Portland, Oregon Coast, Redwood NP, Sonoma Valley, San Fran, Monterey, Carmel, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles & more

Begin with hip Portland, this small city in the Pacific Northwest offers gardens, cafe culture, tax-free shopping and much more. Pioneer Square in the heart of the city is a great place to start.

A full day exploring friendly Portland is on offer today, highlights include The Rose Test Gardens, The Japanese Gardens and Oregon Zoo. These three tourist treats all lie within Washington Park on the western edge of the city. Be sure to visit the Pearl District too for art galleries, interior design stores and trendy boutiques.

Powell's City of Books bookshop has been open since 1971 and an institution in Portland. With about a million books it's easy to lose track of time here, grab a Stumptown coffee and enjoy. Did we mention the tax-free shopping yet? Downtown Portland offers major labels and department stores like Nordstrom. In Pioneer Place, you’ll find top brands like Apple, Louis Vuitton and many more.

Cruising south on Highway 101, get used to seeing this type of outstanding beauty over the next week to 10 days! Massive sandstone boulders look like they have been dropped from the heavens onto Oregon's 360 mile stretch of coastline. Rugged, wild and windswept - Oregon’s beauty is up with the best of them.

You’ll leave Oregon today heading along the coast to start your California experience with a visit to the majestic Redwood National Park and some of the State Parks that surround it. Along the way you’ll explore highlights like Shore Acres State Park and Cape Arago. Rather surprisingly, there are even 40 miles of sand dunes located in the North Bend area.

Redwoods were once common through North America but are sadly now only predominantly found in Oregon and California. These are true giants at up to 100m high and 11m in diameter. Stand amongst these trees and let the stresses of work and home life just melt away.

You don't have to like wine to enjoy this beautiful area. These two neighbouring valleys offer stunning scenery made up of perfectly manicured vineyards stretching across rolling hills which can be enjoyed by car or even by an early morning hot air balloon ride. This is a 'foodies’ heaven too, with places like Thomas Keller’s Bouchon, and if you happen to like wine then visit one of the hundreds of vineyard tours available in either Sonoma or Napa Valley.

Spanning the headlands of San Fran and Marin County, one of the worlds most beautiful bridges is a delightful experience whether you walk, bike or drive across. You can also gain stunning views of the bridge and the city beyond by driving up Conzelman Road on the north side of the bridge. Once you hit town, you’ll be able to explore the cities iconic places.

Once the fog lifts, one of America’s favourite cities will be revealed. Ride a cable car, climb the streets and get into the vibe that only this city can offer. Full of Victorian charm, famous movie locations and wealthy tech companies, this city has it all.

Monterey was once California’s capital of the whaling and sardine industry, however, today it's best known for the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium that presides on Cannery Row. The focus now is on marine education and preservation. Want to experience the bay area first hand? Take a whale watching trip during spring or autumn.

Connecting Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, 17-Mile-Drive is a scenic toll road which takes you on a little tour past rugged beaches, millionaire homes and wind-blown cypress trees. Seals bask in the sun on offshore rocks and sea otters bob up and down in the waves. Carmel also boasts two world-class beaches, so finish the day watching the sunset over the Pacific.

Big Sur is arguably the best driving experience in all America. Enjoy the winding roads, State Parks and stunning vistas. Along the way, Hearst Castle perches on “The Enchanted Hill” and overlooks the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Santa Barbara is an ideal stop off for anyone touring the Pacific Coast Highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This is an affluent town, built in a charming Mediterranean style - thus making it one of the Central coasts best highlights.

Hollywood is synonymous with glitz and glamour, and although many of the studios have now moved on to other parts of town it's still fun to visit the home of the Oscars and walk Hollywood Boulevard looking for the handprints of your favourite movie stars. Just a short drive northeast of here lies the Griffith Observatory, perched high on a hill overlooking the urban sprawl of LA, this recently renovated landmark is well worth a visit.

The pier brings Route 66 to a glorious end, and Santa Monica with its “Baywatch” beaches and old-fashioned pier is a worthy finishing point for any road trip. Hire a bike and cruise the boardwalk down to Venice Beach or shop your heart out at the 3rd Street Promenade. Or maybe you’ll prefer to just watch some of La La lands characters play basketball or push weights, while you enjoy a morning coffee at one of the many cafes. If you have an extra few days to spend away, then this trip can be extended to visit Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and San Diego.