USA West-Coast Recommendations

fantastic picture and thank you for all the recommendations!

 

Hate to sound curmudgeonly but yes, Yosemite has many beautiful sights and hikes. Off-season, mid-week, it can be nice to visit, and driving through on Hwy 120 (and bypassing the Valley) is a great drive. But the crowds and traffic can ruin your day. I’ve had 2 hour waits at the entrance stations (despite having a lifetime pass which lets me go in free) due to traffic backups on 2 lane roads. And then almost equally long delays getting out. Of course I’ve also been there many times over the last 40 years so if this is your one chance, go for it.

 

pilot rock near silverwood lake ca

 

cleghorn ridge

 

Go as fast as you can thru Los Angeles! Maybe come down 101/Hwy 1/Pacific Coast route. There are some great beaches to see on the route. Seriously, bypass Los Angeles.

 

The map through California shows most of it on I-5...I would suggest getting closer to the coast for more of a scenic route. Redwoods up north with more cliffs along the ocean. Nice beaches the more south you get. Highway 1 is pretty amazing and worth spending some hours on but adds a lot of time. So I would pick a couple sections to maybe ride along that but don't plan on hwy 1 the whole way down to socal.