacos at Cocina Cucamonga. We rode one of my favorite rides, the Silly Symphony Swings. The swings rise and fall through the air to the tune of the “William Tell Overture.” We also rode The Little Mermaid—Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The kids loved sitting in a giant clam shell and watching a musical show with all the great songs from the movie.
We stayed at Disney California Adventure Park to watch the sun set. There’s a viewing area at Pixar Pier that overlooks the Incredicoaster, and when the sun sets, the sky turns pink. It’s such a beautiful spot to take photos.
LEGOLAND California
LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA
People think LEGOLAND is mostly for the littles, but it’s also a place where you can just be a kid no matter your age. There’s so much creativity and imagination in all the LEGO displays.
Our favorite ride was Splash Battle, which is like a giant water fight. You float around a lagoon in your own little ship that has a water cannon. Other riders and spectators shoot water at you, and you shoot back. You definitely get wet. The boys and their dad loved it.
My little ones also enjoyed the Coastersaurus roller coaster, which has a giant dinosaur in the middle.
My youngest, Tiago, is never tall enough to ride a roller coaster, but this one was built especially for little kids. It’s fast but not scary. When he got off, he said, “That’s so much fun, Mama.”
Kids can learn things, too. At Coast Guard Build-a-Boat, the kids made their own LEGO boats and raced them down this little river. It’s a trial-and-error process as they figure out what makes a boat go fast or slow. Our kids really had fun with it.
We loved staying at the park’s Castle Hotel. The walls and elevators play music and make sounds. In the hotel lobby, we could hear one of the LEGO soldiers snoring at nighttime—it was so cute. Everything in the hotel is LEGOs from top to bottom. Even our oldest, 16-year-old Mia, had a great time. She’ll never admit it, but she and her best friend were laughing and sliding down the slides, just acting like big kids.
MEDIA NEWS GROUP/ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER VIA GETTY IMAGES; AMANDA FRIEDMAN (3)
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / REDDING • MT. SHASTA • WEOTT • EUREKA • TRINIDAD • CRESCENT CITY
Still-Life Moments
HARISH KUMAR SETS OUT ON A PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR AND DISCOVERS THAT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IS BOTH A PLACE AND A STATE OF MIND
Avenue of the Giants, Humboldt Redwoods State Park
W hen my wife and I set out to explore the vast photographic potential of wild and mystical Northern California, we didn’t know what we would find.
As it turned out, what made our trip unforgettable was not just the images we shot, but also the moments of stillness we encountered, like this one along the Avenue of the Giants. As we drove, we kept pulling off the road to explore paths through the redwoods. We wanted to capture the play of light and showcase the scale of the giants around us, and we also wanted to immerse ourselves in the awe of those mystical trees.
The rest of our trip offered similar moments. Turn the page for a photo album of some of our favorite stops in Northern California.
1. Mt. Shasta
Several locals told us their favorite Mt. Shasta viewpoint was Sisson Meadows, which is where I got this shot. I was struck by how different the landscape looked compared to the image of California I have in my head. No palm trees here, just a huge snow-capped mountain, rugged alpine terrain, and perfectly moody lighting. It felt like we had wandered into a dream.
We stayed by the falls for a long time. We felt totally connected to nature.
2. Middle McCloud Falls
We loved our hike to Middle McCloud Falls. The falls were stunning, the trail was empty, and the autumn leaves were at peak color.
3. Sundial Bridge
In Redding, we stopped to see the Sundial Bridge, which spans the Sacramento River. It’s an amazing piece of architecture that’s also a working sundial.
4. Fern Canyon
We arrived at beautiful Fern Canyon at sunset. We took our time trying to capture the golden light hitting the water and lush ferns lining the canyon walls.
5. Trinidad State Beach
With waves crashing against the shore, Trinidad State Beach was the perfect place to just sit and breathe. We really enjoyed the solitude in this dramatic and remote spot.
We took a magical ride in the redwoods and didn't see another soul on the trail.
6. Last Chance Coastal Trail
This old road is now a path for cycling and hiking. We rode through dense forest with the sun shining through the trees.
