MENU
FIVE questions
you should
ask ...
CALL US
Speak to one of our travel
experts
within 5 rings
020·7962·9933

Which of these is important to you?

  • Concierge style service. Your own dedicated travel manager who'll look after you until you travel.
  • Better value. Exclusive fares you won't find online to save you money.
  • 24 hour helpline. A worldwide team just a phone call away if you need help while you're overseas.
  • Top on Trustpilot. More highly rated than all our competitors with 98% saying they'd book again.
  • Risk free. Fully licensed with Client Trust Account to protect your money. ABTA, ATOL protected.

Your calls always answered within 5 rings.

x
Read the reviews? Call us now on 
020·7962·9933
Tell us what you need. We'll find you a solution
California Reviews 1877
California Offers 12
California Hotels 331
USA Fly-Drives 32

California dreaming

The sunsets and the gold rush history grab Alice Beer's attention - but for her twins, nothing beats star-spotting

It's not so much that 12-year-old girls know what they want to do when they hit California, it's that they know what they don't want to do - and that includes any form of sightseeing.

This meant planning our month-long road trip was a challenge. I love adventure, my husband Paul loves luxury, and our daughters Phoebe and Dora love access to wi-fi.

Our first stop was San Francisco, where we stayed at the Fairmont - lots of luxury to relax in after the flight. Our three days in the city were busy as we checked things off our must-do list: bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and ferry back via Alcatraz; window-shopping in the arty Mission District and queuing with locals for a wonderful lunch at Tartine.

Cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito

As we eventually left San Francisco in our monster truck, I directed Paul to the infamous bends of Lombard Street. The girls whooped almost as much as he whinged.

Next stop was Napa Valley, where we had booked the Carneros Inn - which turned out to be one of the finds of the trip. Detached cottages are positioned around an organic farm. Cool restaurants, hilltop swimming pools, and outdoor bar areas with night-time fire pits are the only places where you notice that you are not the only guests.

 

NAPA VALLEY

We dipped in and out of Napa's famous vineyards, before heading 120 miles east to Nevada County and Grass Valley, where in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada you find the richest gold mines in California.

I find California's gold pros-pecting history fascinating, and as we traced the path down Highway 49, I tried to imagine the emotions of those tens of thousands who came to seek their fortune.

My commentary from the passenger seat was sporadically interrupted by Phoebe or Dora demanding that we stop to take photos at stunning vantage points, or capture the signs for improbably named towns such as Rough And Ready.

Our trip to Yosemite National Park was magnificent. Yosemite is definitely at its best when seen in a swimming costume at 7am from the middle of a glacial lake.

Heading west, we spent two days fascinated by the geek chic of the city of Palo Alto, where our girls worshipped at the altars of technology giants such as Apple. But before they got too used to the wi-fi forcefield that surrounded them, it was time to move to the coast.

The mesmerising coastline of Big Sur is a must-see


SANTA BARBARA

We took a leisurely drive south to Carmel, where we had magical sunset picnics on the beach and watched whales off Point Lobos. Then it was on through the beautiful, rugged coastline of Big Sur to the El Capitan campsite near Santa Barbara. Paul was chuffed I had taken an executive decision and booked a luxury cabin.

We had a barbecue on our private terrace before witnessing the most magnificent sunset cloak the sky like a night-time rainbow - a truly special moment.

Alice Beer and her family enjoying the magnificent sunset at Santa Barbara


HOLLY WOOD

From the moment we turned on to Highway 1 the car was filled with cheers from the back every time we passed a sign counting down the distance to Hollywood. Twelve, it seems, is the age where the magic of the movie industry hits hard. My girls lap up everything Tinseltown. They loved the fact  we were hanging out in the same town as Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence, or that any nailbar could be full of Kardashians, or any juice bar packed with Beckhams.

We pandered to them, searching the internet to see where the stars dined, and then booked a table at the same spots.

The anticipation made for fun dinners, and rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty such as Di Caprio, Clooney and even a Baldwin led us to compile a list of DVDs we must see upon our return.

We stayed in full glamour at the London hotel in West Hollywood, where a sneaky afternoon cocktail by the rooftop pool became my little luxury. And of course we had to photograph the sign in the hills, visit the Chinese Theatre and sit on the Friends sofa on a Warner Bros tour, before heading back to the coast.

Sunny views from a room at The Viceroy

Our last five days were based at the ever-so-cool Viceroy in Santa Monica. There was much to do - trapeze school on Santa Monica Pier, a morning bike ride to Venice Beach, an evening trip to a basketball match and a surf lesson in Malibu.

We had been exactly a month in California - and both girls are determined to return as soon as possible to continue exploring.

 


First published in the Mail on Sunday -  May 2017

More articles below...

For more inspiration, read what travel writers have to say...

Many hippy returns

California's still a surfers' paradise, as Max Woolridge discovers

A golden oldie

Hipsters may have replaced hippies on Pier 39 but Tamara Hinson could still feel the love in San Francisco

Laid back LA

Olivia Foster experiences the fabulous contrasting lifestyles in California

Hollywood secrets

Forget Tinseltown’s tourist traps, says Steve Turner...

Head for Hollywood

Los Angeles remains as starry and wacky as ever as Thomas W Hodgkinson discovers

Not quite what you're looking for?
We can easily customise an offer to suit your exact requirements

x