If you’re planning a visit to sunny California, consider including a drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Here’s a sampling of just a few sights and experiences you may discover along the way.

Los Angeles, also known as The City of Angels, may appear anything but at first glance. As a major metropolitan city, you’ll find lots of concrete, a bit of an ozone haze, and reminders (some subtle, others not so subtle) that you’re a tourist wherever you go. Shopping abounds, from retail to high-end stores. If you’re looking for some surf, visit Venice Beach or Santa Monica Beach.

Both beaches promise lots of entertaining sights and sounds, from cyclists to rollerbladers. And, of course, you can’t visit Los Angeles without taking in the Hollywood scene. Just be prepared for very heavy traffic wherever you go throughout the city.

Once you leave the Los Angeles area, you can either travel the outskirts of town and catch major mall shopping on the way north to San Francisco, or take the scenic route through the swanky Bel Air and Mulholland Drive neighborhoods where you may just spot a celebrity or two. Head towards the coastal town of Santa Barbara for good seafood, picturesque piers and plenty of lodging for a comfortable, easy stay. Farther north you’ll find the town of Los Alamos, small in size and known for its ghost tales.

Sea views riding through Big Sur are memorable. The beautiful city of Monterey is still farther north, offering a relaxed atmosphere with quality restaurants and shops. On arriving to San Francisco, the steep and winding streets, fresh markets, and comfortable temperatures year-round are sure to bring travelers back for more.