7. Crescent City
This was the best food moment of our trip. Schmidt’s House of Jambalaya is right on the ocean, and we ate ice cream while watching the sun set. It was a perfect end to the day.
HARISH KUMAR
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / CARMEL • MONTEREY • SAN FRANCISCO • MENDOCINO
Seaside Style
LUXURY DOESN’T HAVE A SINGLE DEFINITION, BUT TRAVEL INFLUENCER JEREMY AUSTIN FINDS HIS OWN MEANING ON A RELAXED COASTAL DRIVE
17-Mile Drive
A s my fiancé and I road-tripped from Carmel Valley to Mendocino, I discovered the ultimate indulgence: the time and opportunity to make my own choices. My business keeps me on a tight schedule, but for a few days on the Northern California coast, we got to choose when to eat, where to sleep, what to do, and even what to drive. Here’s what we chose:
MONTEREY PENINSULA
A classic car transforms what would be a great experience into something extraordinary, so I rented a 1964 Chevy Malibu convertible from Monterey Touring Vehicles to cruise the 17-Mile Drive. With a car like that on one of California’s most photographed roads, everyone turns to look. People wave and smile. Vintage and collector cars are a big part of Monterey’s culture, and events like Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Monterey Car Week attract thousands of visitors.
Bernardus Lodge's vineyards
CARMEL VALLEY
Bernardus Lodge and Spa is in the heart of Carmel Valley’s wine region and surrounded by 28 acres of vineyards and olive orchards. I was impressed by the lodge’s luxurious interiors. Our suite had a stone fireplace, English armoire, Italian linens, and a two-person soaking tub. Bernardus also has an amazing culinary program and a 25,000-bottle wine cellar.
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
My fiancé and I enjoyed dinner at Chez Noir. The Michelin-starred restaurant is tucked inside a beautiful Craftsman-style home, and the focus is definitely on the food. The pacing of the courses was timed perfectly, and every dish was beautiful to look at and amazing to taste.
7 Adams
SAN FRANCISCO
We saw a beautiful pink-and-gold sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge, which was truly memorable, and then we had dinner at 7 Adams, another Michelin-starred restaurant. For me, the accolades are not as important as the flavors and service, and 7 Adams excelled in those categories. Our dinner was fantastic.
HIGHWAY 128
We really enjoyed our drive to Mendocino, following Highway 128 through scenic vineyards and small villages like Boonville and Philo. All of a sudden, the scenery changed, and we were in a dense redwood forest along the Navarro River. We stopped to savor the beautiful trees and take photos. A few miles farther, we were at the edge of the Pacific. That drive was magical.
THE INN AT NEWPORT RANCH
This 2,000-acre coastal property is a working cattle ranch and private timber reserve in Fort Bragg. The inn is completely new and modern, but it sits on the foundation of a farmhouse that was built 150 years ago. We stayed in the Grove Suite and enjoyed having a hot tub right outside our door.
Cove at Harbor House Inn
THE HARBOR HOUSE INN
The moment we arrived in Elk, we could tell we were in for an idyllic getaway. The grounds at Harbor House were beautifully landscaped, and we discovered seating nooks in the gardens where we could relax and read a book or gaze at the ocean. We had a second-floor corner suite with a beautiful fireplace. The inn is famous for its top-notch cuisine and incredible coastal views, but what we enjoyed most was the long staircase that led from the back of the inn down to a small, rocky cove. Those stairs offered a truly indulgent luxury—the chance to walk and unwind as we watched the waves crash against the shore.
COURTESY 7 ADAMS; JEREMY AUSTIN (3)
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / NEEDLES • SAN BERNARDINO • RANCHO CUCAMONGA • SANTA MONICA
Cruising Route 66
ILLUSTRATOR CHRIS TURNHAM TAKES AN ARTISTIC LOOK AT A LEGENDARY HIGHWAY
R oute 66 is both a physical highway and a place that lives in American folklore as the ultimate road trip. For most of the 20th century, the 2,448-mile, Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway was an asphalt ribbon leading to freedom, optimism, and adventure.
