When it comes to road trips, California is America’s ultimate playground — a place where vast, ever-changing landscapes unfold mile by mile, from dramatic wave-lashed cliffs and lush wine valleys to towering forests and some of the most beautiful national parks in the country.

In this episode of Wanderlust: Off the Page, our North America Editor, Jacqui Agate, joins host Aaron Millar to map out six of California’s best road trips — and the moments that make them unforgettable.

Watch a perfect sunset from the beaches of the Pacific Coast Highway, hike beneath the tallest trees in the world and get your motor runnin’ on Route 66. This is the ultimate way to play across the Golden State.

Highlights include:

• Vineyards to Waves: Highway One (Pacific Coast Highway)
  This classic drive hugs the California coast for 600 beautiful miles from the wine country of Mendocino County to Los Angeles, and beyond. Expect dramatic ocean views, historic towns, sustainable wine, delicious food and some of the most spectacular driving in the country.

• The Sunny Southern California Triangle
  This classic southern California road trip travels from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, then Joshua Tree National Park to San Diego, hitting up iconic surf towns like Huntington Beach and Oceanside in between. Discover mid-century glamour, desert landscapes, Chicano culture,and some of California’s best beaches.

• Route 66: The California Stretch
  Celebrating 100 years of America’s most famous highway, this route runs from the Arizona border through the Mojave Desert to its finish at the Santa Monica pier. Think classic Americana, retro motels, desert landscapes and the symbolic end of the “Main Street of America” at the Pacific Ocean.

• Forest to Giants: California’s National Parks Road Trip
  Connecting five spectacular national parks — Redwood, Lassen Volcanic, Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon — this route showcases the state’s wild side. From the tallest trees on Earth to volcanic landscapes and granite peaks, it’s a journey through some of the most awe-inspiring nature in America.

• Highway 395: California’s Adventure Road
  Running along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada, this lesser-known route will take you through stunning mountains, Gold Rush towns, movie history and some of the best hiking in the state.

• The Desert Parks Loop: from Joshua Tree to Death Valley
  This circular route explores California’s desert landscapes, including Death Valley, the Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree National Park. Expect salt flats, sculptural rock formations, vast open skies and some of the most dramatic light and geology in North America.

FIND OUT MORE

Plan your own California road trip at visitcalifornia.com

Read the accompanying feature, The Open Road to California, at wanderlustmagazine.com

Connect with Jacqui Agate on Instagram @jacquiagate and at jacquiagate.com

WANDERLUST: OFF THE PAGE
Take the road less travelled with us and subscribe to the show so you never miss an adventure.

WANDERLUST MAGAZINE
Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine, taking the road less travelled since 1993. Find out more at wanderlustmagazine.com

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CREDITS
This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the aud

Alberta is one of Canada’s most spectacular and diverse provinces, from turquoise lakes and vibrant cities to vast prairies and the soaring peaks of the Rockies. But there’s a lesser-known side too, and that’s what we’ll be exploring today.

From the earliest days of the province to the present time, strong women have been influential in shaping Canada’s Alberta into the forward-thinking, thriving place it has become. And in this episode of Wanderlust: Off the Page, we’ll be hearing from two of the best.

Matricia Brown, from Warrior Women, will be sharing stories of her Indigenous culture and heritage. Karen Anderson, from Alberta Food Tours, will be taking us on a delicious tour of the region. And our very own Lyn Hughes, Founding Editor of Wanderlust, will be sharing some of her favourite experiences in Alberta as well.

From its Indigenous Peoples and Western culture to a mouthwatering food scene and legacy of pioneering women, this conversation makes it clear why Alberta was named ‘World’s Most Desirable Region’ in 2025’s Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards.

Highlights include:

• Watching eagles fly overhead from the domes of Métis Crossing, an Indigenous cultural centre and hotel.

• Snowshoeing through the forest beside herds of wild bison.

• Listening to Indigenous songs, and drumming, beside the fire at night

• Going on a foodie tour across Calgary, learning about its history, art and culture through the lens of its most mouthwatering dishes.

• Learning the story of Princess Louise Alberta, who the province is named after, and the other inspiring women who have helped shape Alberta’s story past, present and future.

FIND OUT MORE

Plan your journey to Alberta at travelalberta.com

Connect with Matricia at warriorwomen.ca

Connect with Karen at albertafoodtours.ca

Check out our Alberta Trip Planner for photos, videos and all the essential information you need - wanderlustmagazine.com

Watch this interview on our YouTube channel youtube.com/WanderlustMagazineUK

WANDERLUST: OFF THE PAGE
Take the road less travelled with us and subscribe to the show so you never miss an adventure.

WANDERLUST MAGAZINE
Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine, taking the road less travelled since 1993. Find out more at wanderlustmagazine.com

Become a Wanderlust Club Member to join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or about $50). Membership includes six collectible print issues, exclusive competitions and events, full digital archive access back to 2010, and much more.

CREDITS
This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.
Lyn Hughes and Laura Field introduce the show. Aaron Millar is the interviewer and script editor. Audio production by Charles Tyrie.

Los Angeles is one of the world’s most familiar cities — shaped by film, music and pop culture — yet it remains endlessly surprising. In this episode of Wanderlust: Off the Page, we go beyond the icons to uncover a more intimate, and layered LA.

Host Aaron Millar is joined by three locals with unique perspectives on the city: Evan Lovett, creator and host of the podcast LA in a Minute; Kara Bartelt, General Manager of The Hoxton, Downtown LA; and Gavin Brennan, founder of E-Bike Tours LA. Together, they explore a city defined not just by Hollywood, but by reinvention, diverse neighbourhoods, outdoor life and creative energy.

From cycling culture and downtown art nights to beaches with wildly different personalities, future-facing museums and the buzz building ahead of the 2026 World Cup, this is a portrait of LA as a mosaic — expansive, diverse and constantly evolving.

Highlights include:

• What’s new in 2026, from the FIFA World Cup at SoFi Stadium to major museum openings across the city.

• Exploring LA by bike — from downtown neighbourhoods and the LA River to Griffith Park and beyond.

• Rethinking LA’s outdoor life, including kayaking the river, hiking urban hills and discovering wildlife in the heart of the city.

• A deep dive into LA’s creative future, including the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and the world’s first museum of AI arts: Dataland.

• The ultimate locals-designed three-day LA itinerary — beaches, bike rides, baseball, and where to get the best food in the city.

FIND OUT MORE

Search up ‘LA in a Minute’ on your favourite podcast platform. Instagram: @lainaminute

The Hoxton Downtown LA: thehoxton.com

Discover LA by bike with E-Bike Tours LA: ebiketoursla.com

Plan your trip at discoverlosangeles.com / #WeLoveLA

Read the accompanying articles at wanderlustmagazine.com

WANDERLUST: OFF THE PAGE

Take the road less travelled with us — subscribe to the show so you never miss an adventure!

WANDERLUST MAGAZINE

Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine, taking the road less travelled since 1993. Find out more at wanderlustmagazine.com

Become a Wanderlust Club Member and join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or around $50). Membership includes six collectible print issues, exclusive competitions and events, full digital archive access back to 2010, and much more.

CREDITS

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Lyn Hughes and Laura Field introduce the show; Aaron Millar is the interviewer and script editor; Audio production by Charles Tyrie.