The Marco & Jasmine Odyssey II

The Golden Gate in fog — Carmel-by-the-Sea — The Golden Gate in fog

Painted Ladies, Alamo Square — Carmel-by-the-Sea — Painted Ladies, Alamo Square

A cable car on the hill — Carmel-by-the-Sea — A cable car on the hill

Carmel Mission — Carmel-by-the-Sea — Carmel Mission

Cypress over Carmel Bay — Carmel-by-the-Sea — Cypress over Carmel Bay

Highway 1 at Bixby Creek — Carmel-by-the-Sea — Highway 1 at Bixby Creek

Bixby Creek Bridge — Carmel-by-the-Sea — Bixby Creek Bridge

Point Lobos — Carmel-by-the-Sea — Point Lobos

The Lone Cypress, 17-Mile Drive — Carmel-by-the-Sea — The Lone Cypress, 17-Mile Drive

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Leave early

01 Sun 20 Dec · California

Carmel-by-the-Sea

2h 15m south from San Francisco•1 night

US-101 to Salinas, then CA-68 over to the coast

Out of the city by nine, on Carmel Beach by lunch. The afternoon is Big Sur: down Highway 1 to Bixby Bridge and back before the light goes.

What to see

Big Sur, out and backHighway 1 south to Bixby Creek Bridge is 30 minutes; Point Lobos and Garrapata are on the way. Turn around by 3:30 — sunset is 4:55.
Point LobosTwo miles south of town. Cypress groves, sea otters in the kelp, China Cove. The best short walks on the whole coast; $10 to park.
Carmel Beach at sunsetWhite sand at the foot of Ocean Avenue, dogs off-leash, everyone in town turns up for the last light.
Carmel Mission1771, Junípero Serra's own mission and the prettiest of the chain. Church and courtyard garden; twenty minutes, not a tour.
Ocean Avenue and the galleriesRoughly a hundred galleries in a one-square-mile village, plus the Hugh Comstock fairy-tale cottages on the side streets. Jasmine's kind of browsing.
17-Mile DriveThe Lone Cypress and Pebble Beach. $12 at the gate, refunded if you eat at one of the Pebble Beach restaurants.

Where to stay

No Marriott in Carmel itself. Monterey Marriott, ten minutes away on points, or pay cash for character — Cypress Inn on Lincoln or La Playa Carmel. The Sunday before Christmas is soft; price cash first.

Check Caltrans QuickMap for Highway 1 before you go south of Bixby — the Big Sur coast closes for slides most winters. The route itself uses US-101 tomorrow, so a closure costs you nothing.

Mission Santa Barbara — Santa Barbara — Mission Santa Barbara

Red roofs from the Courthouse tower — Santa Barbara — Red roofs from the Courthouse tower

The Courthouse clock tower — Santa Barbara — The Courthouse clock tower

Stearns Wharf — Santa Barbara — Stearns Wharf

Butterfly Beach at sunset — Santa Barbara — Butterfly Beach at sunset

State Street palms — Santa Barbara — State Street palms

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Red roofs

02 Mon 21 Dec · California

Santa Barbara

3h 55m south•1 night

US-101 through Paso Robles and the Gaviota coast

The American Riviera: red tile roofs, the mountains behind, the sea in front. Aim to arrive by two for the Courthouse tower before sunset.

What to see

The Courthouse clock towerFree, and the best view in town — red roofs, palms, the Santa Ynez mountains. Go 45 minutes before sunset.
Stearns Wharf & East BeachWalk the 1872 pier at dusk, then the beachfront palms. The wharf's sea-centre tanks are a five-minute stop, not a museum.
The Funk ZoneFormer warehouses between the station and the beach — a dozen wine tasting rooms, murals, and the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail.
Mission Santa BarbaraThe Queen of the Missions, 1786. The twin-towered church and the rose garden across the road; a church visit, not a tour.
Butterfly Beach, MontecitoThe locals' sunset beach below the Four Seasons Biltmore, ten minutes south. The wall is the seat.
State StreetPedestrianised from the beach up to Victoria — dinner and a walk after.

Where to stay

Ritz-Carlton Bacara, on the bluffs at Goleta, is the points splurge; Courtyard Santa Barbara Goleta is the sensible one. To be downtown on foot, Hotel Californian (cash) sits between State Street and the wharf.

