Stop At Some Of California's Prettiest Towns On A Scenic Road Trip To An Iconic National Park

California includes some of the most iconic urban and natural spaces in the United States. It is also a state seemingly made for road tripping, as even its highways are famous. State Highway 1 and U.S. Route 101 both link amazing places with varying scenery along the way. A 200-mile road trip from Santa Barbara to Pinnacles National Park is one of the many ways to see all of these aspects that make the Golden State so special.

Santa Barbara is perfect for a couples vacation because it features plenty of the history and contrasting landscapes that you'd hope to see in a classic southern California town. Head to Old Mission Santa Barbara to check out the city's Spanish history, which dates back to the 1700s. The downtown Santa Barbara Historical Museum offers a closer look, with exhibits on the first Spanish settlements, Mexican rule, and its lengthy ties to California's film industry. As for nature, sections of rocky coastline makes Santa Barbara's beaches feel more untouched. If you choose to relax on Leadbetter Beach, perhaps spend some time at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum too. Other beaches combining the rocky and the sandy include 1000 Steps Beach and Butterfly Beach.

From Santa Barbara, you can enjoy the coastal scenery of the famous U.S. Route 101 until heading inland toward a quirky hidden gem. Get a taste of Denmark in Solvang thanks to its extensive Danish heritage. Keep your eye out for buildings and hotels that are reminiscent of European architecture such as Svendsgaard's Danish Lodge, Solvang Windmill, Solvang Village Center, and more half-timbered buildings throughout town. Learn about how Solvang and its Danish background came to be at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art.

Just outside of Solvang is Ostrichland USA, a huge reserve with dozens of ostriches and emus. Guests can feed these massive birds, check out their eggs, and do some shopping at the gift shop. If Danish architecture or huge flightless birds don't pique your interests, Solvang has plenty of other unique attractions. Notable among these is the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum, which shows off over 100 years of motorcycles and European race bikes. For outdoorsy folks, head to Highline Adventures. A ropes course here can get you up close to the trees of California's countryside or you can get even bigger views on its other course with three ziplines.

Keep going northwest on U.S. Route 101 to the adorable town of Pismo Beach right on the coast. Aside from the postcard-worthy oceanside cliffs, what makes this little town special are its nature preserves. Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve is part of Pismo State Beach and aside from being a peaceful beach, it features both freshwater and sand dune habitats that you can see on the park's walking trails. Nearby is the Monarch Butterfly Grove. Visit from late October through February to see countless (yet still endangered) monarchs among the eucalyptus trees in this preserve.

Where the 101 meets the coast in Pismo Beach, you will find Dinosaur Caves Park. While there are no actual dinosaur connections here, there was once a huge metal brontosaurus built by local businessman H. Douglas Brown and the name stuck. You can explore the remnants of the caves and the dinosaur-themed play areas, but the views might be the best part as the park is located on a tall coastal bluff.

While this road trip does not take you to Sonoma County or Napa Valley, there are still tons of great wineries and along the way. In the small town of Paso Robles, you can stay at the luxurious Tuscany-inspired Allegretto Vineyard Resort complete with a spa and art filled gardens to explore. Even if you don't stay here, you can book a tour of the vineyards and a wine tasting session. Try to book far in advance, as these experiences can sell out.

If you have never hear of Pinnacles National Park, it could be because it did not become a national park until 2013. The landscapes of many national parks have been affected by human settlers, and this is definitely the case for Pinnacles. This underrated California park is perfect for rock climbers, and a visit not only lets you see amazing formations created by ancient volcanic eruptions, but also means walking in the footsteps of centuries of Native tribes like the Chalon and Amah Mutsun. Members of these communities continue to work with national park managers to pass on knowledge about how they've used the area's resources to survive and thrive for hundreds of years.