West Coast Road Trip

This was our first true multi-stop, plan-it-ourselves road trip with food allergies — and it felt like freedom.

We flew into LAX and stayed in Santa Monica, easing into the trip with ocean views and a Hollywood Hills bus tour before heading inland.

From there, we drove straight to Sequoia National Park — trading palm trees for towering redwoods. Hiking among those giant trees felt surreal. It was our first real “we’re doing this” moment on our own schedule.

Next stop: Carmel.

We went whale watching, visited the aquarium, and soaked in the coastal charm. It was one of those places that makes you slow down and just look around.

Leaving Carmel, we drove down the Pacific Coast Highway — stopping at Hearst Ranch Winery for lunch, pulling over at Pfeiffer Beach, and standing at Bixby Bridge taking in views that didn’t look real.

We continued south, staying in Santa Barbara and Newport Beach, before reaching our final destination: San Diego.

San Diego felt like the exhale.

We spent a full week with friends who are family. We visited the San Diego Zoo, saw the seals in La Jolla, swam in the ocean, relaxed by the pool, and shared meals and stories from the road.

Some stops were easier than others when it came to food. Some required more research and conversation. But by this point, we were starting to trust our process.

This trip proved something important:

We could move from place to place — safely — and still experience everything fully.

And it was a huge success.

Where We Ate

Santa Monica

Loews Santa Monica – Room Service Breakfast
We kept mornings simple with room service. Predictable, easy communication and a comfortable start to long driving days.

Sequoia National Park

Wuksachi Lodge
We ate on-site during our two-night stay. Limited options, but clear communication and simple meals made it manageable after long hiking days.

Carmel by the Sea

Carmel Valley Ranch (On-Site Restaurant)
Beautiful setting and accommodating staff. We felt comfortable dining on-site and keeping things straightforward. Some of our favorite meals.

Along the Pacific Coast Highway

Hearst Ranch Winery (Lunch Stop)
A planned stop along the drive. We asked questions, kept it simple, and enjoyed the views. Delicious burgers!

Santa Barbara

Ritz-Carlton Bacara (On-Site Dining)
This town was harder for us food-wise, so we chose to eat at the hotel, where communication felt more controlled.

Newport Beach

Pelican Hill (On-Site Dining)
One of our favorite stays. Beautiful setting, relaxed atmosphere, and meals that felt easy.

San Diego

SpringHill Suites (Breakfast)
Simple, predictable options like cereal made mornings easy.

Belmont Park Area & La Jolla Restaurants
Casual stops while exploring.

And many meals with friends — home-cooked and shared — which made the final leg of the trip feel safe and full-circle.