One of my very first “big girl trips” was an all-out California girls’ road trip with my lifelong best friend. It was a dream we’d been talking about forever—one of those “someday” things that finally turned into a “let’s book it” moment once we both landed real jobs and had a few vacation days to rub together.

This is where my love for trip planning really began. I mean, I was obsessed. I remember using every spare minute to map out the perfect itinerary, budgeting each leg of the trip with laser focus. I’d pinch pennies in some places so we could splurge in others—and honestly? It worked out pretty perfectly (well… mostly).

Our route was epic:
LA → Monterey → San Francisco → Napa → Oakland (for our flight home).
We stayed in hostels in Santa Monica and San Francisco to save money and then treated ourselves in Monterey and Napa with stays that felt way more luxe than our bank accounts probably allowed. And while there are a few things I’d do differently (looking at you, hostel bunk beds), it’s still one of my favorite travel memories to date.

Arrival & Hostel Life 101: LAX to Santa Monica

We flew into LAX from Indianapolis, and I’ll be honest—I was a little overwhelmed. LAX isn’t exactly known for being chill, especially when you arrive late at night with a suitcase, a sleep-deprived brain, and “California girls road trip!” energy buzzing through your veins. But I put on my big girl pants and did the thing. And we survived!

We had decided ahead of time to stay in HI Hostels in both Santa Monica and San Francisco, since we’d be spending the most nights in those two cities and wanted to be smart with our budget. In Santa Monica, we actually splurged a little and got ourselves a private room, which is a nice option that not everyone realizes hostels offer.

🛏 If you don’t know how hostels work, here’s the deal:
You can book a bed in a shared dorm-style room—like an 8-bed all-women’s dorm in Santa Monica—for around $50–$70 a night (even cheaper if you’re an HI member). We chose a private double room, which meant we shared a hall bathroom, kind of like a college dorm—except everyone is a stranger. 😅

That said, we did meet some fun people, and the place had everything we needed:

• A common lounge
• A shared kitchen
• A clean bathroom (thank you, travel gods)
• And a really cute courtyard that made a perfect breakfast spot before heading out for the day

If you’re solo traveling, on a tight group budget, or just don’t want to blow your entire paycheck on a bed you’re barely in, hostels are an awesome option. But if you have champagne taste and a bank account to match? Maybe not your scene.

For us, though, it was perfect. We were out all day and used the room mostly to shower and sleep—and Santa Monica itself totally made up for the “meh” mattress. 

Santa Monica: Breakfast First, Always

The overall vibe of our trip? Let’s call it jam-packed but not overwhelming. We weren’t rushing from place to place with stopwatch-level precision, but we also weren’t sitting around letting the day plan itself. It was that sweet spot—intentional, but flexible.

And first things first: breakfast. Always.
Now, I’m not a breakfast girl in real life (sorry, Mom), but when I’m traveling? Different story. I will rise for a short stack. It’s less about fueling up and more about tasting the soul of a city one bite at a time. I mean, why settle for two meals a day when you could use three to explore the culinary scene?

In Santa Monica, that meant starting our morning at Jinky’s Cafe—a local favorite with diner comfort and west coast flair. Think perfectly crisped flapjacks, good coffee, and just enough avocado on the menu to remind you you’re in California. Fueled by syrup and sunshine, we wandered over to the Santa Monica Pier, soaking in ocean views, cheesy tourist fun, and the occasional sea breeze lifting our already windblown hair.

If you’re like us, you might take your time strolling along the boardwalk, letting the rhythm of the waves set the pace. Maybe you’ll grab an ice cream cone, watch a few street performers, or even hop on the iconic Pacific Wheel—a must if you’re into views and don’t mind heights.

A quick tip: Pacific Park is free to enter, but you’ll need tickets for the rides. Budget around $15 for a single-ride card, or go all in with an unlimited ride wristband—$40 for anyone 8 and up, or $20 for kids under 7. If you’ve got theme park energy, it’s a solid deal.

We, however, took the slower, sandier route. We skipped the rides, kicked off our shoes, and let our toes sink into that soft Santa Monica sand. Then we climbed over the jetty rocks to take in the crash of Pacific waves—one of those small, magical moments that sticks with you longer than a rollercoaster ever could.

