What's more magical than a charming ride through Northern California wine country? Why, a ride through Northern California on a trolley, of course! The Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley is a picturesque way to tour the region's wineries and vineyards. The best part is, they do all the driving, so you don't have to worry about designating a driver while sipping to your heart's content.
A six-hour tour on this vintage cable-car replica is the perfect way to tour Northern California's wine country.
The tour starts at 10:15 in the morning and ends around 4:30. In that time, trolley riders get to see 4 different wineries and learn about the history of the region from the guide.
It's a great way to get to know the area, especially if this is your first time traveling through the grand estates, subterranean caves, and quaint, cozy cellars.
The Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley headquarters are located at:
21707 8th St E
Ste B
Sonoma, CA 95476
You can learn more by calling them at (707) 938-2600 or visiting them online.
Have you ever ridden this quaint little trolley through Sonoma County? Will you after reading this article? In either case, we'd love to hear what you think.
We have said it many times: one of the best ways to explore your home state is to hop in the car and hit the road. There are so many scenic byways and cool road trips to take in Southern California, depending on what you want to see and how far you want to travel. One of the prettiest, in my opinion, is this short scenic drive in Palos Verdes, CA. Though extremely close to the city, you do have to go a bit out of your way to find it - and you’ll be so glad you did.
Just over 11 miles as I’ve mapped it, you could drive end to end in about half an hour with no stops. While this quick mini-escape would still be worth going out of your way for, take my word for it - you’re going to want to make some stops. I have included just a few of them here, but you’ll find plenty of reasons to spontaneously pull over and explore, so give yourself a little time. You can click on the Google map above to adjust the route, direction, and stops as you like.
Palos Verdes Drive is a wide, smooth divided road with gentle sweeping curves that follow the general coastline around the rim of the peninsula. It is hard to fathom that you are anywhere near the buzzing hubbub and traffic of the city.
In addition to the natural beauty along this route, you'll find some eye-catching real estate as well - sprawling mansions of the well-to-do and the magnificent Terranea Resort.
Whether you begin at the northern end near Torrance or the Southern end near San Pedro, you will be hard-pressed to keep your eyes fixed solidly on the road as you pass stunning vistas and glimpses of Palos Verdes Peninsula's rugged and beautiful coastline.
If you're starting on Palos Verdes Drive West from the north, one of the first stops you'll want to make is at the Bluff Cove Lookout. The color of the water and the varied landscape of the bluffs are a must-see. If you feel particularly adventurous, you can take a nearby trailhead down and along a rocky beach (best attempted at low tide) to look for the shipwrecked remains of the SS Dominator.
As you make your way south, take some time to explore the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. The interesting museum is full of local history and culture and houses the historic Fresnal lens from the Point Vicente Lighthouse.
Outside the museum, you'll discover gorgeous ocean views (of course), long walking paths, grassy lawns, and scattered picnic tables. Load up on yummy road trip snacks before you head out so you can enjoy them here while keeping an eye out for migrating whales, dolphins, and sea birds.
From the Interpretive Center, you'll also get a lovely view of the lighthouse itself. It is only open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month, so if you'd like to explore it for yourself, plan your drive accordingly.
Even if you are not staying the night, Terranea Resort is an incredible place to visit. Perched on a mini-peninsula on the peninsula, the resort offers extraordinary coastal views, including gorgeous sunrises and magnificent sunsets, along with eight different dining options. Enjoy an elegant Sunday brunch or dinner on the patio at Mar’Sel, cozy up for a casual meal or drinks around a fire pit on the edge of a cliff at Nelson’s, or feast on a fresh seafood buffet on the coast at Catalina Kitchen. Even if you simply grab a coffee at Sea Beans and take a little stroll, you won’t be sorry you stopped.
Don't miss the epic San Pedro Scenic Overlook. You'll take a slight detour off the main road onto Palos Verdes Drive East (yeah, there are four roads named Palos Verdes Drive) to make the climb to the lookout and take in views of the entire South Bay coast.