Then along came the interstate highway system, luring motorists to faster, more efficient roads. On Southern California’s 314 miles of Route 66, once-busy motels and diners withered under the sun.
I revisited Route 66’s glory days on a three-day drive, and what I found surprised me. In the east, the sunbaked Mojave Desert stretches to the horizon, but amid miles of sand and creosote lies amazing midcentury iconography. The dry desert air has preserved vintage signs from 1940s motels, cafés, and service stations.
In the Inland Empire, cities show deep pride in their Route 66 heritage. Local museums commemorate the road, and the famous 66 “shield” emblem is posted on street corners.
My trip ended at the Santa Monica Pier, where travelers queue up for selfies at the “end of the trail” sign. All those smiling faces can’t be wrong: The Route 66 dream is still alive.
Wagon Wheel Restaurant
NEEDLES
You can’t miss it because it has a gorilla statue over the entrance. Order a cup of coffee, chat with the locals, and check out the quirky Old West decor.
Amboy Crater
MOJAVE TRAILS NATIONAL MONUMENT
A trail leads to the top of this volcanic cinder cone, where the vista overlooks the vast Mojave. Even if you aren’t a hiker, stop at the trailhead to see this strange natural landmark.
Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch
ORO GRANDE
South of Barstow, this sculpture garden is made from glass bottles, metal pipes, wind chimes, and upcycled junk. The bottles spin and move around in the wind. I stopped here just before sunset, and it was really pretty with the light coming through the glass.
California Route 66 Museum
VICTORVILLE
There’s so much to look at in this museum. They have a massive collection of Route 66 iconography and memorabilia, and even a Model T and vintage Volkswagen bus. I found these beautiful illustrated posters with a map of each state that Route 66 passes through.
McDonald’s Museum
SAN BERNARDINO
This privately run museum holds a ton of McDonald’s paraphernalia, including all the Happy Meals toys organized by era. The 1990s section was full of fun toys that I remember from my childhood, which blew my mind.
Wigwam Motel
SAN BERNARDINO
When you see these teepee-shaped structures on the side of the road, you might be reminded of the 2006 movie Cars. This is one of a few Wigwam Motels along the original Route 66, and you can still rent a wigwam and spend the night.
Cucamonga Service Station
RANCHO CUCAMONGA
This bright yellow building was built in 1915 and has been completely restored to look like a 1930s service station. Amazing volunteers run a small Route 66 museum inside.
Santa Monica Pier
SANTA MONICA
This is the end of Route 66, where the road meets the Pacific Ocean. There’s always a group of people snapping photos with the landmark Route 66 sign on the pier.
Information for this card will not be provided after 3/31/2026
ILLUSTRATIONS: CHRIS TURNHAM
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / TRUCKEE • SOUTH LAKE TAHOE • MAMMOTH LAKES
Snow Days
SNOWBOARDER ROBERT GARLOW AND HIS ADVENTUROUS FAMILY EMBRACE WINTER IN LAKE TAHOE AND MAMMOTH LAKES
Heavenly Resort
A s my wife and I juggle the demands of careers and parenting, we find that some of our best family experiences happen when we play together in the snow. We taught our kids to snowboard when they were toddlers. Now that Aubrin is seven and her brother Torin is four, they can hardly wait for winter, so we packed up our gear and set out on this three-day road trip.
Northstar California
Day 1: Northstar California
We started on Lake Tahoe’s north shore at Northstar California. At Northstar Village, families can just hop on the gondola and go. With kids, a gondola makes getting around the mountain much easier.
After a snowboarding session, we nabbed seats by the ice-skating rink. My wife and I ordered warm cocktails from the bar, and Aubrin and Torin sipped hot chocolate. They’re just learning to skate, so after taking a few turns and tumbles on the ice, they roasted s’mores over the firepit. They both had sticky fingers and big smiles.
Heavenly Resort
Day 2: Heavenly Resort
It took about an hour to drive to South Lake Tahoe, where we checked into a two-bedroom suite at Forest Suites Resort. We could walk from there to Heavenly’s gondola, which has outstanding Lake Tahoe views.
