On the third day of our trip, we began a week-long road trip with Suyog to visit Yosemite National Park, driving through the California’s heartlands. As Mid-westerners, we were excited to explore Northern California’s valleys and midlands up close—with Suyog behind the wheel of his Tesla. It was our first time taking an electric vehicle on such a long journey.

While Yosemite National Park was our main destination, we also planned to visit Monterey Beach and Fairfield (Green Valley) along the way.

Oxnard And Ventura Pier Beach

Before heading to Yosemite, we made a slight detour to Oxnard and Ventura City to explore Mandalay Beach and the Ventura Pier. We spend overnight at a cozy Airbnb in Oxnard, located in an apartment complex just a five-minute walk from Mandalay Beach.

Later in the evening, we walked down to the beach and watched the sunset in the peaceful ocean breeze. It was a calm and beautiful moment.

Afterwards, we prepared a simple homemade dinner and spent the evening enjoying time together as a family.

Ventura Pier Beach

The next morning, after a relaxed breakfast of our trip favorite—avocado on bread—we left Oxnard around 10 AM.

We made a short detour to visit Ventura Pier Beach and walked along the Ventura Pier. The almost 2,000 ft long Pier is said to be the longest wooden pier in California.

Then, we headed into downtown Ventura for coffee and drinks before driving up to the Grand Park viewpoint. From there, we enjoyed a great view of Ventura city and its shoreline.

Driving to Yosemite

As we continued our journey, we made a couple of stops at Tesla charging stations—one in Traver stood out for its solar-powered setup.

While the car was charging, we enjoyed some delicious Punjabi snacks like parathas and samosas. We got back on the road around 4:15 p.m., and after a long drive through the scenic farmlands of Central California, we finally arrived at our Airbnb near Yosemite around 6PM—nearly seven hours later.

Arrival in Ahwahnee Nature Tranquility Airbnb

Located in a quiet corner of Oakhurst, the “Nature Tranquility” hill top Airbnb was beautifully furnished with three bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, comfortable bathrooms, and even its own Tesla charging station. The peaceful surroundings were a great way to unwind after the long drive and throughout our three-days stay.

We spent the rest of the evening resting and enjoying homemade food. After spending three nights at this serene hilltop Airbnb, we continued our journey to Monterey Bay, driving through California’s scenic farmland and quieter highways along the west coast.

Next Post: Exploring Yosemite National Parks