A Postcard from California
Visiting California was the dream my fiancé and I fulfilled in April 2025. And we did it almost entirely, which is quite a thing to do when you realise how big California really actually is. After boarding a 12-hour flight, we were heading to the City of Stars (I made him watch La La Land before we left, so we could track down all the iconic locations from the film once we arrived). California here we go!!
First stop: Santa Monica Pier
I had always dreamed of walking along that iconic boardwalk, shaped by years of movie scenes, book references, and a bit of romantic imagination (I’ve always been a dreamer). I’m not sure what I was expecting exactly, but I have to admit: it didn’t quite live up to the picture I had in mind. Still, I was so genuinely happy to be there that it didn’t matter in the slightest. Just standing on that pier, with the ocean stretching out before us, was enough (sunrise being a bit more spectacular than the sunset, and birds all the way across the sky).
I couldn’t be in Santa Monica without meeting the Internets icon: Barbie House (at 1341 Palisades Beach Road, Santa Monica, ÇA 90401) I mean, come on… it’s legendary! Please tell me I’m not the only one who had that on their Santa Monica “must-see” list? Definitely worth the stop (and the photos!).
Cute spot for a cinnamon coffe:
👉 Parakeet Café on Instagram
The road trip begins
We rented a car for the 15 days we’d be spending in California and hit the road the very next morning, destination: Las Vegas. The adventure was officially underway, and we had a lot ahead of us. We didn’t have a detailed itinerary in place. Just a general idea of the places we wanted to see and a map dotted with what seemed like the most logical route.
We explored the Las Vegas Strip on foot, taking in all the sights, sounds, and neon chaos it’s famous for. Our base for the night was the MGM Grand (1 of 5 stars for me but it was the only one in our budget). We did spent some time in a few casinos and each set a budget of $50, just for fun. Surprisingly, we even managed to win a little. I’m no fan of gambling, but it's part of the Vegas experience (and I kept some of the receipts for my bullet journal….so it’s a win).
Initially, I had hoped to see a Cirque du Soleil show, but in the end, we opted for a quieter evening and had dinner at the Italian American Club Restaurant instead. No regrets since I love pasta more than anything (I recommend the spot btw). And speaking of adresses I recommend: I had a matcha, I still find myself thinking about it! If you’re near Henderson, make sure to stop by Evergreen Coffee (it’s 15ish minutes away from Las Vegas)
📍 40 N Valle Verde Dr, Ste 100, Henderson, NV 89074
👉 evergreencoffeelv.com
We had planned to make a detour by the Grand Canyon, but in the end we made the call to skip it and instead dedicate more time to exploring California’s national parks. We’d have enough to explore with that. That way we had no rush to explore California (and it just means Mat has to take me back to the Grand Canyon sometime)
Valley of Fire State Park
Next, we set off toward Death Valley. Along the way, we did a spontaneous stop at Valley of Fire State Park, and enjoyed its landscape painted in deep reds and ochres
Chasing Sunsets in Death Valley
Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the US. It’s mostly desert landscape with really unique geological formations. As luck would have it, we arrived just in time for sunset and stopped at Zabriskie Point.
We stayed at The Ranch at Death Valley, and if you choose to do the same, here’s an important tip: go to dinner early. We arrived at 8:00 p.m., thinking we had time to eat before the restaurants closed at 9:00 p.m., but we were turned away and the waitlist was already full with over 20 people ahead of us (I mean it was kind of our own fault). In the end, we managed to grab something at the ice cream parlour.
Since options are extremely limited in the middle of the desert, Id recommend planning ahead and either dining early or bringing a backup snack or just think before (because we sure didn’t).
Later in the evening we went to do something we wouldn’t be able to do anywhere else (I mean certainly not in Paris): Death Valley offers some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world. We stopped at a random parking lot not far away from our hotel and OMG the stars? I had never ever ever seen so many in my life. If you’re visiting, don’t miss this.
Next day we drove all around Death Valley and went to iconic spots such as Artist’s Drive. It’s a place where mineral-rich hills create a sort of canvas of pinks, purples, and greens. We also went to the sand dunes just outside of Stovepipe Wells. Just be aware of how hot it is ! Sunscreen and hats recommended.
One of my favourite moments when arriving in a park is going to the Visitor Center stamping our National Park Passport and buying a sticker from the park and grabbing the official park map. I usually use those to know which hike trails and important sight points we have to do.
Sequoia National Park
Our next adventure was Sequoia National Park and one of the main highlights is standing at the base of the Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume. It’s so big, that I’d have to stand on my own shoulders over 53 times just to match its height. We spent only one day in Sequoia, but managed to fit in quite a lot. After grabbing a picnic lunch at the Visitor Center, we found ourselves walking through patches of snow. It was surreal, especially considering that less than 24 hours earlier, we had been dried out by the desert heat of Death Valley.