Gaviota Pass on US-101 can close for wind or rock fall; if it does, US-154 over San Marcos Pass is the pretty way in anyway.

Sea lion, La Jolla Cove — San Diego — Sea lion, La Jolla Cove

Hotel del Coronado from the air — San Diego — Hotel del Coronado from the air

The Del from the beach — San Diego — The Del from the beach

Sunset Cliffs — San Diego — Sunset Cliffs

The lily pond, Balboa Park — San Diego — The lily pond, Balboa Park

Spanish Colonial facades, Balboa Park — San Diego — Spanish Colonial facades, Balboa Park

Downtown from Point Loma — San Diego — Downtown from Point Loma

The Gaslamp Quarter sign — San Diego — The Gaslamp Quarter sign

The skyline from Coronado — San Diego — The skyline from Coronado

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Rest day · Dec 23

03 Tue 22 – Wed 23 Dec · California

San Diego

3h 45m south — through Los Angeles•2 nights

US-101, I-405 and I-5; coffee stop at home if we want it

Two nights and the first rest day. The drive crosses the whole LA basin on the Tuesday before Christmas, so it is early or it is late — not 8 to 10am.

What to see

La Jolla CoveSea lions and harbour seals on the rocks, the Coast Walk trail above them, and the Children's Pool. Go early before the crowd.
Sunset CliffsOcean Beach's sandstone cliffs and the arch at Luscomb's Point. The obvious place to paint the sunset.
Coronado & the DelThe 1888 Hotel del Coronado, its beach, and Skating by the Sea — the seaside ice rink runs through New Year. Ferry over from downtown.
Balboa Park, outdoorsSkip the museums: the Botanical Building and lily pond, the Spanish Village artists' studios, the Alcázar Garden and the Spanish Colonial facades along El Prado are the park.
Cabrillo National MonumentPoint Loma: the old lighthouse, the whole bay and skyline, and winter low-tide tidepools. On the annual pass.
Torrey PinesThe cliff-top reserve trails to the beach, 20 minutes north. Best morning walk of the two days.
Little Italy & the GaslampThe Wednesday Little Italy Mercato (9–1) is on the rest day; the Gaslamp sign and Fifth Avenue after dark.

Where to stay

Coronado Island Marriott Resort on points — bayside, a five-minute ferry to downtown and ten minutes to the Del. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is the downtown alternative. Both are peak Christmas-week redemptions, so book now.

Leave Santa Barbara by 8:30 or after 10. The Tuesday before Christmas is one of the heaviest traffic days of the year in Los Angeles.

JW Marriott Desert Springs — Palm Springs / Palm Desert — JW Marriott Desert Springs

Desert Springs grounds — Palm Springs / Palm Desert — Desert Springs grounds

The Aerial Tramway — Palm Springs / Palm Desert — The Aerial Tramway

Palms below the snow line — Palm Springs / Palm Desert — Palms below the snow line

Indian Canyons — Palm Springs / Palm Desert — Indian Canyons

Joshua Tree National Park — Palm Springs / Palm Desert — Joshua Tree National Park

Kaufmann House — Palm Springs / Palm Desert — Kaufmann House

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Christmas

04 Thu 24 – Fri 25 Dec · California

Palm Springs / Palm Desert

2h 15m over the mountains•2 nights

I-15 to Temecula, then CA-79 and the Palms to Pines highway (CA-74) down into the valley

Christmas at Desert Springs. The Palms to Pines highway drops 4,000 feet into the Coachella Valley in the last half hour — the best approach to Palm Desert there is. Dec 25 is the second rest day: the soak.

What to see

JW Marriott Desert Springs spa38,000 sq ft, 47 treatment rooms, hammam, Finnish sauna, Turkish steam, saltwater lap pool. Christmas Day belongs here.
Desert Hot Springs day passesAzure Palm's Oasis pass runs about $79 ($69 midweek), The Good House from $60, The Spring via ResortPass. Far cheaper than resort treatments.
Palm Springs Aerial TramwayRotating car to 8,500 ft — snow at the top, desert at the bottom, in the same afternoon. Open Christmas Day.
El PaseoPalm Desert's own gallery mile — a dozen galleries plus the outdoor sculpture walk along the median. Browsing, not tickets.
Indian CanyonsPalm oases and running water in a desert canyon, on Agua Caliente land.
Joshua Tree National ParkOn the annual pass; Cottonwood entrance is closest from the valley. A half-day option for the 25th if the spa loses.
Mid-century modern architectureA self-guided driving loop — Kaufmann House and Frey House II are visible from the road.

