California Road Trips Guide - 2023 - 47

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a Pastry paradise
Pinnacles National Park
STARTS: SAN JOSÉ MINETA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
238 MILES * 3-4 DAYS
Innovation and
Agricultural Bounty
A HIGH-TECH CITY, BEACH TOWN, AND FERTILE FARMLANDS AWAIT
In a world that's obsessed with
specialty tastes and curated niches, this
smorgasbord loop delivers fun that
everyone can share in. You'll start in
San Jose, a hub for innovation-focused
museums and cutting-edge arts, then
travel to Santa Cruz, home to seaside
nostalgia and throwback pleasures. Next
comes storybook Carmel and a naturelover's
national park, followed by a tour
through veggie-rich farmlands.
Fly into San José Mineta International
Airport to get a feel for Silicon Valley's
culture of ingenuity. A digital library lets
travelers download free e-books, and the
28-foot-tall robot Space Observer stands
guard over Terminal B.
San Jose's SoFA District is only
minutes away, home to eight blocks
of galleries and eateries. Nearby, kids
and adults get hands-on at The Tech
Interactive and marvel at the mummies
in the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.
Departing the city, a drive south
across redwood-cloaked hills leads to
Santa Cruz, where life revolves around
the seaside. The Beach Boardwalk has
peddled playful pastimes since 1907, and
the Giant Dipper coaster clickety-clacks
along its steel-and-wood track.
To the south lies Moss Landing's
working harbor, home to fun-loving
fuzzy sea otters. Phil's Fish Market
serves world-famous cioppino, and tour
boats offer half- and full-day trips to see
gray, humpback, and blue whales.
Linger a while in delightful Carmel,
a walkable village with nearly 100
galleries, dozens of tasting rooms,
and a white-sand beach. Head east
through oak-clad hills to Salinas, home
to bountiful farms and the National
Steinbeck Center, which honors The
Grapes of Wrath author and native son.
A worthy detour through goldengrass
prairies leads to Pinnacles National
Park's west side. Pack a picnic and
hike up and over burnished-gold cliffs,
explore the Balconies talus caves, or scan
the sky for California condors.
Backtrack to Gilroy, where farm
stands are super-sized. Stock up on
edible souvenirs-garlic braids, sundried
peaches, chipotle pistachios-then
head back to San Jose for a final evening
in the City of Innovation. Reward
yourself with a Portuguese repast at
Michelin-starred Adega.
At Peters' Bakery, order the
signature burnt almond
cake filled with custard and
icing from this nearly
100-year-old institution.
b Arbor-sculpting
See Gilroy Gardens'
amazing " circus trees " -
sycamores, ashes, and oaks
that were grafted into
intricate basket-weave
shapes.
c Gilded horses
Take the little ones to ride
the double-decker carousel
and narrow-gauge train at
Casa de Fruta.
d Surf history
Located in a replica
lighthouse, the Santa Cruz
Surfing Museum houses a
century's worth of surf
memories.
San Jose
a
N
d
Santa
Cruz
b Gilroy
c
Hollister
AREA OF
DETAIL
VISITCALIFORNIA.COM | 47
AMANDA FRIEDMAN
http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
California Road Trips Guide - 2023

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