If you’re spontaneous like me and love being on the open road exploring some of the world’s most incredible natural desert landscapes, then this trip is for you! There is no better place for a road trip than the West Coast.

You may be wondering why it’s so great? Well, the beautiful highway 1 can take you almost anywhere. From Orange County to Los Angeles to Big Sur, just follow this path for a trip of a lifetime! There are hidden beaches around every corner, hours of driving along highway 1 staring at the sparkling blue pacific ocean and some of the most unique national parks. One day we were hiking Yosemite in the heavy snow and just the next day we were walking up death valley’s hot sand dunes.  There are so many places to see. You honestly need weeks to see it all. Unfortunately, my friend Kent and I only had five days but I truly believe we made the best out of every second of it.

Our trip consisted of ridiculously terrible car karaoke, sleepless nights, and a low camera battery. I truly believe everyone needs an epic road trip at one point in their life. A road trip that releases your inner spontaneity, and gives you the freedom to explore anywhere you desire.

The best decision we made on this trip was renting a jeep. I don’t know how we would’ve driven up and down all those curvy roads without a jeep. Not only did driving a jeep make the ride smoother, but there is nothing better than your hair blowing in the wind while taking in the insane views of the West Coast. 

Day 1: Big Sur

Accommodations: Monterey Marriot

We started our trip in Big Sur. Since this was only a 5-day trip and we wanted to make the best out of every second of it, sleep was rare. As soon as we landed in LAX, we drove 5 ½ hours through the night to see the sunrise in the most beautiful spot in Big Sur, Bixby Creek Bridge. But we saw more than just the sunrise.

We spent the rest of the day exploring all over the West Coast. Here are some other photos taken from other stops made on highway 1.

To end our day, we found the most beautiful hidden beach for sunset, Pfeiffer Beach. Who knew such a beautiful beach existed just behind some small windy back roads? Pfeiffer Beach in the Big Sur area is definitely off the beaten path, but well worth the drive. Apparently, this beach is the locals’ favorite spot. Of all the beauty this spot has to offer, the Keyhole Arch rock was by far the most incredible sight on this beach. The Keyhole Arch is a natural arch made of rock. It allows waves and the last rays of daylight to shine through it. You’ll see exactly what I mean when you see these pictures.

Day 2 & 3: Yosemite

Accommodations: Yosemite Valley Lodge

This day we woke up bright and early to start our 4-hour journey to Yosemite National Park. This was the first weekend Yosemite opened back up after COVID 19 lockdown, so we were very fortunate. The drive to Yosemite was absolutely incredible. The closer we got to the park, the more beautiful the scenery got. We ended up staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, which is located in the center of the park. It was very convenient. I really felt like I was in the wilderness while staying at this lodge. We even had a brief encounter with a wolf while walking to our room. We loved Yosemite so much we decided to stay an extra day there. We spent almost the entire next day on a hike to Yosemite’s famous waterfall. The hike was extremely exhausting and definitely not for beginners, but the view and the photos we got were worth it all.

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Day 4: Death Valley

Accommodations: The Inn at Death Valley

After a long night of driving to death Valley, we were ready to do some more exploring. The next two days at Death Valley consisted of exploring the incredible Badwater Basin, Artist drive, and the sand dunes. While standing on the purest white salt flats at bad water Basin it was hard to conceptualize that I was standing 282 feet below sea level.