We are Shreeyeh and Kiran! California travel pros who’ve been living in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2020. We've explored over 60 destinations in California, including 8 national and 15+ state parks.
15 California scenic drives to save for fall
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Hi Reader, Fall color season is starting in California, which means I’ve reached the time of year when I start checking foliage reports way more often than I probably need to. 😅 One thing I love about fall here is that there isn’t really one “peak week.” The higher elevations of the Sierra start changing first, while places like Gold Country, Wine Country, and parts of Southern California can keep the season going well into November. So I put together a new guide with 15 of the best scenic drives for fall colors in California. For each drive, I included: – The roads to take I also included options across the state, so this isn't just an Eastern Sierra list. There are drives in Northern California, the Sierra, Wine Country, the Central Coast, and Southern California too. And since California's fall colors can change pretty quickly, I added links to the reports I use to check before heading out.
Most places aren't at peak yet, so this is a good one to keep handy if you're hoping to plan a fall day trip or weekend over the next couple of months. Until next time, P.S. If you're planning a trip to Napa Valley, I've created an interactive Google map with 185 pins of the best things to do in Napa Valley & a 5-day sample visual itinerary. PSS -- You received this email because you signed up for a freebie on my site or Facebook ads. :) If you found any of this info helpful, I’d love it if you could use these links for your next trip. These are all the sites I personally use to book my trips, and if you use them, some of them will earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps reduce the ever-increasing costs of keeping my site up. Thanks! Customized itinerary services - I can help you plan a trip or review your itinerary Accommodations - I recommend this to book hotels Tours/experiences - I recommend this for its tours with flexible policies Car rental - I recommend this to save up to 60% on car rentals |
Bae Area And Beyond
We are Shreeyeh and Kiran! California travel pros who’ve been living in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2020. We've explored over 60 destinations in California, including 8 national and 15+ state parks.
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Hi Reader, I’ve always liked the stretch of Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz because it’s such an easy way to spend a day by the coast. The drive itself is only about 50 miles, but there are so many good stops along the way to turn it into a full-day road trip without feeling like you’re spending the whole day in the car. A few things you can expect along the way: a historic lighthouse, dramatic coastal views, small towns, and some really good places to stop for food. I also...
Hi Reader, A Sonoma County weekend sounds simple until you start figuring out which wineries, towns, and coastal stops actually fit together. Here’s an easy way to do it: Spend Day 1 exploring Healdsburg and nearby wine country, then make Day 2 your Sonoma Coast day. You’ll get the vineyards and harvest-season atmosphere Sonoma is famous for, plus Bodega Bay, ocean views, seafood, and even another coastal wine experience, without trying to squeeze the entire county into one weekend. 🍇 Day 1:...