Beach, Desert and National Parks: A Winter Sun Escape to California

For your first day in sunny San Francisco you’ll be discovering the scenic and cultural offerings of the city in the company of a clued-up local guide. Begin with a stroll along the Embarcadero quays, where you can enjoy views of the San Francisco skyline, the bay and the islands of Yerba Buena and Treasure Island. From here, ride the funicular up to the charming Nob Hill neighbourhood, which overlooks one of the city's many hills. Round off your walking tour with a visit to the immense Grace Cathedral and the Cable Car Museum, where you can learn all about the history and construction of this historic transport network.

On today’s agenda is a visit to MoMA, the first museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art on the west coast of the United States. The gallery’s beautifully curated exhibitions display collections of works by Paul Klee, Ansel Adams, Jackson Pollock and Pierre Lallemand. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to play with. You could stroll through the Union Square shopping district, visit the prison-island of Alcatraz, walk up the winding Lombard Street, grab a bite to eat in the authentic Mission district and admire the beautiful street art of Clarion Alley. We can also arrange for you to embark on a tour of the enchanting Muir Woods and Sausalito.

Today you’ll be swapping the hustle and bustle of San Francisco for the serene mountainous landscapes of Sierra Nevada. After breakfast this morning, collect your hire car and drive four hours to El Portal, a small town located just outside the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Along the way you can make stops at some picturesque little towns and cities on scenic Route 140, including Merced, where you can check out the great collection of airplanes on display at the Castle Air Museum. On arrival in El Portal, check in for two nights in a lovely hotel near the park entrance and spend the rest of today settling into your new natural surroundings.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984, Yosemite National Park is home to alpine landscapes, spectacular granite domes, grandiose cliffs, majestic lakes, rivers and waterfalls, giant sequoia forests and hundreds of species of birds and mammals, including brown bears, the emblem of the park. If the winter is a little harsher than normal, we recommend spending more time in the western part of the park, which is easily accessible via the Tioga Road Scenic Byway.

Your epic winter sun road trip across California continues today with a four-hour drive along the very scenic Route 140 to Monterey Bay, a delightful resort town on the Pacific coast. Along the way you’ll wind through a collection of small western towns, such as Mariposa, one of the nation’s southernmost Gold Rush-era towns. On arrival in Monterey check in for the night in a friendly and laid-back hotel and spend the rest of today enjoying the relaxed seaside lifestyle of the city. The central part of town and its quays pay homage to the region’s historic sardine industry, while the surrounding beaches, nature reserves and vineyards act as popular points of refuge for city-dwellers.

Your next stop along the cool Californian coast is Santa Barbara, a beautiful Mediterranean-style city with a rich Spanish colonial history. The four-hour drive is once again very scenic, hugging the rugged coastline and bordering sweeping mountains. Along the way we recommend making stop at the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, which inspired Orson Welles for Citizen Kane. Your home for the night in Santa Barbara is a beautifully designed Hispanic oasis which is well located for exploring Santa Barbara. Once you’ve settled in and freshened up, head out and spend the rest of today soaking in the scenic and cultural delights of the Californian Riviera. Situated on a coastal ledge, extending over the hills between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, this old 18th-century Spanish mission has become a popular yet peaceful holiday spot. Stroll through town admiring the whitewashed stucco houses with red-tiled roofs, kick back and relax on the palm-tree-lined beaches or head into the ocean for a surf lesson.

After breakfast this morning, hop back into your hire car and drive three hours along Route One to Palm Springs, a stylish 50s city nestled in the Sonoran Desert of southern California. You’ll pass the beautiful beach of Ventura, where you can catch a glimpse of the Channel Islands, before winding through the luxurious Los Angeles neighbourhoods of Bel Air and Hollywood. From here it’s less than a two-hour drive to Palm Springs, which explains why it was the favourite holiday spot for the glamorous movie starts of the 1950s. Your home for the night is a friendly and relaxed hotel nestled at the foot of the mountains, tucked nicely away from the crowds who flock here to enjoy some winter sun. The rest of today is yours to play with. Palm Springs is known for its array of enticing leisure options, which include golf courses, hot springs, indulgent spas and luxury shopping.

Today you’ll be heading off to your final California destination: the iconic city of Los Angeles, a two-hour drive away. Make sure to stop off along the way at Joshua Tree Park, a sweeping desert landscape nestled between Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert which is home to a species of Yucca that can stretch as high as 30ft. Continue on through the northern San Jacinto Mountains to your next accommodation: a stylish hotel in the North Hollywood Hills, where you’ll be hanging up your hat for the last three nights of your West Coast road trip. The rest of today is yours to spend as you please. You could head out to one of the many upmarket nearby bars for sunset, or simply kick back and enjoy the facilities at the hotel.

The next two days are all about soaking in the endless scenic and cultural offerings of Los Angeles, from the beaches of Malibu and Santa Monica to the stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the life-size film sets of the vibrant Downtown. At some point during your time here you’ll have the opportunity to discover the city through the lens of a local resident. You’ll visit three of the city’s most emblematic neighbourhoods: historic Downtown LA, with its remarkable architecture, world-class museums and bustling Grand Central Market; Little Tokyo, which is home to a mind-boggling concentration of Japanese cultural offerings; and the Arts District, a former industrial area now home to street art frescoes, trendy boutiques and art galleries. The rest of your time in the ‘City of Angels’ is yours to spend exploring at your own pace. Visit the Getty Center on Brentwood Hill, a gigantic museum in a park accessed by a funicular; get active with a surfing lesson in Malibu, a yoga class in Santa Monica or jogging in Laurel's Canyon; enjoy 360° views of LA from the Griffith Observatory; and visit Mulholland Drive, one of the most legendary streets in the United States. We can also arrange for you to explore lavish LA neighbourhoods from the comfort of a legendary 1960s Cadillac Cabriolet.