5 MUST-SEE STOPS ON YOUR SOCAL ROAD-TRIP

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Must-See Stops On Your Southern California Road-Trip

While international travel is my passion and I love experiencing new cultures and cuisines, there’s a reason I call Southern California my home. When I’m not traveling abroad, I love exploring my adopted home state and after 10 years as a Southern California resident, I am pretty confident in my recommendations. Moon Southern California Road Trips from Moon Travel Guides is the perfect place to start planning your trip.

Even though I call Southern California home, this guide from Moon was able to provide me with exciting and unique places and road trip tips to keep me exploring all year long! Out of the dozens of amazing recommendations from author Ian Anderson, a San Diego resident himself, here are my five must-see stops on your SoCal road trip.

Santa Barbara

Nestled along the coast about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is one of many charming towns in this region that is known for wine production. Whether you visit Santa Barbara to experience the SoCal coastal vibe, or you are more interested in sightseeing, you won’t be disappointed.

Starting at the Old Mission Santa Barbara, take a self-guided tour to see one of the most beautiful missions in California. Next, head over to Stearns Wharf, the mecca for Santa Barbara visitors. Much like San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, Stearns Wharf is a former fishing dock that is now full of restaurants and souvenir shops. 

Follow State Street inland to explore the slightly less-touristy side of Santa Barbara. The street is lined with trendy restaurants and upscale boutiques, mostly housed in historic Mediterranean stucco buildings.

Elsewhere in Santa Barbara, you’ll find the lovely Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Of course, Santa Barbara also has beaches, bike paths, wine tasting, golf courses, and boat rentals, so you really can’t run out of things to do in Santa Barbara.

Channel Islands National Park

Off the coast of Santa Barbara lies one of the least-visited National Parks in the United States. Channel Islands National Park was created in 1980 to protect five offshore islands and the surrounding ocean environment. Access is limited, leaving the park pristine for visitors and wildlife. 

Channel Islands Southern California RoadTrip

Scuba diving around the islands is very popular, and it’s easy to find a tour from Ventura or Santa Barbara. To explore the islands, however, your options are more limited.

There is a ferry from Ventura or you can charter a plane from Camarillo. Channel Islands National Park is truly an outdoor adventure paradise. It’s popular with hikers, backpackers, and kayakers as there is no public transportation or cycling on the islands.

Camping is allowed in primitive campsites available by reservation only. Visiting Channel Islands National Park is a great way to see a different side of California; one that is not fast-paced or crowded!

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is not in Southern California, but the location of Los Vegas in proximity to Southern California is no accident. Vegas was built for Southern Californians to escape and it’s still a popular weekend getaway from Los Angeles and San Diego.

Of course, Vegas isn’t called Sin City for no reason; drinking and gambling are prime activities here. Glamorous hotels rise out of the desert, and you can catch dozens of performances and shows on any given night.

There’s the “old Vegas” which is the more vintage area around Fremont Street and the “new Vegas” which includes the Vegas strip and dozens of shiny hotels, including the Venetian, Palazzo, Caesar’s Palace, and the Bellagio. 

Of course, even if you don’t love gambling, there are a ton of cool day trips from Las Vegas that cater to outdoor adventures. Some of my favorites include a river trip to the Hoover Dam, a Mojave Desert ATV tour, and the scenic drives at Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. 

Death Valley National Park

Another California National Park that you must see on your SoCal road trip is Death Valley National Park. Death Valley is said to be one of the hottest places on earth, and also contains the lowest elevation point in North America. It’s just two hours from Las Vegas and 3 ½ hours from Los Angeles.

You can drive through Death Valley en route to Las Vegas, make a day trip from Las Vegas, or stop and explore the park for several days. There are many areas to explore within Death Valley as it’s the largest national park in the lower 48 states. Many areas of the park are remote and far from paved roads (and cell phone towers), so extreme caution is recommended. 

Within the park, you’ll find old mines, caves, ghost towns, and petroglyphs. You can find food and lodging in the areas near Panamint Springs, Stovepipe Wells, and Furnace Creek. Start with a short scenic drive along Artist’s Drive before venturing further afield.

Some of the most popular spots in Death Valley include the Devil’s Golf Course, Badwater Basin (at 282 feet below sea level,) Rhyolite ghost town, and Scotty’s Castle. An overnight stay in the park is recommended, especially if you’ve never before experienced an International Dark Sky Park. 

Malibu

Circling back to the coast, Malibu is one of my favorite spots along the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California. Best known for movie stars and magnificent beach homes, Malibu is just 30 miles west of Los Angeles.

You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy Malibu, as there are no private beaches in Malibu. Finding an access point might be challenging, but it’s worth it! There are several state parks in the area that offer beach access, including Point Mugu State Park and Leo Carrillo State Park. Surfers tend to congregate around Surfrider Beach and Zuma Beach. 

There are some great hiking trails in these parks along the beach, or you can head inland to the Santa Monica Mountains.

Malibu sunsets are pretty legendary, so make sure you can time it right to watch the sun go down over the Pacific Ocean before grabbing dinner at a nearby Malibu restaurant. Head to Neptune’s Net for the quintessential California seafood shack experience, or for a more upscale evening, head to Nobu for sushi.