If you are not done exploring or want to switch gears with some shopping, eating, and fun attractions, the cool city of Long Beach is just a few miles from Palos Verdes. So, are you ready for this scenic drive in Palos Verdes, CA, with more views than miles? If you've already been here, we would love to hear about your favorite stops along the way!
A day on the lake is the perfect antidote to the stressful routines of everyday life. Between the fresh air, the beautiful scenery, the cool water, and the array of fun activities available, our amazing lakes are just waiting to recharge our batteries. Today, I am sending you off to visit not one, but seven stunning destinations on this epic Southern California lake road trip. We are mixing things up with a few well-known lakes, some lesser-known spots, and a couple of my absolute favorites.
Of course, this is a lot of ground to cover in one day, but if you are particularly ambitious (and don't want to spend too much time in any one location), it can be done. However, I would recommend using this a guide for a weekend getaway, a few day trips, or even a longer vacation. You can use this interactive map to get directions, adjust your route, and make this your perfect trip.
You can start at either end of this route, or anywhere in the middle if you are planning a shorter trip, but I am going to start this off at Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest. This popular recreation area is a true year-round destination with world-class skiing and snowboarding in winter, wildflowers in spring, gorgeous fall foliage, boating, and water activities in the summer, and spectacular hiking trails all year long.
Next, we are off to another incredibly picturesque lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, Lake Arrowhead. Rent a boat or even take a guided tour of this sapphire lake, then maybe explore the lakeside village. With wonderful shopping, dining, and architecture, this quaint town is reminiscent of Switzerland and one of several destinations in the state that make a great dupe for a European getaway.
Not far from Lake Arrowhead is a lesser-known hidden gem known as Lake Gregory in the tiny town of Crestline. Despite being less of a go-to than the first two lakes on our list, this lake is a magnificent destination for lake activities. This scenic lake has a sandy beach and swimming area, shady picnic areas, kayaking and boating, an inflatable waterpark during summer, and gentle hiking trails. Lake Gregory is also an underrated fishing spot!
Silverwood Lake is another hidden gem that many Southern Californians don’t even know exists, but it is a worthy destination, especially for families. Enjoy hiking, biking, picnics, fishing, and boating. There are two swimming beaches manned by lifeguards and a Nature Center where you can learn about the history of the lake and the abundant wildlife that call the lake area home. You will definitely want to plan a little time to enjoy this lake. Silverwood Lake also has a beautiful campground with over 136 campsites and full hookups for RVs, so it's a great place to pause and spend the night on your road trip.
The very easily accessible Castaic Lake is one of the clearest lakes in the state. It is actually a reservoir with two bodies of water and a ton of family-friendly activities. There are trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, boat rentals, swim beaches, cool playgrounds for the kids, picnic and barbecue areas, and like Silverwood Lake, plenty of campsites to extend your stay.
Situated near the charming town of Ojai, Lake Casitas is one of my favorite lakes for both day trips and camping. The area is so beautiful, whether you get out on the lake in a boat to do some fishing or explore the interesting shoreline, camp among the trees or on a hill overlooking the water, or hang out in one of the scenic picnic areas. You can also grab breakfast or lunch at the Marina Cafe. Lastly, there is a colorful waterpark with a play structure that features slides, bridges, dump buckets, etc., as well as a lazy river for tubing.
Last on our journey (or first, if you prefer) is another of my happy places, Cachuma Lake. The scenery from every part of the turquoise water’s edge is stunning, as is the beautiful drive from Santa Barbara to reach it. Of course, the views from the water are just as amazing, making this an incredible - and uncrowded - place for kayaking and boating. The campground is also wonderful, offering spacious RV hookup sites, picturesque waterfront tent sites, delightful cabins, and several yurts with incredible vistas.
Ready for a water-filled adventure? Grab your keys, swimsuit, fishing gear, kayaks, or maybe even gas up your RV for a fun tour of some of our gorgeous lakes. Oh, and no Southern California lake road trip is complete without a lot of yummy road trip snacks and a great cooler (we love this easy-carry backpack cooler!) Now, hit the road! Have you visited any or all of these lakes? Which are your favorite SoCal lakes? Shout them out in the comments. You'll find even more inspiration by perusing our collection of Southern California road trip ideas.
