epic road trips

The Ultimate 3-Day SoCal VW Bus Road Trip (Costa Mesa to Santa Barbara)

Cruise into a sun-soaked SoCal adventure this June in your vintage VW bus. With ocean views, funky towns, and peaceful campgrounds, this trip is the perfect blend of retro vibes and real California beauty.

🗓 Day 1: Costa Mesa → Venice Beach → Malibu → Ventura

Morning:

  • Start your journey in Costa Mesa with a hearty breakfast at Sidecar Doughnuts or The Broken Yolk Cafe.

  • Hop on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) heading north, embracing ocean breezes and open-road freedom.

Midday:

  • Roll into Venice Beach. Stretch your legs, snap pics at the boardwalk, and grab lunch at The Butcher's Daughter.

  • Cruise up to Malibu for a beach break at Zuma Beach or a walk along El Matador Beach.

Evening:

  • Continue to Ventura and set up camp at Emma Wood State Beach.

  • Cook dinner in your camper, light a beach bonfire, and soak in the sunset.

🗓 Day 2: Ventura → Ojai → Santa Barbara

Morning:

  • Start with coffee and breakfast in downtown Ventura.

  • Drive inland to the artsy, serene town of Ojai. Visit Bart's Books, grab local goods at Ojai Farmers Market, and take in the mountain views.

Afternoon:

  • Head toward Santa Barbara, taking the scenic Highway 150 back to the coast.

  • Explore State Street, visit the Funk Zone for wine tasting, or lounge at East Beach.

Evening:

  • Camp overnight at El Capitán State Beach, a quiet coastal campground with cliffside views and eucalyptus groves.

  • Relax with dinner under the stars.

🗓 Day 3: Santa Barbara → Solvang → Point Mugu → Costa Mesa

Morning:

  • Breakfast by the sea, then head north to Solvang.

  • Explore this Danish-style village: grab pastries at Olsen's Danish Village Bakery and stroll among windmills and wine shops.

Afternoon:

  • Begin the drive south, stopping at Point Mugu State Park for a beach walk or cliffside photo op.

  • Optional scenic detour: cruise through Topanga Canyon on your way back to the coast.

Evening:

🎵 Road Trip Playlist Must-Haves:

  • “California Dreamin’” – The Mamas & The Papas

  • “Going to California” – Led Zeppelin

  • “Ventura Highway” – America

  • “Ride” – Lana Del Rey

  • “On the Road Again” – Willie Nelson

🌤 Typical Weather in June:

  • Daytime highs: 70–75°F (21–24°C)

  • Evening lows: 55–60°F (13–16°C)

  • Conditions: Mostly sunny with occasional coastal fog in the mornings

👕 What to Pack:

  • Light layers (e.g., T-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies)

  • A warm jacket for evenings

  • Comfortable sandals or shoes for beach walks

  • Swimsuit and sunhat

  • Sunglasses and sunscreen

🌼 Final Tips:

  • Book campsites in advance—June weekends fill up fast!

  • Bring a camera—the VW bus + coast = Instagram gold.

Your vintage adventure starts here. Let the good vibes roll!

Happy Trails Desert Campout

This past March we experienced the Super Bloom as we wandered through the Anza Borrego desert landscape on our group journey, of at times up to 12 VWs, 20 peeps and 3 pups! We hiked, swam and partook of handcrafted libations & camp vittles, and campfires every day of our adventure. In the end new friendships were forged and once in a lifetime memories were made that we'll carry with us on into the years ahead. Here's a peek...

Sweet Vacation Story

Christina Beam Photography

I’ve held back on posting about our epic California roadtrip for so long, which is sort of silly, because these are some of my favorite images I’ve taken in my life.

But here’s the truth: These photos are really intimate.

Not in a way, as my 8-year-old would say, that’s “irreproriate.”

But in a way that shows my little family at what I think is our very best: Loving on each other. Drifting apart for little individual moments and mini adventures, then drawing back together by the common pull that makes us The Beams.

Building this family with my husband Erik is far and away my greatest accomplishment in life, and the truth in these images feels a little scary to share.

It’s not all pretty smiles and perfect poses. We’re unshaven, we’re scratched and dirty, we’re in unwashed clothes, but my God, are we happy.

When we told friends and family about our plans — fly to California, rent an ‘85 Volkswagen camper van in Orange County, and drive it up to Northern California and back along the Pacific Coast Highway — they always said, “Wow.”

“Wow,” as in, “That sounds amazing… I would love to do that with my family.”

And also, “Wow,” as in, “All five of you are going to be camping in that van for two weeks? You’re not staying in any hotels? And you have no reservations anywhere, you don’t know where you’re going or what you’re going to do?”

Yes. Wow.

It was important to Erik that if we did this that it be a true adventure. That we relent to the unknown. That we not only trust that we will be okay, but that if we leave room for the unexpected, we will be rewarded with beautiful, heart- and life-changing things.

And as always, Erik was right.