West Coast Road Trip - Big Sur, California

No trip to the West Coast is complete without driving up Big Sur, a 90-mile stretch of coastline with some of the best driving roads in the World. While many tourists refer to Big Sur purely as the coastal road Highway 1, there are in fact many other areas to explore if you turn off and drive inland - housing some stunning regions of mountains and national parks. Most visitors will arrive from either the North, via Monterey or Carmel, or the South, via Cambria or Hearst Castle.

If driving Big Sur, plan your trip carefully. It's easy to rush the drive in a day if your going straight from, say, Monterey south all the way down to Santa Barbara. You really need at least a day just to drive Big Sur, so ideally you want to stay just North beforehand, and just south after your drive (or vice versa) to allow more time to enjoy the drive in daylight hours. There isn't a huge amount of accommodation on the route either, and what there is is generally very expensive compared to nearby towns. Camping is also an option, with a few campsites scattered around within the state parks. 

Time of year is also a factor. The road can be closed during periods of bad weather - especially in Winter. Although it's worth noting in Spring/Summer, your views can often be spoiled by long morning coastal fogs. Plus - the crowds in Summer can potentially spoil the views and make the roads much busier. We visited in November - while a little chilly (although the roof was still down on the convertible) and with short daylight hours, the days were usually filled with clear blue skies and few cars on the road. Plenty of lay-bys mean slow drivers usually let you through nice and regularly. 

Every turn of the road reveals a new stunning vista, overlooking the rugged coastline across the Atlantic. Leave time to explore one of the many great state parks too. McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer state park is a top tourist pull - one of only a few waterfalls in the world which falls directly onto the beach. The other side of the road, you can lose the tourists and hike up into the mountains on a 3-hour round walk, taking in redwoods, steep trails, open mountain views and cliff-edge vistas looking back down on the road below and across the ocean from 1,000+ feet up.

McWay Falls

Food/fuel is also something to consider - most restaurants are fairly overpriced, and make sure you fill up before you start Big Sur - petrol stations are excessive. 

Overall Big Sur is definitely a must-do when in California, if you have a car. The drive really is one of the best in the world, plus it's usually on the way for many visitors driving from San Fran - LA or vice versa. 

Best Winter Sun Destinations - Tenerife, the Canary Islands

With summer still feeling a long way off, a bit of las-minute winter sun wouldn't go amiss would it? Tenerife is one of the best holiday destinations for a spot of winter sun, and Feb-March are great times to go. The Canary Islands, off the North West coast of Africa, have year long sunshine and high temperatures - because they are near the equator there are no distinct seasons. Around February-March, temperatures average 22-23˚C, rising to around 28˚C in August. Cheap package deals have made holidays here hugely popular all year round, combined with just a 4 hour flight and you are onto a winner. Being a Spanish island the locals speak Spanish but most know some English so you should be able to get by, if not the obligatory tourist hand signals should do the trick.

There are several main resorts in Tenerife. The first is near the airport in the South of the island, and is split into 3 areas, Los Cristianos, Las Americas and the Costa Adeje. This large resort attracts most of Tenerifes tourists, as the South gets the best weather and generally has nicer beaches than the North. Tenerife is a volcano and as a result it tends to be rainier and cooler in the North due to the winds, however it is windier (but sunnier) in the South. There is plenty to do in this area - a newly opened waterpark, Siam Park, is one of the main attractions and is much more impressive than anything found back in the UK. There are also a variety of tour operators that specialise in dolphin and whale watching.

The main disadvantage of Los Cristianos etc. is that the 18-30's flock there on lads holidays, and as a result the area has become slightly tacky. Drinks offers can be found in force, with a large array of bars and clubs perfect for youngsters. Gary Lineker's brother even owns a bar here and is one of the top draws come sunset - the creatively named Lineker's Bar.

The North of the island is slightly less developed, including Puerto de la Cruz. The town has a couple of decent black sand beaches - the main attraction here is Loro Parque, an impressive zoo which also has live dolphin, sea lion and killer whale shows - well worth a visit no matter what your age.

I would recommend getting a hire car if you wanted to explore the island, the best beaches are out of the tourist hotspots - for example Playa las Teresitas, just east of the capital, Santa Cruz (see photo below). Although the beach is artificial, it has white sand (imported from the Sahara) unlike the natural Tenerife beaches and is probably the best beach on the island, and rarely gets crowded. There is also a breakwater that makes the sea great for safe family swimming, and the water is usually nice and warm.



Overall Tenerife has alot to offer - a trip up to the top of Mount Teide is a must as well - and is definitely one of the best holiday destinations for some winter (or summer) sun.

