An off the beaten track California road trip

California road trips are iconic, and offer some of North America’s most popular routes such as Pacific Coast Highway and California Highway 49.

However, there are many scenic routes off the beaten track that make for a memorable one-of-a-kind ride. Discover some of the Golden State’s hidden gems in the Central Coast and Central Valley.

Solvang

After landing at LAX, drive 2.5 hours up the coast to reach the famous Danish village, Solvang. Solvang is located in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country and it could not be better positioned to be a showplace of exceptional wines.

Grab a map of the many tasting rooms in downtown for a self-guided walking tour, or hop on the Solvang Trolley, a horse-drawn streetcar,  for a narrated 25-minute excursion.

Stay at Alisal Guest Ranch, a luxury ranch minutes outside town for an immersive Western experience with 50 miles of trails and 100 horses. For a more urban stay, boutique hotels The Landsby and Hotel Ynez both combine high style with amenities like private patios and fire pits.

Santa Maria Valley

A 40-minute drive away, a perfect next stop to discover is the Santa Maria Valley which blends its historic ranching and farming traditions with a growing reputation as one of California’s top wine regions.

Taste Santa Maria–style barbecue and premium wines or hop on the Santa Maria Wine Trolley which runs in a loop to a handful of the area’s most popular wineries every weekend. Stop off at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park – the most fully restored of the state’s missions – with historic buildings and sacred art that dates to the early 19th century.

For convenient accommodation stay at the brand new Hampton Inn Santa Maria, which is close to hiking, biking and golf. Or stay at the luxurious Wine Stone Inn, located in nostalgic Old Town Orcutt.

Bakersfield

The rapidly growing city of Bakersfield in California’s southern Central Valley, has become a hub for arts and culture while still retaining its history. The country’s largest concentration of Basque restaurants, including the 125-year-old Noriega Hotel, upholds the area’s Basque heritage with boarding-house-style meals of oxtail soup and myriad side dishes.

Explore the gallery-filled Arts District, home to the 1930 Fox Theater, where performances range from pop music to film noir. Stop by Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, a restaurant, museum and music venue, spotlighting the history of the Bakersfield Sound.

Stay at Padre Hotel, Bakersfield’s only 4-Diamond hotel, which opened its doors in 1928, and has recently been renovated.

Pasadena

Less than a two-hour drive from Bakersfield, and just a 45-minute drive from LAX, Pasadena is the perfect final destination, home to architectural gems and world-class museums.

Visit Old Pasadena, a 22-block national historic district filled with restored buildings housing hip boutiques, restaurants and cinemas.. A few miles northeast of Pasadena is the famous Mount Wilson Observatory, which offers a variety of tours, events and a place to recharge at the Cosmic Café.

Stay at the newly renovated Green Tree Inn, set in the heart of historic Old Town Pasadena for easy access to the many unique shops, bars, restaurants and attractions.

America As You Like It (www.americaasyoulikeit.com / 020 8742 8299) has a five night package to California from £1,229 per person including return flights from Heathrow to Los Angeles on United, five days fully inclusive car hire, one night in Pasadena, two nights in Bakersfield, one night in Santa Maria and one night in Solvang at The Landsby.

www.visitcalifornia.com