When we last left you on our US road trip, we were speeding away from the glamour and outlandishly fabulous interior design of the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. This was truly a trip of contrasts and extremes – one night we were in a fifties-themed pastel heaven, the next we were slowly and surely scaling a mountain (in our car, we’re not that adventurous) towards the Sequoia National Park, home of the world’s largest tree, The General Sherman.

I’ll confess something right now – I’ve had a lifelong fantasy about sleeping in a little log cabin in the woods. No phone signal, no WiFi, nothing between us and the great outdoors except a few wooden walls! This did not disappoint. As you can see, the first warning we encountered on our way in was about bears. I was excited to see my first bear but slightly nervous that the encounter wouldn’t end well for me, given that the bathroom was a very dark, very cold full three minute walk from our log cabin.

I have to admit, being without technology was hard! John and I had to find things to talk about other than what someone just said on Twitter, or what just happened on TV, or the latest breaking news. It was really interesting to see how hard a technology detox actually is, even for one night. We ended up reading together, which was lovely and brilliantly old fashioned.

The next morning, we awoke to the most majestic views – the mountainous terrain covered with the world’s largest trees was almost too much to take in.

We took a short trip around the winding mountain path, breaking sharply for crossing deer and even a baby bear crossing the road (yes, I got to see one! Two, in fact) and parked at the General Sherman trail. I saw my first ever chipmunk and he stopped to pose for my camera, which was wonderfully thoughtful of him. We affectionately named him America’s Next Top Chipmunk and carried on down the trail.

Finally we reached the roots of the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world. It was awe-inspiring to say the least. Photos don’t do it justice. Words don’t either. Just go. Once in your lifetime, go and see it. Trust me.

On our next instalment, we leave the wilderness and head for LA… how did we survive Hollywood? Find out next time!

The single most breathtakingly beautiful sight I have ever had the pleasure of seeing in person is the view from the US 1 coastal route from San Francisco towards LA.

Having left the stunning architecture and delicious food San Francisco had to offer, we headed south down route 1, a road that’s famous for being a road-trip must. Now I know why.

The road itself is worth every second of the whole trip and every penny we paid for it. While there’s something a bit scary about driving so precariously close to a cliff edge, once you let go and accept that you probably won’t plummet to a watery death, it’s one of the most amazing things you’ll ever see.

The view of the blue ocean from the clifftops is so vast, you feel like you’re flying over it. Arches of eagles swoop overhead, the occasional dolphin sprays the air, the day is so clear and the sea is such a deep, calm colour you’re not sure where the sky ends and the ocean begins.

We did about three hours of the drive in the first day, before turning off and heading into the earthy, red and green forest landscape in the hills above Santa Cruz. We were heading to a hidden gem I’d discovered during my road-trip research called Redwood Croft.

I don’t know if I can describe this place to you. There are pictures, sure, but the pictures don’t encapsulate the fragrant trees, the smell of utterly unpolluted air, the warmth that emanates from a family-run business and home, built with so much love. The website’s own copy does it much more justice than I can: “designed with an artist’s eye and a grandma’s heart.” Well, I was won over – how can you say no to that?

Every little detail was designed by Sita, the owner, a warm and vivacious woman who greeted us like we were family and treated us like royalty for our entire stay, as did her wonderful family (which included two elderly pets, and a cat, pictured below that we fell in love with)!

The wooden room was like a cross between a hideaway treehouse and a luxury hotel. We had the most incredible stone bathtub that to call it a bathtub is a gross understatement. It was almost big enough to swim in, just built for a romantic evening. We spent the night in front of the warm fire that heated the room, watching the stars through the roof’s massive skylight. It was heaven.

The next morning, after enjoying a sumptuous, three-course breakfast cooked by Sita and her family, we reluctantly headed off back on the road again – but not before stopping in Santa Cruz to say hello to some seals!

On the next instalment, we head to San Luis Obispo where we discover a hotel that could have been designed purely for Darling Lovely Life readers…