After we’d had our fill of sunshine, salt air, and sandy toes in Santa Monica, we headed just a little further south for a different kind of beach energy: Venice Beach.

If Santa Monica is the sweet, relaxed older sister, Venice is the younger, wilder one who dyed her hair pink, got a tattoo, and started a streetwear brand. The vibe here is eclectic in the best way—brightly colored shops, skater dudes weaving through crowds, surfers catching waves, and yes, the ever-iconic Muscle Beach, where people quite literally lift weights in the open air like it’s the most casual thing in the world.

Let’s just say… some of the things in those shops were interesting. We’ll leave it at that.

We didn’t stay all day, but it was well worth the stop. Venice is one of those places that doesn’t need hours—it just needs your curiosity, a good pair of walking shoes, and maybe a little sense of humor. After taking in the sights, snapping a few unforgettable photos, and dodging a rogue rollerblader or two, it was time to hit the road again for our next stop.

Next stop: Hollywood.

Now, we didn’t have a ton of time in the LA area (rookie mistake), and if I could do it over, I’d absolutely add an extra couple of days just to hit Universal Studios Hollywood or the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. Seriously, next time for sure. As a travel advisor who books Universal Orlando all the time, visiting its California counterpart is high on my theme park bucket list. I’m a total Jaws fan, and Universal Hollywood still has that iconic experience—something you won’t find in Orlando anymore.

But for this trip, we kept it classic: the Hollywood Sign. Because honestly, can you even say you’ve been to Hollywood if you don’t have a picture with those big white letters in the background?

Now, I’ve seen a million movie scenes of people sitting right next to the sign—but let me save you the hike (and the trespassing charge): that area is completely restricted and surrounded by crazy steep terrain. So instead, we did it the smart (and legal) way and drove up to the Griffith Observatory. It’s the perfect spot to snap a quick pic, take in some panoramic views of LA, and pretend for a minute that you’re starring in your own indie film.

After grabbing our photos at Griffith Observatory, we backtracked to Santa Monica. And listen—hindsight is 20/20. If I were planning this again (and let’s be honest, I will), I’d definitely time things a little better to avoid doubling back. But hey, that’s part of the learning curve when you’re new to trip planning. And even with the detour, the evening still turned out to be one of my favorites.

We had dinner reservations at The Lobster, a seafood spot right by the Pier that came highly recommended—and it did not disappoint. See, our travel splurges weren’t souvenirs or shopping bags… they were meals. Lodging? Just a place to sleep. But food? That’s where the memories are made. Having the same travel priorities made all the difference, and this dinner was the perfect pairing of vibe, view, and fresh seafood.

We went all in and ordered the seafood tower. No regrets. This was one of those travel choices that just hits different—and we knew it.

After dinner, we walked off our indulgence with another stroll around the Pier, enjoying the ocean breeze and twinkling lights. We even met up with a few friends we’d made back at the hostel for dessert at Bubba Gump’s—because no one ever says no to key lime pie on vacation.

By the time we got back to the hostel, we were beyond exhausted. In one day, we tackled Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach—all while still battling jet lag from our late-night arrival. But we powered through like the determined, sleep-deprived travel warriors we were.

The next morning, we were up early—sleep-deprived but buzzing with excitement. We had said our goodbyes to our hostel friends the night before, packed up, and climbed into our rental car to kick off the next leg of our epic California road trip.

We hopped on Route 1 heading north, windows cracked just enough to let in that salty ocean breeze while singing along to an epic playlist. Our only pit stop? The Malibu Pier, where we grabbed coffee at Malibu Farm Cafe, snapped a few quick photos, and spoiled our taste buds with the most amazing cinnamon roll that fueled the hours of coastline ahead.

Stay Tuned for Part Two

I’ll be diving into the next chapter of our girls’ trip—Monterey charm, ocean views, piers on piers, and the delicious drive up the California Coast.

Have a favorite stop along the PCH? Or tips for my next time in Santa Monica or LA?
Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!