Do you remember the first time you drove up the California coast? Mine was in the back seat of a yellow VW bug with my godparents. I remember salty morning air seeping through the windows as we passed through Ventura and navigated the 101 toward Mussel Shoals, Highway 1 and beyond.

Sure, I had seen the ocean before—many times—but not like this. Highways that trickled down into single-lane small towns. Rocky peaks towering like floating castles in the surf. Hairpin turns with only a small railing separating your vehicle from the edge of the world. I was hooked.

After spending the last year very close to home, I’m ready to explore my favorite coast again. From the Santa Barbara to San Francisco, this quick and easy road trip meets all my criteria: no planes, no hurry and plenty of fresh air. Whether you commit to a leg or take up the whole journey, I hope to see you on the road.

Santa Barbara

At the historic San Ysidro Ranch, we’re dropping in to indulge our all our physical senses. Eucalyptus, orange blossoms and magnolias perfume 500 acres of colorful gardens, charming bungalows and unspoiled nature in the Montecito foothills. Each of the private cottages comes individually decorated and equipped with a fireplace or stove, a deck and hot tub. JFK and Jackie’s honeymoon hideaway joins 40 other accommodations available for booking.  |  sanysidroranch.com

Check Out: Stonehouse Restaurant. A 19^th-century citrus packinghouse-turned-dining experience that serves regional cuisine and ingredients harvested by the chef’s private garden.

Don’t Miss: The Spa. Sanctuary and serenity to ease away stress and bring you out of hibernation.

Central Coast

If Santa Barbara was about awakening the body, the Central Coast is here to awaken your soul. Oceanpoint Ranch in quaint Cambria offers a rustic retreat just steps from the ocean. Known for a quiet and relaxed vibe, this stop along the heart of the coast affords you a moment to pause and breathe in beauty. Roll out your mat for yoga at Leffingwell Landing or get lost in thought on a sunset stroll down Moonstone Beach.

Check Out: The Pacific Coast Wine Trail. The ranch provides the perfect starting point for wine tasting at the region’s wonderful local wineries, including personal favorite Stolo Family Vineyards.  |  stolofamilyvineyards.com

Don’t Miss: Stepladder Ranch & Creamery. This gem tucked in the hills off Highway 1 makes small-batch cheeses with milk from their herd of LaMancha goats—some even agreeable to petting.  |  stepladdercreamery.com

San Francisco

Now that you’ve serviced both body and soul, let’s give some love to your mind. One of my favorite places to flex those cultural muscles is magical San Francisco. A recent discovery, Hotel Drisco may be my new go-to for overnights in the City by the Bay. While most SF hotels congregate downtown or by Fisherman’s Wharf, Drisco sits perched in Pacific Heights with Edwardian elegance. This standout location also makes for easy jaunts down to the Marina or the Presidio.  |  hoteldrisco.com

Check Out: The Presidio. This park on a former military post offers plenty of outdoor adventure and hosts the Walt Disney Family Museum and spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge.  |  presidio.gov

Don’t Miss: The de Young museum is the first American venue for the exhibition Calder-Picasso, which features more than 100 sculptures, paintings, drawings and graphics by Alexander Calder (1898–1976) and Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), two of the most innovative and influential artists of the twentieth century. With his mobiles, Calder animated sculpture and engaged the viewer in a dynamic dialogue with the ever-evolving artwork. Alternating between representation and abstraction, Picasso revealed and explored the infinite potential inherent in both styles, often in the same work of art. Now through May 23.  |  deyoung.famsf.org