In the later afternoon, we went onto an off-the-beaten-path hike where we met a local guy who had lived in the Sequoia area his entire life. He shared his tips about lesser-known routes and recommended a visit to nearby Kings Canyon (where he told us we’d see bears, which we didn’t in Sequoia, much to the frustration of Matthieu, who was really hoping for a close-up encounter with one. Yes he is crazy). But Kings Canyon was still closed for the season until April 25th, and we were there on April 21st (yay us).
Lost in Yosemite’s magic
Of course we didn’t miss the opportunity to visit Yosemite National Park, one of America’s most renowned and iconic natural treasures. I was truly awe-struck (idk if that’s a real word but whatever, that’s exactly how I felt). The road from the park entrance to Tunnel View offered a vantage point overlooking a waterfall. It’s no exaggeration to say we spent nearly an hour there.
When we visited, much of Yosemite National Park was still closed for the season, but there was more than enough to keep us busy. We strolled along several trails, stopped for a meal at the Visitor Center (Matthieu was admittedly growing tired of sandwiches and instant noodles). We did some trails, especially one at the bottom of El Capitan, which is a granite monolith rising over 3,000 feet. Seeing climbers scaling the face was nothing short of giving me chills.
Palo Alto
Cute Spot for Breakfast: Sweet Maple
Breakfast spot not very far away from Stanford surroundings: Check them out here.🥞
We visited the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, and tho its more Matt’s thing than mine, I was excited to learn more about the history of it all.
It’s like a timeline of how computers evolved: from the first mechanical machines to the smartphones and AI of today. One of the highlights was an AI-powered robot woman you could actually talk to. She responded in any language and on any topic. Obviously, I asked her what she thought of Taylor Swift and One Direction, first in French, then in German. We were fortunate to attend a demonstration led by a volunteer who had formerly worked as an engineer at IBM.
For dinner we went to a little restaurant in Town & Country Village, a charming open-air shopping center in Palo Alto, where you have bookshops, cookies, cupcakes, pizzas, burger, etc. It’s the kind of place where you can take your time, stroll from one shop to the next, and maybe (gently) harass your boyfriend into spending an hour in a bookshop. A lovely way to end the day (for me).
Dinner spot you need to try : 🍕 Howie's Artisan Pizza
Sonoma State Park
We stayed in Glen Ellen and took the time to explore the nearby coastal state parks, wanting to be able to spot baby seals in the area of Bodega Bay (which according to locals was the perfect season to do so, we were there in April). We were lucky to do so along Goat Rock State Park.
Point Reyes
I had seen that Point Reyes was worth visiting on a friend’s blog. The weather wasn’t great, but when the landscape is that stunning it’s okay. We explored several scenic spots along the coast, and at one of them, we started hearing loud barking sounds. At first, we thought it had to be a nearby farm with dogs. Nuh uhhhh nope.
Dozens and dozens of seals were scattered along the shore, barking so loud I’m pretty sure you could hear them on the other side of the Pacific. It was surreal and …. Hilarious.
If you’re going to San Francisco…
Not wearing any flowers in my hair but we spent a matinée in San Francisco, and as expected, it was full of seals… and wind (so much wind). We stopped by a few of the classic sights. Mat bravely drove down the crooked Lombard Street, and later we headed to Pier 39, where we stayed for a while watching the sea lions lazing around (loudly!! of course) and just enjoyed the waterfront atmosphere (and smell…I’m not talking about the water).
For lunch, we grabbed a pizza and found a perfect spot by the water with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Santa Barbara
If there was one place I truly wanted to share with my fiancé, it was Santa Barbara. I had spent a summer there at UCSB and met some of my closest friends
I have a special bond with the State Street, the beach, the waterfront, the Pier, etc., and I wanted to show him the places where I created some of my fondest memories. I love Santa Barbara because it’s one of those rare American cities you can explore entirely on foot, which is not that common in a country known for its vast size and urban areas.
Car ride to …Malibu
We of course shared a strawberry ice cream in Malibu in honour of Olivia Rodrigo.
There was a fun moment when we drove past a house and I told Mat, “Wow, that’s about what the Hannah Montana house looks like in the series.” Then, a little lightbulb went off in my head, so I looked it up… and nope, no coincidence. It was that very house.
Malibu wasn’t just about me rambling on about celebrities and famous houses, we also visited a beautiful beach where we hiked up the hills to catch a view of the ocean. I was so happy the sun finally decided to show up and meet us.
One day at Universal Studios
We decided to visit Universal Studios because it was a place I really wanted to see. There was a certain attention to detail that captures the spirit of the movies it celebrates. We parked in the most affordable lot on-site, which was $25 for the day. It only meant a short walk to the entrance. I’d recommend that since it didn’t feel like a chore at all: you pass by shops, food stands, and colourful decorations that already set the mood and keep you entertained before you even reach the park entrance so I didn’t mind.
You can also pay an extra $20 to enter Nintendo Land before official opening hours, which is a nice option if you're eager to beat the crowds (but not in April because there wasn’t to many people).
I was wearing my Taylor Swift merch which sparked a conversation with one of the employees. We ended up chatting, and just before we left, he asked if it was our first visit (it was) and handed us little “1st Visit” badges. Gotta love a bit of special treatment, don’t you. I was genuinely surprised by Universal Studios Hollywood, especially since I hadn’t enjoyed the Florida park as much, and of course had so much fun on the rollercoasters. The food, however, was a bit of a letdown (but I mean it’s a theme park that was expected).
