From incredible views and delicious food to unexpected attractions and engaging local characters, you’re almost guaranteed to find what you’re looking for when you hit the open road in California. The five-part California Pop video series follows Los Angeles–based friends Shikira and Anthony as they embark on a road trip to discover some of the state’s most intriguing cultural attractions. Watch their adventure and get inspired to create your own pop-culture bucket list based on the destinations they visit.
Shikira and Anthony’s journey kicks off in Southern California with a drive into the desert. In Episode 1, they see large-scale art from home-grown creators. Viewers will be treated to the sculptures of Ricardo Breceda, Leonard Knight’s Salvation Mountain, and the World-Famous Crochet Museum in Joshua Tree.
In the Central Valley installment, the friends travel to the state’s agricultural heartland to sample pomegranate wine at Casa de Fruta and pasta at the 100-year-old Luigi’s Restaurant. They also head to the fascinating homes of former locals, including an underground grotto, a haunted mansion, and the site of a self-governed town founded and financed by Black Americans at the turn of the century.
Next up, the road-tripping duo make their way to Gold Country, the region that attracted more than 300,000 hopeful prospectors in 1849. Episode 3 features a delightfully preserved boom town, as well as a winery creating its own liquid gold in Vallecito. The duo also learns about the history of Folsom Prison (where Johnny Cash recorded his famous album) and visit a sake factory to taste the goods.
The North Coast episode highlights the rugged natural beauty and interesting oddities of one of the most remote regions in the state. Where else in the world can you drive through a 2,400-year-old redwood tree or pedal through moss-covered forests on a tandem electric railbike?
In the final episode, Shikira and Anthony make their way back to L.A. by way of the Central Coast. They tour the stunningly opulent Hearst Castle, where the famous 19th-century publishing magnate entertained presidents and movie stars, and explore the region’s ranchero culture by attending a raucous rodeo.
Stream all five episodes, available now on YouTube and VisitCalifornia.com
