A new trip for us at Petrolhead Nirvana, but we've spent over a year researching it and we've combined that research with local knowledge from the Los Angeles Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche owners clubs to make sure we take in the best roads and visit the best sites available.
We'll be driving the world famous Pacific Coast Highway, staying in two stunning beachfront hotels along the route and enjoying the night life while we're there, hitting Beverley Hills, Malibu, Hollywood, the amazing Mojave National Preserve, taking time out in Las Vegas and (optionally) the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Yosemite National Park. We've designed this tour to take you to the best roads and vistas that California has to offer whilst still giving you the chance to enjoy your surroundings to the full.
This is a tour that is not to be missed, driving in either a Corvette or a convertible Mustang across some of the most iconic landscapes and routes you'll ever see, spending time soaking up the atmosphere you normally see in Hollywood blockbusters and mixing with local fellow petrolheads.
You'll have two tour mangers with you to guide and help you out, as well as detailed route notes, drivers info packs and walkie talkies so you can chat to each other CB style!
Arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and met by tour manager. Each group of 4 people will be sharing two cars, a Mustang convertible and a Corvette. Short drive over the mountains and down to Santa Cruz beachfront hotel, to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.
Drive south along the famous Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara (southbound is regarded as by far the best direction for the PCH) there's plenty of time to pause and take in the sights, or we can just enjoy driving with each other in true Petrolhead Nirvana style. We stop at Santa Barbara where we stay at another stunning beachfront hotel.
The Santa Barbara, Malibu, Beverley Hills, Hollywood, Angeles National Park leg of the trip. The locations speak for themselves; we'll be enjoying the California air and revelling in the surrounding beauty. We may not be film stars but we'll be causing a stir as we meet with some of our local friends from the Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche owners clubs in L.A. on our way, passing Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the famous Hollywood sign, and the 7000 foot ascent on the Angeles Crest Highway.
Barstow, and the 1.6 million acre Mojave National Preserve which is the 3rd largest National Park in the USA and home of the largest Joshua tree forest in the world. After taking our time passing through the park we arrive in Las Vegas!
Las Vegas – A rest Day – and where better to spend it? Our hotel is one block from the strip, you can wander around the casinos, take in a show or just soak up the Las Vegas atmosphere. There's also an optional helicopter trip to Grand Canyon (register interest when you pay deposit, approx $450 USD per person) which if you've never been is well worth taking.
Leaving Las Vegas we head to Death Valley National Park which will be relatively uncrowded at this time of year. The park includes Artist's Drive - a scenic loop drive through multi-hued volcanic and sedimentary hills. Artist's Palette is especially photogenic in late afternoon light. The 9-mile paved road is one-way and is only drivable with vehicles less than 25 feet in length, just one of the amazing areas of the park. We than pass through Furnace Creek on our way out to Lone Pine and the annual film festival, before heading to our overnight stop at Bishop.
Bishop to Yosemite National Park, world famous for its impressive waterfalls, meadows, cliffs, and unusual rock formations as well the Giant Sequoias. We can't guarantee we'll catch Yogi Bear, but we can try! We then head to Modesto for our last night's stop.
From Modesto we take a gentle drive to San Francisco and the end of our trip; the cars are dropped off and it's time to start going through our photos and video footage!