For me, snowboarding with that big lake view was a bucket-list experience. Aubrin and Torin had a great time at Heavenly Village, especially at the candy store Rocket Fizz. Our whole family enjoyed an amazing meal at Azul Latin Kitchen. The kids loved their quesadillas, and my wife and I thought their sweet potato tacos were delicious.
Mammoth Mountain
Day 3: Mammoth Mountain
For the final leg of our trip, we drove three hours from South Lake Tahoe to Mammoth Lakes. For snow lovers, Mammoth has it all, from great vibes to fantastic kids’ runs to steep and challenging expert terrain.
We stayed at The Village Lodge, which has a pool, hot tub, and firepits in an outdoor courtyard. It was easy to access the gondola and bus shuttles to get around the resort and town, and we had great food nearby. We loved the bagel breakfast sandwiches at Old New York Deli, veggie burgers at Smokeyard Barbecue and Chop House, and pub food at Mammoth Brewing Company.
Mammoth Lakes had great off-mountain activities, too. The kids had a blast bowling at Mammoth Rock and Bowl and riding the Mountain Coaster at Woolly’s Adventure Summit. The coaster sleds go really fast, and our kids’ only complaint was that they only got to ride one time.
- Reach Robert Garlow at @chasing.sage
ROBERT GARLOW (4)
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / ORANGE COUNTY • LOS ANGELES • BAKERSFIELD • FRAZIER PARK
Taco Tastings
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ALL ROADS LEAD TO TACOS. FOOD WRITER FARLEY ELLIOTT NAMES HIS TOP SPOTS FROM ORANGE COUNTY TO BAKERSFIELD
1. Tacos Los Cholos
FULLERTON
This strip-mall spot helped to spawn a carne asada empire. The grill is loaded with fragrant mesquite charcoal that seeps deeply into thick cuts of prime beef.
2. Arturo’s Puffy Taco
WHITTIER
Tortillas are folded into a V and deep fried until crisp, puffy, and barely able to hold their fillings. The fan favorite is ground beef with cheese, lettuce, and salsa fresca.
This falafel taco is a love letter to the chef’s Armenian heritage.
3. MidEast Tacos
LOS ANGELES
Taco-fusion fans will love this Silver Lake restaurant, where crispy chickpea balls are topped with garlic sauce, avocado salsa, red onion, and sumac.
4. Barbacoa Ramirez
ARLETA
The Ramirez family raises their own lamb, which is pit-cooked, sliced, and served on corn tortillas. Try the chile-rubbed pancita (stuffed stomach).
5. The Red Dot Vegetarian Kitchen
FRAZIER PARK
This cozy vegetarian cafe serves an Indianleaning menu. The “fishless” taco with crispy tofu and cabbage slaw is a standout.
The final flourish is a smear of guacamole, then it’s off to the salsa bar.
6. Taqueria El Poblano
BAKERSFIELD
At this outdoor taco stand, the taquero works a white-hot grill of carne asada and chorizo while also chopping meat with photo-worthy flair.
Pair these bright orange tacos with cheesy refried beans and rice.
7. Taco Bros.
BAKERSFIELD
Bakersfield loves big, bold flavors, and these quesabirria tacos have it. They're crunchy, meaty, cheesy, and perfect for dipping into a seasoned consommé.
8. El Dollar Taqueria
LOST HILLS
This taco truck behind a gas station stuffs carne asada and al pastor into handmade tortillas. The result reveals a simple truth: A few ingredients can make perfect tacos.
FARLEY ELLIOTT(8)
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / SONOMA • SAN FRANCISCO • YOSEMITE VALLEY • JAMESTOWN
All-Access Adventures
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL EXPERT CORY LEE ROLLS THROUGH WINERIES, MUSEUMS, AND HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
I ’m a 35-year-old wheelchair traveler, and I write the blog “Curb Free with Cory Lee.” My mission is to share the world with other wheelchair users and show them what’s possible.
I’ve visited 50 countries on seven continents, but Northern California held some bucket-list places I’ve always wanted to see. On this weeklong trip, I got to roll through Sonoma wine country, San Francisco, and Yosemite—world-class destinations that are awesome and accessible.