My favorite spot was definitely Nintendo Land: vibrant, colourful, and with fun little interactive games. I also liked the Studio Tour ride. It was a nice way to experience the behind-the-scenes of movie-making with some funny surprises.
We managed to do everything, including a relaxed lunch break…and were done by 3:30 p.m. I had actually gone on some rides twice (single rider privilege on The Mummy and Flight of the Hippogriff, no wait times at all).
Griffith Observatory
We ended our day at the Griffith Observatory. One advice: do not park on site, because it is $10 an hour. But the entrance to the Griffith is completely free.
The Griffith Observatory is a must do if you’re in the area - it is perched on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, with views over the whole city and the Hollywood sign. It’s part science museum, part planetarium, and part scenic lookout. It is a nice place whether you’re into astronomy or just want to feel like you’re on a movie set (La La Land, anyone? Because I sure went there because of them). You can explore exhibitions about space, look through telescopes, and if you time it right, catch the sunset over L.A.
Must-Visit Restaurant: The Smoke House
Yes, it’s the very same iconic spot featured in La La Land. The food was delicious, the staff incredibly welcoming, and the whole experience pure joy (we had a photo taken at the table we sat, which was the one Ryan Gosling sat at too…or so I’d like to believe). A solid 10/10!
Beverly Hills
We obviously couldn’t pass through LA. without making a stop in Beverly Hills (we could, but I wanted to go).
We strolled along Rodeo Drive, pretending for a second we could actually afford to shop there. It's more of a "soak in the atmosphere" kind of place than an activity-packed stop, but I loved just walking around, and pointing out clothes, houses and cars we’ll never own.
Next stop: the Walk of Fame — since we were clearly embracing the touristy side of the city at that point. It’s exactly what you think it is: stars on the pavement, lots of people, and a slightly chaotic vibe. We wandered around spotting names we knew, dodged a few Spider-Man impersonators, and took the obligatory photo (or ten). Not the most peaceful moment of the trip, but definitely part of the full LA experience (and this time, we parked far away and totally regretted it, unlike our budget, which was quite pleased with the decision).
Wandering wild in Joshua Trees National Park
Then came a last-minute decision — because by that point, we’d done a good tour of L.A. and started missing the nature trails, the fresh air, and, let’s be honest, the visitor centers (no, I do not have enough stickers yet). So… we hit the road that very same evening and headed toward Joshua Tree. We booked an Airbnb quite literally in the middle of nowhere — desert all around us — and honestly we absolutely loved it (except when there was a huge dead spider in the middle of the floor when entering the air bnb).
The evening before, we had stocked up at a supermarket to prepare dinner and breakfast at our Airbnb. Still, we couldn’t resist stopping by Mas o Menos before going into the park in the morning where I tried their matcha and did some fun photo booth shots — I’d discovered this iconic spot on TikTok and was eager to check it out in person.
We also made a stop at Pioneertown, where it felt like we were the only souls around. There, we met a shop owner who laughed as we talked to him—explaining that he hadn’t had his coffee yet and that the shops in town don’t really have set opening hours; they just open whenever the mood strikes (I love the concept - should forward this to my boss).
And then we went on to explore: Joshua Tree National Park. It’s famous for its unique, spiky Joshua trees that look like they’ve been plucked straight out of a fantasy novel, and it also has a star-studded sky at night. We spent a day there and did what we do best : stop whenever we think « this needs a picture »
We spotted the iconic Skull Rock, explored the Cholla Cactus Garden, and hiked to “The Dam,” soaking in the desert landscapes along the way (Fun fact: did you know Joshua Tree has a “Cheese Bush” (I even looked up her real name: hymenoclea salsola)— named because it literally smells like… well, cheese. Duh, Sherlock!)
The Huntington Library
We weren’t sure we’d have time to visit, but some friends who live in LA insisted it was a must-see — and they were right. Since it was our last day and we only had the morning, I figured it’d be the perfect final stop. Spoiler: three hours were absolutely not enough (at least not for me, because I completely fell in love with the place).
Even in the rain, the gardens looked like something out of a fairytale. The scent in the air made me want to throw myself into the rose bushes and just live there forever (don’t try it — I didn’t, but I can only imagine it would hurt… it’s all roses, after all). There were some themed gardens covering more than 120 acres — the Japanese Garden, the Desert Garden, the Chinese Garden and the Rose Garden were my personal favorites (yes I did just mention all of them thats okay).
It was founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington, a railroad tycoon and avid collector of art, books, and rare manuscripts. His former estate is now home to a world-class library, an impressive European and American art collection. The site is huge (but again like everything else in the U.S.), and you could easily spend a full day — or several — exploring.
And so…farewell…
Seventeen days, countless memories, and one unforgettable adventure later — California left its mark on us. Until next time, Golden State — we’ll be back (for sure!!)