Where to stay

JW Marriott Desert Springs on points, both nights — your own pick, and the right one. Marriott waives resort fees on award stays, worth $35–50 a night here; confirm at booking. This is the night for a Free Night Award (saving #4).

Christmas closes things. Book Christmas Eve dinner at the resort now; buy anything you want in the car at Trader Joe's Palm Desert on the 24th — it closes early and is shut on the 25th.

Old Town Scottsdale — Scottsdale — Old Town Scottsdale

Camelback Mountain — Scottsdale — Camelback Mountain

Saguaros at the Desert Botanical Garden — Scottsdale — Saguaros at the Desert Botanical Garden

Hole-in-the-Rock, Papago Park — Scottsdale — Hole-in-the-Rock, Papago Park

Scottsdale Waterfront at night — Scottsdale — Scottsdale Waterfront at night

Valley sunset — Scottsdale — Valley sunset

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Longest leg

05 Sat 26 Dec · Arizona

Scottsdale

4h east — the longest leg•1 night

I-10 across the desert, through Blythe and Quartzsite

Right at the four-hour ceiling, and flat the whole way. Fill the tank at Ehrenberg, the first exit in Arizona — a dollar a gallon cheaper than California.

What to see

Old Town ScottsdaleThe 1950s cowboy-town frontage, Fifth Avenue, and the Marshall Way arts district — forty-odd galleries in a few blocks. The Saturday ArtWalk runs from 6:30pm.
Desert Botanical GardenSaguaros, Chihuly-scale cactus, and Las Noches de las Luminarias — the garden lit by thousands of candles on December nights. Check the date; book if it's on.
Camelback MountainEcho Canyon is the hard hour; Cholla is the easier one. Or simply drive to the trailhead for the sunset view over the valley.
Hole-in-the-Rock, Papago ParkA ten-minute scramble to a sandstone window facing west over Phoenix. The sunset spot.
Pinnacle Peak ParkNorth Scottsdale — a gentle 1.75-mile trail through saguaro and granite boulders. Morning before the drive.
Scottsdale WaterfrontThe canal walk and the bars along it after dinner.

Where to stay

JW Marriott Camelback Inn on points — the 1936 classic under the mountain — or The Phoenician if the points allow. W Scottsdale puts Old Town on foot. Cash rates on Dec 26 are high: Phoenix is in season.

Interstate 10 west of Phoenix has dust-storm closures; they are rare in December but the signs mean it — pull off, lights off, foot off the brake.

Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek — Sedona — Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek

Cathedral Rock — Sedona — Cathedral Rock

Chapel of the Holy Cross — Sedona — Chapel of the Holy Cross

Sunset from Airport Mesa — Sedona — Sunset from Airport Mesa

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Priority · painting

06 Sun 27 Dec · Arizona

Sedona

2h 05m north•1 night

I-17 to SR-179 — Bell Rock is the first thing you see

Into the red rocks by lunch, with the whole afternoon for the light on Cathedral Rock.

What to see

Cathedral Rock & Bell RockThe two classic red-rock profiles, and the easiest good walks in Sedona.
Red Rock CrossingCrescent Moon picnic site on Oak Creek — the reflection of Cathedral Rock, and the painting spot. $12 to park.
Chapel of the Holy Cross1956, built straight into the rock face.
Airport MesaThe sunset viewpoint. Arrive 45 minutes early on a holiday.
TlaquepaqueShaded arts village of independent galleries and courtyards — browsing, not ticketed. Farolitos and lights through New Year.
Oak Creek CanyonTomorrow's road north — the SR-89A switchbacks up to the rim. Closes in snow; I-17 is the fallback.

Where to stay

Sedona's points inventory is genuinely limited — check availability early and be ready to pay cash, or base in Village of Oak Creek just south of town for materially lower rates.

Paint between 3:30 and 5pm — sunset is 5:25, and the rocks go red for the last half hour.