Ram’s Gate Winery
SONOMA COUNTY
My mom and I landed at Sacramento Airport and rented an accessible van from MobilityWorks. We drove to Sonoma, where we took advantage of incredible wine tasting, dining, and shopping. We started by sipping wine on the patio at Ram’s Gate Winery while overlooking gorgeous vineyards. The 28-acre property had ramps and elevators, which made it easy to navigate in my wheelchair. We also enjoyed a private tasting at Honrama Cellars, a Mexican-owned winery that makes wonderful Cabernet Sauvignons.
Later that day, we visited Sonoma Plaza, where 19th-century adobe buildings are filled with shops and restaurants. I rolled right in to wherever I wanted to go. We stopped in for artisan ice cream at Sweet Scoops and shopped at Global Heart Fair Trade, which sells handcrafted items from around the world. I’m a travel addict, so browsing that shop was like revisiting my favorite countries.
The next day we drove to Santa Rosa and the Charles M. Schulz Museum. I watched the Peanuts holiday TV specials all through my childhood, so I loved seeing the original Peanuts comic strips on display and the re-creation of Schulz’s art studio. The entire building is wheelchair accessible with wide hallways and elevators.
Our Sonoma “home” was MacArthur Place, a gorgeous estate-turned-hotel with acres of gardens, outdoor firepits, and the wonderful restaurant Layla. Our accessible room had an indoor roll-in shower for wheelchairs and also a private patio with an outdoor roll-in shower, which I really loved.
Alcatraz
CORY’S TIPS: RENT A WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE VAN FROM MOBILITYWORKS. THE COMPANY WILL DELIVER YOUR VAN TO YOU AT MOST CALIFORNIA AIRPORTS. DON’T OVER-STUFF YOUR SAN FRANCISCO ITINERARY. VISITING ALCATRAZ CAN EASILY FILL AN ENTIRE DAY, SO MAKE SURE YOU ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY ENJOY THE PLACES YOU WANT TO SEE.
Golden Gate Bridge
Ferry Building
SAN FRANCISCO
From Sonoma, we drove an hour to San Francisco. I’ve always wanted to visit Alcatraz, so my mom and I boarded the Alcatraz City Cruises ferry, which had a smooth, ramped entry for wheelchairs. After a 15-minute ferry ride across the bay, we reached Alcatraz Island and rode a tram uphill to the famous prison. We explored the cellblock while listening to an audio tour that featured the voices of former inmates and guards. Alcatraz was even better than I imagined and surprisingly easy to navigate in a wheelchair. It’s a must-see no matter what your abilities are.
The next day we visited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, a mind-blowing place with seven floors of art. Ramps and elevators made it easy for me to get around—I was able to fully immerse myself in the art without any barriers. I rolled through a colorful glass tunnel designed by Olafur Eliasson, and I spent a long time admiring the polka-dot pumpkin sculpture by Yayoi Kusama. It was a sunny day, so we hung out on the rooftop sculpture garden and drank coffee.
San Francisco is a food-lover’s city. We took an amazing food tour with Edible Excursions, and I tasted the best macarons I’ve ever had at the Ferry Building Marketplace. My favorite meal was crab cakes and grilled fish at Scoma’s at Fisherman’s Wharf. The waterfront restaurant was only a short distance from our accessible room at Hotel Zoe. After dinner, we sat outside at Hotel Zoe’s firepits and made s’mores.
Yosemite Valley Floor Tour
CORY’S TIPS: GOING TO YOSEMITE? TRAVELERS WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES CAN OBTAIN A FREE ‘AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL’ ACCESS PASS, WHICH COVERS ADMISSION TO ALL NATIONAL PARKS PLUS 2,000 OTHER FEDERAL SITES. BE MINDFUL OF THE SEASONS. YOSEMITE VALLEY IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND, BUT SNOW CAN MAKE WHEELCHAIR TRAVEL MORE CHALLENGING.
