California Road Trips - 50 Life-Changing Adventures - 25

Rock 'n' Roll
Road Trip
A curated playlist is essential
for any road trip-but on this
two-day journey, the music isn't
just in the background, it's the
main event

PA PPY & H A RRI ET ' S

F R O M S U N S H I N E P O P TO G A RAG E R O C K , Southern California has ushered in some of the most
beloved sounds in music. Your tune-themed drive will follow famous acts like The Doors, The Beach
Boys, and Elvis Presley as you experience rock's past and present firsthand.
"Track one" of your trip starts in Orange County, the region that gave us No Doubt, Sublime, and The
Righteous Brothers. Fuel up diner-style at Watson's Soda Fountain & Cafe, an O.C. institution with a
retro feel. Stay on-brand by ordering the J Cash (chicken-fried steak and eggs) and see if you recognize
the interior from scenes of the classic music movie That Thing You Do!
When it comes to rock, Southern California has its edgier side, too-the punk scene gave us Agent
Orange, Social Distortion, X, and more. You can get a taste of it all at V Room in Long Beach, which
opens daily at 6 a.m. Put your favorite tunes on in the jukebox and enjoy a Bloody Mary topped with
Doritos and something called a "gas station meat stick."
Afterwards, head straight into the beating heart of California's music scene: Los Angeles. Take
Highway 1 north to cruise by Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, both made famous by the Beach
Boys' Surfin' U.S.A. Then go northwest to see where the biggest names in rock perform: the 19,000-seat
Staples Center. Check out the impressive exterior before walking through the Grammy Museum across
the way. Inside, don't miss the Songwriters Hall of Fame, featuring handwritten lyrics by Bob Dylan,
Taylor Swift, and more.
Now head west to the Sunset Strip, home to the city's most iconic, enduring rock venues. Stop for
selfies outside The Roxy, The Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, and the Troubadour. A few blocks away, the
Sunset Marquis has been a longtime rocker favorite and a fantastic place to spend the night. The hotel

PHOTOGRAPH: MARINA CHAVEZ

S TA R T
Watson's Soda
Fountain & Cafe,
Orange

3 238

days

miles

even boasts its own recording studio, Nightbird.
Sleep in the next morning (rockstar-style) before heading to Canyon Country Store-made famous by
The Doors' "Love Street"-to buy some elevated car snacks. Then pay your respects at the Hollywood
Forever Cemetery, the final resting place of legends like Johnny Ramone and Chris Cornell.
Next, you'll follow in the footsteps of many a musician, escaping the chaos of the city for the
desert's inspirational expanse. On the way, stop in Claremont to browse the selection at Rhino Records,
which specializes in out-of-print vinyl. Once you arrive in Palm Springs, make a beeline for the Elvis
Honeymoon Hideaway, the fascinating abode where Elvis and Priscilla Presley retreated after their
nuptials. Head north to Pioneertown and Pappy & Harriet's-a musical oasis that serves barbecue and

FINISH
Joshua Tree Inn,
Joshua Tree

hosts impressive acts like Lucinda Williams and Billy Corgan. End your trek at the Joshua Tree Inn, 11
miles away in Joshua Tree. It's where country-rock innovator Gram Parsons spent his last night; guests in
his room (No. 8) leave notes and lyrics of their own in a bedside journal.

California Road Trips - 50 Life-Changing Adventures

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Road Trips - 50 Life-Changing Adventures