American West Coast Road Trip - San Diego, California

Last November saw us travel to the US for a 2 week holiday. Flying into Phoenix for a night, we picked up a Ford Mustang hirecar (it’s compulsory, right?) and drove the 4-5 hour drive to San Diego on the West Coast of America. Reading forums, we had considered flying to San Diego - costing about £20 more, but probably more faff. Users talked of a long, dull drive, however it was a drive of many contrasts - from dusty vistas, to full-on deserts, to twisting rocky mountain passes where you could really feel the chill of the air. We also passed a huge livestock farm - miles long and literally full of cows - presumably one of the fast food giants. Quite a shock but still another interesting early insight into the Arizona/California region.

Arriving in San Diego to a beautiful sunset, we stayed in an Airbnb - a little Spanish style self contained flat. Starving, we went out for dinner in the Hillcrest area. Being November, Southern California is still sunny and fairly warm in the day but there was a real chill at night, while the further up North you go the colder and rainier it tends to get. The following day we took a 30 min drive to La Jolla (pronounced La Hoya) - a beautiful, affluent suburb of San Diego. Set along the coast, the huge Atlantic waves come crashing against the rocks, sending spray soaring in front of your face and creating mini-rainbows. Sea lions also sat in crowds, lazing on the rocks, just metres from the wandering locals and tourists. La Jolla is definitely one to visit if you’re in San Diego - there are some great cafes and restaurants in the area as well as some stunning short walks along the coast.

Sea lions at La Jolla

Being a surf hotspot, we decided to go for a spot of surfing the next day. Having gone once before and got up  few times, we were confident we would master it this time round. Unfortunately, the waves, although smallish, were crashing aggressively on Pacific Beach. Usually packed with surfer, we were joined by only 5 or so other surfers, including a surf school of teacher and 2 students who retreated to the beach after only 20 mins. We did the same after being wiped out repeatedly by the waves, combined with oncoming hypothermia from the chilly water and cloudy conditions that day. A trip to San Diego Old Town for lunch, home of many taquerias, helped sooth the pain with a burrito and bottle of Mexican beer.

Evening surfing, San Diego

Overall San Diego is definitely a great place to spend a few days (or more) - with great food, lovely weather (most of the time) and a chilled out vibe - different to that of it’s big brother Los Angeles a couple of hours North.

Pacific Beach, San Diego

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Holidays in Grenada, Caribbean - The Spice Isle

Grenada is a fantastic destination for tourists looking for a fun-filled Caribbean holiday. Nicknamed the Spice Isle, after the array of spices grown and used there such as nutmeg, the island offers a host of activities for visitors, such as scuba diving, snorkelling, scenic boat trips, hiking and much more. There is also plenty of culture to enjoy - especially in the capital of St Georges, making the island a great destination for visitors looking for a blend of qualities and experiences with their holiday.

The beaches in Grenada deserve a special mention. Picture your perfect idyllic Caribbean beach scene, and you'll be getting close to Grenada. Glorious white sands coupled with turquoise waters and palm trees gently swaying in the Caribbean breeze. Grand Anse beach, located in the south west of the island, not too far from the majority of the hotels and villas on the island, is Grenada's most famous beach. It's sheltered position means it generally avoids strong winds, currents and large waves. Plus, it's 2-mile stretch of white sand means you'll always be able to find some space to yourself, and you shouldn't have anyone disturbing your relaxation or kicking up sand in your face, Benidorm style. Having mentioned Grand Anse, it's worth noting there are a huge number of other stunning beaches on Grenada. Some of these may be a bit of a drive away but you can be sure that a bit of exploration will yield the rewards. Some of the beaches, especially the further North you go, will be pretty much deserted. Just remember to pack your sun block, as you won;t want to leave once you've laid your towel down and got stuck into your holiday read.

Grand Anse beach

The food in Grenada is delicious - fresh ingredients and flavoursome, exotic dishes dominate menus. The national dish is oildown - a stew made with salted meat, breadfruit, daheen and vegetables, simmered in coconut milk with dumplings until the liquid has been absorbed. Give it a try if you visit. Rotis, calaloo (a soup made with a spinach-like leafy green) and seafood (caught fresh locally and often served within hours of being caught) will often pop up regularly on menus. You certainly won't go hungry and you're sure to try a range of new dishes and flavours you won't find in Europe or America.

In terms of accommodation, there are a multitude of choices, mainly within fairly close proximity of Grand Anse and the airport. Our personal recommendation for accommodation is a beautiful luxury villa in Grenada overlooking the bay, 10 mins from Grand Anse and 20 mins from the airport - it features an infinity pool and modern interior. 

If you're looking for a Caribbean holiday, we think Grenada is a top destination - with it's blend of sun-soaked beaches, culture, great food and (generally) easy transport links from the airport.