Grand Canyon in winter — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — Grand Canyon in winter

Snow on the South Rim — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — Snow on the South Rim

South Rim at sunset — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — South Rim at sunset

From the Rim Trail east of Mather Point — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — From the Rim Trail east of Mather Point

Desert View Watchtower — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — Desert View Watchtower

San Francisco Peaks under snow — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — San Francisco Peaks under snow

Hotel Monte Vista neon — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — Hotel Monte Vista neon

Downtown Flagstaff at night — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — Downtown Flagstaff at night

Route 66 junction — Grand Canyon & Flagstaff — Route 66 junction

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Grand Canyon day

07 Mon 28 Dec · Arizona

Grand Canyon & Flagstaff

3h 45m, with the Canyon in the middle•1 night

SR-89A up Oak Creek Canyon, US-180 to the South Rim, Desert View Drive east, US-89 south

Up Oak Creek Canyon to the rim by late morning, the afternoon on the South Rim, and down to Flagstaff at 7,000 ft for the night. Snow on the rim in December is normal, not exceptional.

What to see

Grand Canyon South RimMather and Yavapai Points, the Rim Trail between them. Hermit Road is open to private cars December through February — a winter-only advantage.
Desert View DriveThe 25-mile eastern drive along the rim to the Watchtower — Grandview, Moran and Lipan Points — and it is the way out towards Flagstaff.
Desert View WatchtowerMary Colter's 1932 tower at the east entrance. Climb it for the Colorado far below.
Oak Creek CanyonThe morning's road: the switchbacks up from Sedona to the rim, with the viewpoint at the top.
Lowell ObservatoryPluto was found here. Evening telescope viewing, weather permitting — dress for 7,000 ft in December.
Historic downtown FlagstaffRoute 66 frontage, the Monte Vista neon, and a dense run of brewpubs.

Where to stay

Courtyard or Residence Inn Flagstaff on points; Little America is the independent alternative and handles snow well. Dec 28 is a Monday, so no holiday premium.

Grand Canyon entry on the annual pass. If SR-89A is closed for snow, take I-17 north to Flagstaff and US-180 to the rim — twenty minutes longer.

La Posada, Winslow — Gallup — La Posada, Winslow

The Painted Desert — Gallup — The Painted Desert

Spires in the Painted Desert — Gallup — Spires in the Painted Desert

Blue Mesa, Petrified Forest — Gallup — Blue Mesa, Petrified Forest

Petrified logs — Gallup — Petrified logs

El Rancho Hotel, Gallup — Gallup — El Rancho Hotel, Gallup

The El Rancho lobby — Gallup — The El Rancho lobby

Route 66 neon, Gallup — Gallup — Route 66 neon, Gallup

Church Rock, Red Rock Park — Gallup — Church Rock, Red Rock Park

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Route 66

08 Tue 29 Dec · New Mexico

Gallup

3h east, plus an hour in the park•1 night

I-40 through Winslow and Holbrook; the Petrified Forest park road north to south

The Route 66 day. Lunch at La Posada in Winslow, the Painted Desert and the petrified logs in the afternoon, and a night at El Rancho — the 1937 hotel Hollywood's westerns were shot from.

What to see

Petrified Forest National ParkDirectly on I-40, on the annual pass. Enter at the north for the Painted Desert overlooks, drive the 28 miles south past Blue Mesa and Crystal Forest, exit at Holbrook.
La Posada, WinslowMary Colter's last great railroad hotel, restored. The best lunch stop on I-40 by a distance; Standin' on the Corner is two blocks away.
El Rancho HotelThe lobby — two-storey, log balconies, Navajo rugs, signed photographs of every star who slept here. Have a drink in the 49er Lounge even if you sleep elsewhere.
Richardson's Trading Company1913, on Route 66 — rugs, turquoise and silver, bought direct. A shop, not a museum, and a serious one.
Route 66 through townNeon motel signs, murals, the El Morro Theatre. Twenty minutes on foot at dusk.
Red Rock Park & Church RockTen minutes east: sandstone cliffs and the spire of Church Rock at first light, on the way out tomorrow.

Where to stay

El Rancho Hotel — cash, roughly $110–150, and it is the point of the stop. Rooms are named for the stars who slept in them. SpringHill or Fairfield Gallup on points if you'd rather not.

Gallup sits at 6,500 ft and I-40 here closes for snow more often than people expect. Winter tires or all-seasons in good tread, and chains or cables in the trunk.