Firefall Ranch
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
The last leg of our trip took us to Yosemite, a four-hour drive from San Francisco. We stopped for pretzels with beer cheese at Around the Horn Brewing in Groveland, then parked the van and rode a YARTS bus to Yosemite Valley. I was nervous about how much we would be able to see and do without our own vehicle, but we never needed it.
YARTS dropped us off at Yosemite Valley Lodge, and we boarded an open-air tram for the Yosemite Valley Floor Tour. I had never ridden on an open-air vehicle before, and I was in awe the entire time. With every turn we made, another spectacular sight came into view, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan. At Tunnel View, I got off the tram to shoot photos. The views were better than I could have imagined.
After the tour, my mom and I set out on the accessible Lower Yosemite Falls Trail. I rolled for a half mile on smooth pavement to the footbridge at the base of the falls. I could feel the waterfall’s mist, and I took a million photos of the gushing water. It was a phenomenal experience. Yosemite must be seen in person to be believed.
At day’s end, we took the YARTS bus back to Rush Creek Lodge for a delicious dinner of crispy fried cauliflower and barbecue chicken flatbread. We spent the night at Firefall Ranch, a beautiful property with cabins and villas. I loved relaxing on our accessible villa’s outdoor deck.
Our last stop was Jamestown, where we rode the historic Sierra Railway at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. The short train ride through the countryside was a great sendoff before heading back to Sacramento for our flight home.
AMANDA FRIEDMAN (6); COURTESY RAM’S GATE WINERY
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / SACRAMENTO • PLACERVILLE • SONORA • ARNOLD
Road to Gold
TRAVEL SHOW HOSTS ANTHONY AND MARLIE LOVE UNLOCK HISTORY IN SACRAMENTO AND GOLD COUNTRY
Mellowood Vineyard
W e love to showcase local history on our show, Traveling While Black, because we believe the best way to understand a place is to understand its past. On this road trip through Gold Country, we discovered that California history isn’t hidden away in museums. It’s almost everywhere you look.
We started in the state capital of Sacramento, where we explored Oak Park, a historic Black neighborhood. In the 1960s, residents held civil rights meetings at The Guild Theater, which still operates today. Black business and culture are thriving at Underground Books, one of only a few Black-owned bookstores in the country. Another community-focused spot is Oak Park Brewing, where we shared a beer flight.
We also toured the beautiful Sacramento River waterfront district and visited Midtown. At the Midtown Farmers’ Market—one of the largest in the country—we met with Black farmers and chefs. Our favorite market stall was One Love Toffee, where we tasted Sheila Roberts’ toffee made with locally grown almonds. We got an extra bag to take home with us, but it was so good, it disappeared that same day.
Calaveras Big Trees
Next, we dove deeper into California history in Placerville. The state’s gold riches were discovered a few miles away in Coloma, so Placerville grew into a mining boomtown. Main Street is lined with historic buildings including the Fountain & Tallman Museum, where we chatted with a fifth-generation resident about the Gold Rush’s legends, stories, and rumors.
We spent the afternoon wine tasting at two Black-owned vineyards, Field Number 15 and Mellowood Vineyard. Both wineries had beautiful country scenery, and the owners made sure everyone felt welcome. Mellowood is owned by a Kenyan family, and they often serve a traditional Kenyan barbecue.
Placerville
Sacramento River
The next day we visited Columbia State Historic Park, a town rich in Gold Rush nostalgia. It’s a state park, too, so the focus is on living history. The shop owners dress in 1850s clothing, and everyone we met was proud of Columbia’s historic preservation. We tasted homemade fudge at Columbia Candy Kitchen and browsed the old-timey wares at Columbia Booksellers and Variety Store, where we bought our favorite souvenir from the trip. It’s a quill pen, the kind you dip in ink.
Our final stop had the oldest and most astounding history. At Calaveras Big Trees State Park, we walked through a grove of ancient sequoias. Standing next to those gigantic trees was almost surreal. We grew up in the Midwest, so we only saw trees like that in books. It’s amazing to think about what those sequoias have seen as they’ve lived through more than 1,000 years of history.
