From Florida to California and Back: 6,169 Miles of Adventure in Our Jeep Gladiator There is something special about packing up the Jeep, pointing it west, and watching America unfold mile by mile through the windshield. What started as a road trip from Florida to…
From Shark Fin Cove to Lighthouse Field State Beach: Surfing and Coastal Views in Santa Cruz Leaving Shark Fin Cove, we continued south along California’s spectacular Highway 1 toward Lighthouse Field State Beach. The drive itself was part of the adventure, with…
Shark Fin Cove: A Scenic Coastal Escape Near Campbell and San Jose A short drive from Campbell and the San Jose area brings you to one of California’s most picturesque coastal viewpoints—Shark Fin Cove. Located along the breathtaking Pacific Coast Highway near…
Following The Christmas Card to Nevada City, California After traveling north through Nevada, we eventually left US-95 and joined Interstate 80 heading west into California. One of the most beautiful parts of the drive was crossing through the Sierra Nevada Mountains…
Leaving Las Vegas for the Open Desert and Snow-Covered Mountains of Nevada Leaving Las Vegas and heading north on US-95 brought an entirely different side of Nevada into view compared to the bright lights and nonstop activity of the Las Vegas Strip. As the city slowly…
After enjoying the historic charm of Nevada City and visiting the filming locations from The Christmas Card, it was time to continue our journey south toward the San Francisco Bay Area. The drive from Nevada City to Campbell took us through some beautiful Northern California scenery, transitioning from the pine-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada region to the busy highways and urban landscape of Silicon Valley. As we approached the South Bay, the traffic increased considerably compared to the quiet streets of Nevada City, reminding us that we were entering one of the most populated and technologically advanced regions in the country.
For our stay, we checked into the Residence Inn San Jose Campbell. After several days on the road, it was nice to settle into a spacious suite with plenty of room to relax and reorganize our belongings. The hotel provided a comfortable home base for exploring the San Jose area while also offering amenities that are especially helpful during a long cross-country trip. Having extra space, a kitchen area, and comfortable seating made it easy to unwind after another full day of driving.
After checking into the hotel, we went to Alvarado Coin-Op Car Wash to wash away the countless bugs that had accumulated on the front of our Jeep during the long drive across the desert and mountains. After several days on the road, it was nice to get the Jeep looking clean again before continuing our California adventure. Once we finished at the car wash, we returned to the hotel and decided to have dinner delivered. We ordered a Veggie Pizza from Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a popular California pizza chain known for its generous toppings and quality ingredients. The pizza arrived hot, loaded with fresh vegetables, and was the perfect low-key meal to enjoy while relaxing in our room and planning the next day’s adventures.
The evening was a welcome change of pace from the constant sightseeing and driving that had filled the previous days of the trip. Between the comfortable accommodations at the Residence Inn and the delicious pizza from Mountain Mike’s, our first night in Campbell was exactly what we needed before beginning the next chapter of our California adventure. Sometimes the simplest travel days—checking into a comfortable hotel, enjoying a good meal, and getting some much-needed rest—become some of the most appreciated moments of a long road trip.