Ski Santa Fe — the top of the mountain — Santa Fe — Ski Santa Fe — the top of the mountain

Snow on the ski hill — Santa Fe — Snow on the ski hill

A Canyon Road gallery — Santa Fe — A Canyon Road gallery

Sculpture on Canyon Road — Santa Fe — Sculpture on Canyon Road

Vendors under the Palace portal — Santa Fe — Vendors under the Palace portal

The Loretto Chapel staircase — Santa Fe — The Loretto Chapel staircase

The Sangre de Cristos in winter — Santa Fe — The Sangre de Cristos in winter

Adobe and hollyhocks — Santa Fe — Adobe and hollyhocks

A blue door on Canyon Road — Santa Fe — A blue door on Canyon Road

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New Year's Eve · ski

09 Wed 30 – Thu 31 Dec · New Mexico

Santa Fe

3h east•2 nights

I-40 to Albuquerque, then I-25 — or the Turquoise Trail (NM-14) through Madrid, half an hour longer

Two nights, and the reason the route swings north. Galleries, not museums — Canyon Road is a market you walk through. Dec 31 is the rest day: skis in the morning, Canyon Road in the afternoon light, and the new year on the Plaza.

What to see

Ski Santa FeSixteen miles up NM-475 from the Plaza — base 10,350 ft, summit 12,075 ft. A locals' hill rather than a destination resort, so even holiday week stays sane. Half a day on the 31st still leaves Canyon Road for the afternoon.
Canyon RoadRoughly a hundred galleries in half a mile. This is the art market, it is walkable, and it is why the route goes north.
The Palace portalNative American artisans sell under the portico on the Plaza most days — buying direct from the maker.
Ten Thousand WavesJapanese-style hot spring baths in the hills above town, on the road down from the ski hill. Private and communal tubs; book ahead in holiday week.
Madrid, on the Turquoise TrailAn old coal town turned gallery village on NM-14, if you take the slow road in from Albuquerque.
Santa Fe Plaza & Loretto ChapelThe old centre, the miraculous staircase, and the adobe streets around San Miguel. Midnight on the Plaza on the 31st.
Meow Wolf — House of Eternal ReturnAn immersive walk-through art installation, not a gallery. Timed tickets.
The High Road to TaosChimayó, Truchas and Las Trampas — the great winter drive out of Santa Fe if the roads are clear and skiing loses.

Where to stay

Bonvoy's Santa Fe bench is thin — Courtyard and Residence Inn are the dependable points plays, both a short drive from the Plaza. The character hotels (La Fonda on the Plaza, Inn of the Five Graces, Eldorado) are cash. Given two nights, a priority stop and New Year's Eve, pay cash for La Fonda on the 31st and points on the 30th.

7,200 ft in town and 12,075 ft at the top of the ski hill, after two nights already at 6,500–7,000 ft — better acclimatised than last time, but still take the first runs gently. Hyde Park Road up to the ski area holds packed snow: in your own car that means proper tires and chains in the trunk, not a request at a rental counter. Buy lift tickets online in advance; rent skis in town (Cottam's, Alpine Sports) rather than at the base. Book New Year's Eve dinner now.

Cadillac Ranch — Amarillo — Cadillac Ranch

Ten Cadillacs, nose down — Amarillo — Ten Cadillacs, nose down

The Big Texan — Amarillo — The Big Texan

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New Year's Day

10 Fri 1 Jan · Texas

Amarillo

4h 15m east — the first rule-breaker•1 night

I-25 to Las Vegas, NM, then I-40 across the state line

New Year's Day on the high plains. The trip changes character here — wind, distance, and the first Texas sky. Fifteen minutes over the four-hour rule; there is nothing between Santa Fe and Amarillo to stop for.

What to see

Cadillac RanchTen half-buried Cadillacs west of town. Free, open always, and you are expected to bring spray paint — the one thing guaranteed open on January 1.
The Big Texan Steak RanchThe 72-ounce challenge. Open New Year's Day. Go for the sign if not the steak.
Route 66 Historic DistrictSixth Street — antiques, neon and dive bars, though much of it will be shut for the holiday.
Palo Duro CanyonTomorrow morning — 30 minutes south, and on the way to Abilene.

Where to stay

Cash, or points at The Barfield — an Autograph Collection conversion of a 1927 downtown office building. New Year's night is one of the cheapest hotel nights of the year; if The Barfield is under ~$140 cash, pay cash and keep the points.