KEVIN STEPHENSON JR. (4)
ROAD TRIPS 2025 / JOSHUA TREE • DEATH VALLEY • SEQUOIA • KINGS CANYON • YOSEMITE • LASSEN • REDWOODS • PINNACLES • CHANNEL ISLANDS
Natural Wonders
NINE NATIONAL PARKS. THREE WEEKS. ONE REALLY BIG STATE. TRAVEL WRITER ANN MARIE BROWN TAKES AN EPIC JOURNEY.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
I ’m a travel writer, so I’m used to rushed deadlines and tight schedules. But when a friend suggested we visit California’s nine national parks in one road trip, I said, no way. That would be way too much ground to cover in our 800-mile-long state. But the idea stuck. Why not take an epic, time-lapsed journey through California’s most prized landscapes? We agreed to take it slow and limit our car time each day. Then we packed snacks, downloaded maps, booked lodgings, and prepared playlists for a drive that would span 2,100 miles and a staggering diversity of weather and terrain.
For three weeks, we basked in the serenity of centuries-old redwoods. We soaked in the silence of desert canyons. We hiked up a volcano and kayaked in sea caves. We swam in alpine lakes and napped on riverbanks. We watched meteors streak across the sky.
I had been visiting and writing about California’s national parks for 30 years, but this trip reawakened my sense of wonder. Each park offered surprises that made me realize the natural world is bigger and more amazing than I knew.
Here are some clips from our trip’s highlight reel:
Joshua Tree National Park
JOSHUA TREE
Our car was packed with all-weather clothing, but the warm-hued desert required only shorts and t-shirts. We walked the Mastodon Peak Trail past tall ocotillos, spiky yuccas, and weirdly wonderful boulders—one looked like a dog, another a pirate. We lingered on the peak, surveying a sweep of creosote and cactus and watching cloud shadows travel across weather-sculpted rocks.
Back on the road, we marveled at thousands of cholla cacti. The spiny plants look soft and fuzzy, but their barbs are painfully sharp. We wandered through a rock maze leading to a 30-foot-wide natural arch, and while snapping photos, we saw a roadrunner catch a lizard for lunch. Late in the afternoon, we drove to Keys View to see the setting sun paint the folds and faults of the Coachella Valley.
ANN MARIE’S TIPS: PURCHASE AN ‘AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL’ NATIONAL PARKS PASS, WHICH GIVES UNLIMITED ACCESS TO EVERY U.S. NATIONAL PARK FOR A YEAR. YOU’LL SAVE MONEY BY NOT PAYING EACH PARK’S ENTRANCE FEE.
Death Valley National Park
DEATH VALLEY
A five-hour drive brought us to this land of extremes—North America’s lowest, hottest, and driest place. We strolled into Mosaic Canyon’s narrows, where marble walls were polished by flash floods. We walked through Golden Canyon’s eroded badlands to the wine-colored amphitheater at Red Cathedral. At Dante’s View, we looked down 5,000 feet to Badwater’s chalk-white salt flats, then leaned back in our folding chairs to see glittering stars sprawled across the sky.
Death Valley’s immense size changed our perspective on distance—in a good way. It took an hour to drive to colorful Ubehebe Crater, a 600-foot-deep volcanic pit. Two more hours on the road brought us to Racetrack Playa, where wind and weather move baseball-sized rocks.
On our last morning, we woke before dawn to catch the sunrise at Mesquite Flat sand dunes. The desert has its own clock, which ticks slowly. As night gave way, the dunes warmed to a rosy pink, lizards flitted across the silky sand, and cactus wrens perched in creosote bushes.
Sequoia National Park
SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON
In the land of giant sequoias, we paid our respects to the General Sherman, the world’s largest tree, then walked the Congress Trail to see dozens more chart-topping sequoias. No matter how many times you visit, these giants are always a revelation. Their age is as mind-boggling as their size, with many living for more than 2,500 years.
In Kings Canyon, we stretched our legs on the Buena Vista Peak Trail, a granite dome with a wide, bald summit. We gaped at more supersized sequoias in Grant Grove, then cruised the curvy Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Our drive ended at Cedar Grove, where we sat by Muir Rock to watch the emerald Kings River roll by.
