This week, Visit California launched its “50 Amazing California Road Trips” publication. As I started to flip through the pages, I realized how much of California I’ve yet to discover. 50 road trip opportunities in my home state that covers 14,929 miles of roadway? I would have never known.
Your Ultimate California Guide!
Unlock the best-kept secrets of Northern & Central California with my curated Google Map, showcasing 600+ accommodations, eateries, coffee shops, and unique experiences. Get the map here!
The publication is not only full of beautiful and inspiring photos but practical tips and some awesome features that I’ll share below. So if you’re looking to explore a part of California you’ve never considered or return to your favorites with some new insider tips, then this publication is the ultimate guide for visiting California by car.
[In partnership with Visit California. As always, all opinions are own.]
Plan Your Next California Road Trip
If you been on Bon Traveler before, you’ll know I love a detailed itinerary. One that points out not only experiences but completes it with exciting places to eat and stay. This is exactly what I love about the “50 Amazing California Road Trips” magazine — they’ve thought of it all.
For me, one of the most challenging parts of booking a trip is the decision process. Inside the magazine, each road trip is lined out by a theme. Love movies? Then road trip number 8 is all for you — the “Movie Locations Tour” spans over 2 days and covers highlights from Los Angeles to Mammoth Mountain. So if you have something in mind for an experience that you want, whether it’s coastal, desert, or wine country, it makes it easy to identify where to road trip.
The magazine is broken out into three key sections — Southern Routes, Central Routes, and Northern Routes. So if you know you’ll already be in say San Francisco for work, then pop into the Northern Routes section to find where to go nearby. Even as a Northern California native, I was surprised by how many routes I hadn’t thought to go to myself. Like last month, I had an opportunity to go explore Gold Country for a week and discovered so many gems along the way like local farms and breweries. Or my recent trip up the North Coast, I explored a national seashore and experienced incredible dining along the way.
Key Planning Feature
The key feature that caught my attention with the “50 Amazing California Road Trips” magazine and why it’s definitely the ultimate planning guide, was the smart codes that come with each road trip. When you scan a smart code with your phone’s camera it connects you to a mobile website linked with every single itinerary! On these mobile websites there’s even more information to help plan your itinerary. I clicked through to a few and they’re well done with every detail you could need with interactive maps and links to other resources.
One other feature that I love about the magazine is under the smart code. I love how it breaks down how many days and miles along with the start and finish points. It’s easy to decide if the itinerary matches my schedule or current location. It continues with an inside tip and another point of interest.
From the mountains to the sea, I’m reminded how vast and diverse California really is. There is always something new to discover whether you’re headed here for the first time or you’re a native like me. Grab your “50 Amazing California Road Trips” magazine this summer to start planning your next road trip!
Save this post for later on Pinterest:
PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
2. Book Your Rental Car
Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Private Transfers
For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
5. Get Cell Data for Your Trip
I use Holafly for international cell data. Their unlimited data eSIMs are easy to install, activate instantly on arrival, and let you skip local SIM cards and expensive roaming fees.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