The panhandle ices. If I-40 east of Santa Rosa is closed, there is no good alternative — wait it out in Santa Fe rather than trying US-84.

The Lighthouse, Palo Duro Canyon — Abilene — The Lighthouse, Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon — Abilene — Palo Duro Canyon

Red rock and cactus — Abilene — Red rock and cactus

The Paramount marquee — Abilene — The Paramount marquee

Fort Phantom Hill — Abilene — Fort Phantom Hill

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Panhandle

11 Sat 2 Jan · Texas

Abilene

4h 20m south, after the canyon•1 night

Palo Duro first, then I-27 through Lubbock and US-84

The second and last rule-breaker, softened by starting in a canyon. Palo Duro at first light, then straight down the plains to Abilene — a stop chosen for one dinner.

What to see

Palo Duro Canyon State ParkThe second-largest canyon in the US, 30 minutes south of Amarillo. Drive the rim, then the Lighthouse trail (6 miles round trip) or just the first mile of it. Early light on the red rock is the painting window.
Perini Ranch Steakhouse, Buffalo GapFifteen minutes south of Abilene, in a mesquite grove — one of the great Texas steakhouses. Book it now; it is the reason to sleep here.
Downtown storybook sculpturesAbilene is the Storybook Capital of America: bronze children's-book characters around Everman Park and the streets nearby. A twenty-minute walk with the Paramount marquee at the end of it.
Fort Phantom HillRuined chimneys of an 1851 frontier fort, open-air and free, 15 minutes north. Big-sky, late-afternoon light.
Lubbock, for lunchHalfway. Skip the interstate exits — downtown Lubbock has a handful of good lunch rooms and Buddy Holly's statue.

Where to stay

Courtyard Abilene Southwest or Residence Inn on points, or cash — Saturday Jan 2 will be $90–130. Whatever you book, the evening is Perini Ranch.

Palo Duro is a Texas state park — about $8 per person, and NOT covered by the federal pass. Reserve a day pass online; the park limits entries on holiday weekends.

Austin from Lady Bird Lake — Austin — Austin from Lady Bird Lake

Barton Springs Pool — Austin — Barton Springs Pool

Congress Avenue Bridge — Austin — Congress Avenue Bridge

Congress Avenue and the Capitol — Austin — Congress Avenue and the Capitol

Sunset from Mount Bonnell — Austin — Sunset from Mount Bonnell

Austin at twilight — Austin — Austin at twilight

The line at Franklin Barbecue — Austin — The line at Franklin Barbecue

Enchanted Rock summit trail — Austin — Enchanted Rock summit trail

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Last night

12 Sun 3 Jan · Texas

Austin

3h 30m southeast•1 night

US-83 and US-183 through Brownwood and Lampasas; Enchanted Rock adds an hour

The last night on the road, and the one most likely to fill the friends table. Barton Springs is 68°F in January; the swim is the point.

What to see

Barton Springs PoolSpring-fed, 68°F all year, open in winter with free entry. A Sunday-afternoon swim in January is the Austin thing to do.
South CongressBoots at Allens, coffee at Jo's under the ‘i love you so much’ wall, the murals, and the Continental Club for live music after dinner.
BarbecueFranklin opens Sunday at 11 and sells out; the line starts at 9. Terry Black's on Barton Springs Road has the same brisket and no line.
Mount BonnellThe 100-step climb to the sunset view over Lake Austin. 5:45pm.
Lady Bird LakeThe hike-and-bike trail, the skyline from the Congress Avenue Bridge (no bats in winter — they are in Mexico), and the boardwalk.
Enchanted RockOptional: the pink granite dome an hour west of the direct route, climbed in 45 minutes. Reserve entry online; it fills. Adds about an hour to the day.
Rainey StreetBungalows turned bars, a few blocks from the JW. Sunday night after New Year will be quiet, which suits.

Where to stay

Austin Proper (Design Hotels, Bonvoy) on points if it's there; JW Marriott Austin downtown is the dependable redemption. W Austin puts you at ACL Live. The Sunday after New Year is soft — price cash too.

Sunday night before a Monday hand-off: empty the car tonight. Whatever is still in it tomorrow morning goes to Houston in a bag on the plane or stays on the truck.

