by I was probably no more than 50 meters away from the shaggy lump crawling around the low flooded meadow. Her sodden brown fur glistened in the morning sun as I watched in disbelief. Great, I was tracking a black bear. On my road trip from the Bay Area I went through Sacramento, Yosemite National Park and the San Joaquin Valley on a loop from San Francisco. At the time, Yosemite experienced heavier snowfall than usual for February and March, and the national park had to be evacuated. When it opened again, I was one of the first back in.
California is diverse and holds a special place in my heart. Most of my favorite US road trip memories are in the Golden State – whether it was bear watching in Yosemite, cruising along Highway 1 blasting The Beach Boys, or eating juicy peaches at family-owned roadside fruit stands in Modesto. Driving isn’t often the greenest mode of travel, so I offset this by eating seasonal produce, buying local and bypassing public transport. I will also try to stay longer in one place to avoid driving daily.
The obvious thing is to rent an electric car around California, but look for hotels with EV points to avoid wasting hours of daylight. California roads are long and often winding, and depending on the season you’re never too far away from wintry or wet conditions – especially at high elevation beauty spots. Eating seasonally is also easy. California’s weather is comparable to the Mediterranean, and these conditions make it a favorable farm-to-table destination. Cities like Sacramento and Berkeley have long been flying the flag for fresh, seasonal produce, with locally grown almonds, pistachios, tangerines and tomatoes abounding on year-round menus, reducing food mileage. With that in mind, here are four other California road trips that incorporate those sustainable practices.
1. Highway 128
Begin: Yolo County
End: Mendocino
Length: 144 miles
Take it easy on this 144-mile road trip that’s worth a long weekend, or more. You’ll start in Waters, amid Yolo County’s bountiful wine country, and head west toward the rugged Mendocino coast, passing through four of California’s most fertile states for wine, arts, and outdoor recreation along the way ( visit128.com).
With vineyards and tasting rooms throughout the four counties it certainly helps if you like wine for this one, but don’t worry if you don’t: Sonoma County, for example, is known for its seasonal food, arts triumphant sights and shops, while Mendocino County offers outdoor exploration, relaxing beaches and vegan restaurants. If time is short, or someone else wants to do the driving for the day, consider a wine tour of Napa and Sonoma in a luxury all-electric Tesla through Healdsburg Tours (healdsburgtours.com).
2. Bay Area to Yosemite National Park
From: San Francisco
To: Mariposa, through Yosemite National Park
Length: 260 miles
There are several ways to do this one and while most will take the 580 and 120 across the Central Valley, it’s worth heading toward Lake McClure in western Mariposa County for extensive fishing and outdoor recreational activities. Then, take the Muir John Highway 132 directly into Yosemite National Park where it’s all about the trails, waterfalls and Valley views. After a few days exploring Yosemite, it is then the historic gold rush town of Mariposa: home of the award-winning Mariposa County History Center, as well as several craft breweries and independent restaurants that range from Mexican to Italian. (yosemite.com).
Yosemite offers a free bus service around the park, reducing the need to drive around – consider setting up somewhere like Autocamp Yosemite, near Mariposa, which is equipped with unique sustainable airflow trailers with modern amenities and great for couples and families (autocamp.com). To further your ecological credentials, stop in Berkeley on the way there or back for lunch at Chez Panisse, with chef Alice Waters, who pioneered the use of seasonal California produce (chezpanisse.com).
3. Modesto Almond Blossom Cruise
From: Modesto (there and back)
Length: 60 miles
For four weeks from mid-February onwards, 120,000 acres of almond groves around Modesto burst into majestic pink and white bloom. A whopping 80 percent of the world’s almonds are grown here, with a self-guided audio tour of this agriculturally rich region available for download for $14.99 through visitmodesto.com. It includes local stories and tips on the best almond blossoms, where to stock up on local produce, and general sightseeing advice.
You’ll stop at Rodin Farms, a family farm whose roadside fruit stand sells almonds, fruits, nuts and honey; Sciabica Olive Oil, the oldest olive oil producer in the USA; and Roberts Ferry Gourmet, where no one should enter without trying their almond butter milk.
4. SoCal: Mountain towns, beach camping and craft beer
From: Idyllwild-Pine Cove
To: Encinitas
Length: 98 miles, or 248 miles
Pack a tent for this one that starts in the village of Idyllwild-Pine Cove in the San Jacinto mountains. There are many easy trails that lead to quick views, like the 2.5 mile Devils Slide Trail. From here you can take a 140-mile detour to Palm Springs, passing through the otherworldly Coachella Valley towards the amazingly quaint abandoned resort of the Salton Sea, before heading back across the dramatic Borrego Badlands to the State Park Palomar Mountain conifer.
To stick to the original 98-mile route, swing south from Idyllwild to stop at Elim Hot Springs, then sample local wines at one of the many vineyards surrounding Palomar. Here, some campgrounds welcome small groups. You’ll then trade deserts and mountains for sea air: take the 76 and 78 toward the coast of Encinitas, where a craft beer scene and camping on state beaches like Moonlight or San Elijo await.
Four iconic road trips in California
Highway 1
Imagine California Dreamin’ bursting out of your classic convertible and you’re almost there. Overlooking the 650 miles of coastline, this tour includes stops in beach towns like Monterey, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica, as well as Big Sur and the dramatic Bixby Bridge.
Route 66
This one needs little introduction but at 2,448 enduring miles between Chicago and Los Angeles, it needs plenty of time. You’ll cross eight states and three time zones, so give yourself a few weeks to get it all done.
Highway 395
This offers everything from hot springs to mountains and deserts to skiing over a 557 mile route. Non-stop adventure awaits on this road trip that winds around the eastern Sierra, with Lake Tahoe, Bodie and Mt Whitney offering highlights.
Los Angeles to Palm Springs
About 100 years ago, Hollywood bigwigs slipped a clause into actors’ contracts to ensure they were within a two-hour drive during all productions. Coming just shy of 10 minutes from that radius, this is one of LA’s most popular day trips.
