This magnificent road trip had started off badly: I, who had prepared a magnificent trip to Costa Rica, got confused and we flew to San Jose in California instead of San Jose in Costa Rica!! Fortunately, I realized this a week before. It was Christmas time, so a busy time, but we were lucky because at this same period (December 2018), a “shutdown” paralyzed the country (budgetary impasse which paralyzes the federal state and in this case the administration ceases all non-essential services to the population). Many Americans therefore canceled their vacations and I was able to find hotels in the parks without problem.
San Jose – Lake Tahoe – Alabama Hills – Death Valley (12/21 to 12/24)
Arriving at the airport, we headed to Volcano, the only town where we could find a room, to spend our first night there. The next day we head to Lake Tahoe, but surprise, it snowed and we won't be able to get there without chains. We continue to Topaz Lake then overnight in Lone Pine to be able to visit Alabama Hills in the early morning. Alabama Hills is a fascinating region and its grandiose landscapes have served as a setting in numerous Hollywood films (Gladiator, Star Trek, etc.). In the afternoon we head towards Death Valley.
Death Valley (12/24 to 12/26)
We were extraordinarily lucky to find a room in the park. The weather was ideal for Christmas and the landscapes were magnificent.
Death Valley – San Luis de Obispo – Big Sur: The famous Route 1
The most beautiful road in California, which leaves from Los Angeles to reach San Francisco; we took part of it: from San Luis de Obispo. The road is magnificent, the landscapes follow one another: the calm of Avila Beach, the sand dunes to slide down on a Quad, the wild coast to admire, the magical sunset over Big Sur, the elephant seals in the Piedras reserve Blancas. Unfortunately we were not able to spend the night on the way: all the hotels and campsites were full.
San Francisco
Take photos of the Golden Bridge from length to side, try to walk down Lombard Street, get lost in Chinatown, take a cruise to visit Alcatraz Island and its prison, admire the Painted Ladies, find the works of Street Art and of course taste the many culinary specialties of San Francisco.