The skyline from Buffalo Bayou — Houston — ship the car, fly home — The skyline from Buffalo Bayou

Kayaks on Buffalo Bayou — Houston — ship the car, fly home — Kayaks on Buffalo Bayou

The Waterwall — Houston — ship the car, fly home — The Waterwall

Montrose murals — Houston — ship the car, fly home — Montrose murals

1 / 4

Arrive

13 Mon 4 Jan · Texas

Houston — ship the car, fly home

2h 45m east•Hand-off

US-290, or I-10 via Bastrop

Arrive by eleven. Meet the carrier, sign the bill of lading, then a long lunch and a walk along the bayou before the evening flight home.

What to see

Buffalo Bayou ParkThe skyline from the bayou trails — the last walk of the trip, and the picture.
The WaterwallThe 64-foot horseshoe fountain by the Galleria, if the carrier meets you on the west side.
MontroseMurals, coffee and lunch in the neighbourhood everyone in Houston will tell you to go to.
Hobby, not IAHHobby is Southwest's hub and 20 minutes closer to town. Evening departures to LAX and SFO both exist.

Where to stay

None planned. If the carrier's pickup window slips a day, Marriott Marquis Houston on points — the one with the Texas-shaped lazy river.

Quarter tank of fuel, nothing loose inside, photograph every panel with the driver present, and keep your copy of the bill of lading — that is the inspection you will need if anything arrives dented. Transit to California runs 5–9 days.

Item	Low	High	Basis
Car shipping, Houston → California, open carrier	$1,000	$1,600	Door to door, 1,550–1,900 mi; enclosed adds $500–800
Flights home from Houston, 2 pax, Jan 4	$300	$700	Southwest from Hobby to LAX or SFO; points or cash
Fuel, ~2,750 miles	$330	$500	30 mpg vs 20 mpg at a route-weighted $3.65/gal — CA $4.70, TX $2.90
Pre-trip service	$100	$250	Oil, tires, wipers, and a set of chains for the trunk
Hotels, cash nights (5)	$650	$1,050	Carmel, Flagstaff, Gallup, Amarillo, Abilene
Hotels, points nights (10)	$0	$0	Santa Barbara, San Diego ×2, Palm Desert ×2, Scottsdale, Sedona, Santa Fe ×2, Austin — roughly 350–450k Bonvoy
Parking and resort fees	$200	$400	City hotels $30–60 a night; resort fees waived on award stays
Food, 16 days	$1,450	$2,400	$90–150 a day for two
Activities	$550	$750	Ski Santa Fe lifts and rentals, the tramway, Ten Thousand Waves, the parks pass, Palo Duro
Total cash	$4,580	$7,650	Plus roughly 350–450k Bonvoy points

Stop	Dates	Who we know	Plan
San Francisco	Before Sun 20 Dec
Carmel	Sun 20 Dec
Santa Barbara	Mon 21 Dec
Los Angeles, passing through	Tue 22 Dec
San Diego	Tue 22 – Wed 23 Dec
Palm Desert	Thu 24 – Fri 25 Dec
Scottsdale / Phoenix	Sat 26 Dec
Sedona	Sun 27 Dec
Flagstaff	Mon 28 Dec
Gallup	Tue 29 Dec
Santa Fe	Wed 30 – Thu 31 Dec
Amarillo	Fri 1 Jan
Abilene	Sat 2 Jan
Austin	Sun 3 Jan
Houston	Mon 4 Jan

The route

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What to see

Where to stay

What it costs

Where the money is

Book the car carrier now, open, with a flexible window

Fly home on points from Hobby

Cash where hotels are empty, points where they're dear

Put a Free Night Award on Christmas Eve at Desert Springs

Your own car means a real cooler

Bend the four-hour rule twice and get two nights back

Fill up outside California

Rent skis in town, buy lift tickets online

Soak on a day pass instead of booking treatments

Time the carrier so there is no Houston night

Risks and rules

Winter is the real risk

Los Angeles on Dec 22

The carrier's window

Christmas and New Year close things

The light goes early

The rules we set ourselves

Book now

Who we know

Photograph credits

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Santa Barbara

San Diego

Palm Springs / Palm Desert

Scottsdale

Sedona

Grand Canyon & Flagstaff

Gallup

Santa Fe

Amarillo

Abilene

Austin

Houston — ship the car, fly home