Yosemite National Park
YOSEMITE
We reached Yosemite’s southern border and headed straight to Glacier Point, the park’s best drive-up viewpoint. It’s an eye-candy banquet of sawtoothed peaks and sheer precipices.
As we drove into Yosemite Valley, Tunnel View demanded a stop. To get a private viewing, we hiked to Artist Point and stared in awe at Bridalveil Fall and a stunning tableau of granite.
In Yosemite Valley, we rented bikes and pedaled past grazing deer and imposing cliffs, then picnicked alongside the Merced River, clinking our glasses to salute El Capitan.
At sunrise the next day, we drove past lodgepole pine forests, grassy meadows, and granite domes to Tuolumne Meadows. We made the most of two days by hiking to Cathedral Lake, fly-fishing for wily brook trout, and lounging on sunbaked granite.
ANN MARIE’S TIPS: OCTOBER IS IDEAL FOR A NATIONAL PARKS TRIP. THE DESERT AIR IS WARM, NOT HOT, AND THE MOUNTAINS ARE SNOW-FREE.
LASSEN VOLCANIC
Five hours on the road brought us to Lassen, where the volcano’s eruption ended in 1917 but the geothermal activity never stopped. We saw it up close at Bumpass Hell, a surreal landscape of mineral-crusted ash and boiling pools. We walked its boardwalks with all our senses engaged—we smelled sulfur, listened to belching mud pots, and gazed at brilliant turquoise pools and billowing steam.
As we drove along the 30-mile park highway, we snapped photos of sapphire Lake Helen with Lassen Peak in the background. We hiked to Shadow Lake to backstroke a few laps. An hour before sunset, we started up the Lassen Peak Trail with packs stuffed with jackets, gloves, and headlamps. We reached the crater’s rim just in time for an unforgettable moonrise.
REDWOODS
On our first rainy day, we drove to Elk Prairie to look for Roosevelt elk. We found a herd of 30 grazing in the tall grass—the 1,000-pound animals don’t mind the wet. Neither did we as we hiked through the Tall Trees Grove, where 300-foot-tall redwoods collected the raindrops before they could reach us.
When the skies cleared, we walked the Yurok Loop Trail to photograph rugged sea stacks and driftwood piles at Hidden Beach.
Pinnacles National Park
PINNACLES
An ancient volcano created this landscape, and we viewed its remarkable geology inside Bear Gulch Cave. As our headlamps lit our way through dark passageways, we laughed like giddy eight-year-olds as we scrambled up stone steps, ducked below boulders, squeezed through tight spaces, and finally emerged into daylight.
A ranger suggested we watch for California condors along Condor Gulch Trail, so off we went. Just one mile up the trail, three massive condors soared overhead. Their nine-foot-wide wingspans almost blotted out the sun.
ANN MARIE’S TIPS: PREPARE FOR IMPROMPTU PICNICS. STOCK YOUR CAR TRUNK WITH PLATES, CUPS, CUTLERY, AND LIGHTWEIGHT FOLDING CHAIRS.
Channel Islands National Park
CHANNEL ISLANDS
In Ventura, we traded car travel for boat travel to access Anacapa Island, one of five islands in the national park. What appears rocky and desolate from a distance is actually a rich oasis for seabirds. We walked to Inspiration Point to gaze at a sublime vista: Craggy islets rose like steep-sided ships above the turquoise waves.
The next day, we boarded a boat for Scorpion Anchorage at Santa Cruz Island. On a kayak tour with Channel Islands Adventure Company, we paddled through dense kelp thickets and semi-dark sea caves. Sea lions bobbed and barked, pelicans dove, and bright orange garibaldis flitted through the water. Just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, a pod of dolphins swam past us, leaping and gliding through the waves.
BENEDEK/GETTY IMAGES; CONNECT IMAGES/MANUEL SULZER/GETTY IMAGES; BRUCE MCCONNELL/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; YENWEN/GETTY IMAGES; KENNY MCCARTNEY/GETTY IMAGES; KELLY VANDELLEN/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; ANDREW PEACOCK/GETTY IMAGES
