Catch a California Breeze

Our good buddies at Make Scents understand that travel’s magic is about the to-and-from. The journey, not the destination. And atmosphere and vibe above all. Their collection of air fresheners—available in many a winsome, conversation-starter design—brings all the classic road-trip feels. Load up the car, crank the tunes, and hit the road to explore some of California's most beloved locales with a road trip itinerary inspired by nostalgic scents of the Golden State.

ENCINITAS

Pairs great with SURF WAX

If you want to understand the soul of California surf culture, pull off the 101 in this archetypal town that stays true to scruffy, wave-loving roots. Take in the scene at Swami's, the main surf break, where riders gather at dawn, or watch from the park at the top of the bluff near the local ashram that gives these waves their cheeky name. Salt Culture stirs a beach breeze of women’s fashion and surf gear. A swing north hits Leucadia Donut Shoppe, frying dough and pouring Kona coffee for more than 30 years. La Paloma Theatre sometimes puts classic surf movies on the screen. And keeping up the culture beat, Lou’s Records has drawn vinyl hunters since the 1980s.

HERMOSA BEACH 

Pairs great with COCONUTTY

With its two-mile ribbon of sand and a boardwalk that feels like Southern California distilled, Hermosa Beach carries an energy that’s equal parts sun-drunk and endearingly casual. Mornings start with locals jogging The Strand, weaving around longboarders cruising toward the break at 26th Street. By midday, volleyball nets claim the shoreline—this is the storied home of SoCal beach volleyball, after all—and the scene feels like a living postcard of effortless athleticism. Down by the Pier, Hermosa’s personality comes into sharper focus: a mix of open-air patios, live music drifting from upstairs bars, and shops that swing from retro surf tees to modern coastal design. When the light gets honey-soft, grab a table at Good Stuff or palm-shaded Hennessey’s and watch the sky go sherbet over the Pacific. It’s the kind of town that makes you consider ditching your shoes for good.

San Luis Obispo

Pairs great with SCENTAL

Set between rumpled coastal hills and vineyard-lined backroads, San Luis Obispo gives off a warmth that’s equal parts college-town buzz and old-California charm. Wander downtown and you’ll catch it immediately—Mission bells ringing, students spilling out of cafés, the creek threading under bridges like a little secret. There’s a homegrown creativity here, too: art galleries tucked into historic storefronts, indie boutiques, and the famed Thursday farmers market turning Higuera Street into a festival of smoke, produce, and buskers. Head into the surrounding countryside and the vibe shifts again—Edna Valley wineries pouring crisp whites and velvet reds, Cerro San Luis rising as a perfect pre-sunset hike, and the Pacific just minutes away at Shell Beach or Avila, where tide pools and cliffside trails make it feel like California in miniature. SLO doesn’t need to shout; it wins you over with easy warmth, golden light, and days that seem to stretch longer than anywhere else.

Yosemite

Pairs great with BIG PINE

Yes, Yosemite is all about the big visual reveals: light breaking on the Dawn Wall, the alpine odyssey of Tioga Pass Road, the rustic splendor of The Ahwahnee—truly one of the champions among national park lodges. But for our money, the really good stuff comes when you get a little scrappy and take the park in, up-close-and-personal. Scramble your way to the base of El Capitan and touch that granite wall. Look up at the vertical ocean of stone. Sidle through legendary climbers’ hang Camp 4, or join the community yourself with a lesson from Yosemite Mountaineering School, where they teach everything from basics to how to scale the big walls.

JOSHUA TREE

Pairs great with DARK CRYSTAL

This mystical stretch of desert is about the surreal rock wonders and wild-armed yuccas of the national park, of course. But it’s also about the inspiration, creativity and just-plain-oddness that flourishes in its radiant light. Catch the vibe in downtown Joshua Tree itself, starting with Art Queen, where you can browse whimsical creations, including a crochet museum. Twentynine Palms Gallery is a stable of the local creative scene, while the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, capturing one artist’s found-object aesthetic, is just one example of how out-there and wonderful things can get in this country.

Palm Springs

Pairs great with NEW WHIP

It’s hard not to feel hipper, prettier and younger in Palm Springs. Since the Southern Pacific Railroad hit this aquifer-rich expanse, it’s been touted as “America’s Winter Playground.” Bing Crosby threw some serious bashes at his sprawling Rancho Mirage Estate for fellow Golden Age stars. There are plenty of similar midcentury manses to rent for a hedonistic, pool-centric weekend. Iconic hotels, too: Korakia Pensione for quiet, Mediterranean-style romance; and the Ace Hotel & Swim Club for the good times that Palm Springs promises. No matter what time you wake up, Cheeky's serves breakfast, but early birds get the limited cinnamon rolls.

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