Road Trip Vacation- Camping Through Hollister, Gilroy and Santa Cruz, California

Road Trip around the California Bay Area takes you on a four-day loop in the local southern part of the central coast. Starting in San Jose, California you will head south on Highway 101, east on Highway 156 at Gilroy, loop through Hollister, out to the coast and then back home.

Road Trip Day One-
The first day's destination is Casa de Fruta just east of Hollister on Highway 156. Here you will find fun things to do with the kids-- ride the miniature railroad through the park, take a spin on a genuine Italian Carousel, shop in one of the worlds largest dried fruit and nut stores, or just relax by the pool. They also have a spacious RV park complete with camping hook-ups, showers, gas station and a restaurant.

For reservations and information please call 1-800-548-3813
9:00am to 6:00pm, Casa de Sweets Pavilion

Road Trip Day Two-
Time to pack up and head down Highway 152 until you come to Highway 156 junction. Here you will follow Highway 156 for a short way until you come to the small historical town of San Juan Batista, famous for many things, especially for the ambiance of yesteryear it has managed to maintain.

San Juan Batista will take you back in time when life was simple and uncomplicated. Here you can enjoy unique art galleries, pottery production, and a stroll through antique stores and one-of-a-kind gift stores. For the kids, just up from the main street is the historical Mission San Juan Batista.

Open daily, tickets cost only $4 for adults and $2 for children to see the interior. Taking a tour of the interior part of the mission gives you a glimpse of how life was in the earlier centuries when California was known as "Alta California". The rooms include the kitchen, the parlor, a full-scale miniature reproduction of the mission, and much more. Outside you can look into the ancient graveyard where more than 4000 unknown people from past times are buried. The mood is complete with the haunting chant of monks carried on the breeze.

Just across the mission is an old barn that allows a self-guided tour for a small donation. You will get to see artifacts from the days when the mode of transportation was by horse and buggy. There are also several small rooms set with clothing, furniture, and artifacts from that time period.

One of the best places to take the family for lunch is Jardines de San Juan (Gardens of San Juan). You will experience authentic Mexican food at affordable prices. As you wait for your meal, enjoy the gardens on the out door patio complete with tame, roaming chickens and roosters waiting for you to drop a chip.

While you are wandering around, take note of the large pepper trees that line many of the streets. You can find a sprig of pink pepper berries to take home as a souvenir. Also check out the oldest building in town just up the street from Jardines-the Adobe building built in the late 1700's. Some of the exterior has worn away allowing the kids to see construction materials of historic adobes.

In the afternoon, it is time to hop back in the car east on Highway 156 until you get back to highway 101 where you will go south to the off ramp for the continuation of Highway 156 west to Castroville. Then go north on Pacific Coast Highway One until you get to Watsonville. You will want to make your way from Watsonville out Beach street and turn right on San Andreas road. This route will take you the back way through vast rolling coastal farms of strawberries, flowers, and other crops.

For today's stay-over destination there are several choices. Two that are easy access and kid-friendly are Sunset Beach or the KOA on San Andreas road just outside of Watsonville going towards Santa Cruz. Sunset Beach is a state campground with ocean access and tent or RV camping. The KOA offers more amenities such as hot showers, large lawn area, a pool, cabins to rent, a store and more.

Road Trip Day Three
Today you will take a trip just up the road to Santa Cruz. Go north on San Andreas road, turning right at La Selva Beach road. This will take you back to Highway One where you will head North to Santa Cruz. For this part of the journey, you can stay in the same campground from yesterday to make it more convenient, as Santa Cruz is not that far up the road.

There are many things to do in Santa Cruz; however, one of the most popular attractions is the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Boardwalk is celebrating 100 years with many special venues throughout the summer. There are rides, a miniature golf course, laser tag, and video arcade. It is located right on the beachfront.

The Boardwalk is also next to the Santa Cruz Wharf where you can rent kayaks, take in a bay tour, or just stroll around in the shops and grab an ice cream treat from Marines (if you eat here the best choice is the small outdoor eatery at the end of the pier). If you go to the end of the Wharf, there are viewing areas where you can observe California Sea Lions and Seals resting on the pier pilings below.

Road Trip Day Four
Today you will make your way north on Highway One until you get to Ocean Ave. Here you will exit, stay in the far right lane and make a sharp curve around to Graham Hill Road. Your last leg of your adventure will be a stop in Roaring Camp off Graham Hill Road in Felton.

Roaring Camphas an authentic steam operated railroad with a great history. People from San Francisco used to ride the rail down to Santa Cruz for a day on the beach. Now you can ride the Big Trees Rail that takes you from Roaring camp up into the coastal redwoods round trip, or you can take a round trip to the beach at Santa Cruz looping back. Roaring Camp is a small western style town complete with blacksmith shop, a print shop, Apothecary, Old General Store and more.

This completes your four day road trip...now you head back home via Scotts Valley Road out to Highway 17 east into San Jose. We hope you enjoy your road trip with your family.

Tip: It is suggested that you make reservations for all camping and most activities well in advance. If the named campgrounds are unavailable, there are several other campsites along the way. California campgrounds along the beach are very popular destinations. For a list of California State Campgrounds, check their website often. Due to budget cuts, some camp grounds may have closed or have limited open days.

Next week Great American Road Trip San Jose will take you and your family east into gold country where you may strike it rich...with a treasure of memories.

Source:
www.PhotoGirlStudio.com
http://www.casadefruta.com/
http://www.koa.com/where/ca/05113/
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
http://www.roaringcamp.com/
http://www.parks.ca.gov/