A drive through Cabrillo Highway all the way from Morro Bay to Carmel-by-the-Sea was one of the most picturesque drives I’ve ever experienced. The winding turns make you drive slowly, but it’s not worth rushing through this road anyway!

There are many great viewpoints all along this road that let you embrace the rugged beauty of this part of land. There’s no need to stop every few minutes (just because you can), but be sure to take a break in at least a few places. McWay Falls, Bixby Bridge and Pfeiffer Beach are among the most popular and most picturesque locations—don’t miss them.

Nevertheless, prepare for strong winds! On Pfeiffer Beach, I could actually feel the grains of sand hitting my legs—and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

Looking at the McWay Falls.

Big Sur showed me the new level of windy!

These towns feel intimate and peaceful with their laid-back vibe. I loved watching the sunset on the Carmel beach after a long stroll. I enjoyed eating clam chowder while observing sea otters on Monterey Pier, on a chilly evening, after a long day of sightseeing.

A scenic route named 17-Mile Drive is one of the most touristy spots in this part of the Californian coast. It’s beautiful, but hordes of tourists take some of this beauty away. If you prefer a bit less touristy place—and still gorgeous—I recommend you to visit Point Lobos.

Here’s a rule about California: wherever you can drive, there will be tourists. And wherever walking is the only option, there’s a chance to admire the views by yourself.

Sunset at the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Even before I went to San Francisco, I knew I would love this city. People who spend some time in SF complain only about one thing—high costs of living. The rest is just perfect: the ocean, the cliffs, the parks on hills, the bay …

As for the weather in San Francisco, it tends to be unpredictable. Mist and strong winds are a rule rather than the exception here. But this isn’t a drawback—instead, it creates a specific charm of this city.

There were numerous places I loved in San Francisco. I especially liked those little parks situated on hills where I could sip my morning coffee without rush, admiring stunning city views. I also enjoyed a long walk from Battery Spencer, along the Golden Gate Bridge and Baker Beach, all the way to Lands End, and having dinner somewhere in Outer Richmond, without any tourists around.

To me, San Francisco, with its narrow, walkable streets, had a somewhat “European” vibe, and maybe this is why I felt like home there. Or perhaps I just love cities by the bay 😉 Nevertheless, SF, I’m coming back to explore more!

One of the many charming little parks in SF. This view!

On a pier in SF

It was soooo windy!

My expectations had been high with this one—and I wasn’t let down!

Yosemite NP is an absolute charm. The views are stunning! Walking among the bare rocks, the picture-postcard meadows and green forests is a perfect way to relax. If you come here early in the morning or you choose less popular routes, you have a good chance to avoid crowds.

Nevertheless, even touristy paths took my breath away. A view from the Glacier Point is magnificent and one-of-a-kind (although I recommend hiking the 4-Mile Trail rather than driving there) while taking the Mist Trail is memorable because of refreshing showers during walks under Vernon and Nevada Falls (we were there in early June, so it was heavy rain rather than a drizzle!).

I left Yosemite NP hungry for more—more sights, visiting more trekking routes, more adventures. Two nights in this place were far too little to unplug.

Me on John Muir Trail

The Mist Trail – I was soaking wet, but I saw multiple rainbows!

The Tunnel View

We planned to drive through the Tioga Pass, but fate decided otherwise. Tioga Pass was closed and the best way to continue our trip was to take the Sonora Pass.

And what a drive that was!

The elevation and temperature changes, as well as seeing the bear crossing the road just in front of our car, made this drive unforgettable. It wasn’t planned, but it turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole trip to California.

We entered Mammoth Lakes after a long drive through the Sonora Pass … and I felt as if I traveled not a 150 miles, but rather half a globe! Why? Because it looked almost like the place somewhere in the European Alps 😉

Mammoth Lakes is hands down one of the most picturesque towns we visited during the trip, and I would love to come back here in the winter and do some skiing.

Frozen falls in June – what can beat that?

Visiting one of the gold rush towns had been on my to-do list since I remember. Bodie, a ghost town located in the eastern part of the Sierra Nevada mountains, was my first choice.

Once the center of the California gold rush, Bodie hosted many thriving businesses, as well as numerous gunfights. Today, visiting this place is a step into the past with lots of fascinating stories to discover.

This place would resonate with so many people! The history freaks, the investors and all people who have interest in financial markets (me!), the gamers (any Red Dead Redemption fans here?), Wild West movie lovers, and basically all the people who love unique places off the beaten path.

Bodie boasts about its authenticity, as the town is in fairly good shape comparing to other gold rush towns (there are numerous different buildings still standing). It wasn’t also changed by the movie industry, in contrary to some other similar places.

Bodie

A church in Bodie

Some people love it—after all, it’s one of the hottest places on Earth!

Some people find it boring – because all you visit here is: rocks, salty rocks, more rocks, some sand, and vast areas of nothing.

I found myself somewhere in between. Desert landscapes aren’t new to me, and temperatures feeling like the inside of the oven weren’t encouraging. Nevertheless, driving through this no-man’s land in the scorching sun gave me chills.

The Badwater Basin and Devil’s Golf Course were just ok to me. But watching the sunset at Dante’s View, overlooking the valley, is when I finally saw the beauty of this place.

Devil’s Golf Course

Death Valley

The Dante’s View

I spent too little time in San Diego to have a strong opinion about this city. In fact, there aren’t many touristy things to do here (compared to LA or SF), which is actually a significant advantage to me—but some tourists find it a bit underwhelming.

I loved my time in San Diego. I will always associate this city with lovely La Jolla district, kayaking in Mission Bay (with sea lion swimming right next to me!) and with late-night delicious pizza in Little Italy. 😉

Kayaking in San Diego