{"id":4766,"date":"2021-09-10T16:36:40","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T16:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogocharters.com\/blog\/?p=4766"},"modified":"2023-12-29T16:14:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T16:14:23","slug":"california-literary-road-trip-big-sur-mono-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogocharters.com\/blog\/california-literary-road-trip-big-sur-mono-county\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to California\u2019s Literary Road Trip: from Big Sur to Mono County"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone knows California<\/a> is great for road trips. And with so many inspiring landscapes to write about and famous writers calling the state home, it\u2019s no wonder the Golden State has so many literary destinations to offer traveling readers.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re planning a full private road trip with your book club or picking a few stops to visit with your English class<\/a>, we\u2019ve put together the ultimate literary road trip through California\u2019s must-see literature-adjacent destinations. Pack your bags and a good book to read aboard your charter bus rental<\/a>, and keep reading to learn more:<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Big Sur<\/h2>\n

First stop: Big Sur. The name should be familiar among Jack Kerouac fans\u2014this untouched coastline served as inspiration for his novel with the same name. One of the best ways to take it all in is to plan a drive along the coastal highway and take in the rocky, misty views of the ocean. If you\u2019re feeling peckish, be sure to stop by Nepenthe: the same cliffside terrace cafe mentioned in the book!<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re in town, your bookworms may also want to pay a visit to the Henry Miller Memorial Library. Named after the author of Tropic of Cancer<\/em> and The Colossus of Maroussi,<\/em> this structure was built for Miller by Emil White in the 1960s and was turned into a nonprofit center soon afterward. The library serves as not only a bookstore full of Miller\u2019s works but also as a community resource center and venue for local events, concerts, and fundraisers.<\/p>\n

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Nepenthe<\/strong><\/p>\n

Address: <\/strong>48510 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920<\/p>\n

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Henry Miller Memorial Library<\/strong><\/p>\n

Address:<\/strong> 48603 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920<\/p>\n

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Monterey and Salinas<\/h2>\n

Heading north from Big Sur, your group will want to take the Pacific Coast Highway<\/a> for the best scenic views, picnicking spots, and selfie opportunities on the way to your next literary destinations.<\/p>\n

Today, Monterey is where you\u2019ll find boutique shops, chic restaurants, and the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. But back in John Steinbeck\u2019s time in this oceanside town, you would have seen streets lined with canneries (the inspiration for his novel Cannery Row<\/em>). This area is also where he wrote classic American novels such as The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden,<\/em> and Of Mice and Men<\/em>\u2014so it should come as no surprise there are multiple places in Monterey and Salinas that celebrate Steinbeck and his work.<\/p>\n

The National Steinbeck Center is a memorial and museum constructed in the author\u2019s hometown of Salinas, just 10 miles from the beach. Here, your group can check out dozens of interactive exhibits that depict scenes from his books and memorabilia from his childhood. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and groups are invited to request a private tour with reduced admission by calling 831-775-4721.<\/p>\n

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National Steinbeck Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

Address: <\/strong>1 Main St, Salinas, CA 93901<\/p>\n

Charter Bus Parking:<\/strong> To the left of the center\u2019s Central Avenue entrance, there is a designated bus loading zone. That\u2019s where your group will hop on and off the bus. Your driver will be directed to park your coach rental in the Salina City lot, adjacent to the nearby Amtrak station.<\/p>\n

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San Francisco<\/h2>\n

Aside from countless tourist attractions and historical ventures, San Francisco<\/a> is home to plenty of literary destinations to keep your bookworms occupied:<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The American Book Binders Museum<\/h3>\n

Address: <\/strong>355 Clementina St, San Francisco, CA 94103<\/p>\n

Ever wonder how books are made? Plan a stop at the Book Binders Museum to learn more! From historic printing presses from the 1600s to collections of modern picturebooks, textbooks, and novels, this museum showcases techniques and beautifully made books from throughout the centuries. Self-guided and audio tours of the rotating exhibits are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday\u2014though if you\u2019d like a more personalized experience, docent-led tours are available for scout groups, class field trips, and book clubs. Contact the museum at programs@bookbindersmuseum.org for more information.<\/p>\n

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The Beat Museum<\/h3>\n

Address: <\/strong>540 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133<\/p>\n

Okay, sure, the Beat Movement wasn\u2019t just about literature. But stories and poems were a big part of this 1950s counterculture movement, and very few places embraced Beat literature like San Francisco\u2019s North Beach district. Your group can learn all about the ideals, key figures, and history of the era at the Beat Museum, located in the neighborhood where it all began!<\/p>\n

Wander through exhibits that include a bathtub full of books, a collection of banned literature, and a huge print of famous Beat writers Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassidy. The museum offers a variety of tours for groups of all kinds\u2014from private vacationers to college clubs\u2014that can even extend beyond the museum\u2019s exhibits. If your group has 2 hours to kill, consider reserving the North Beach walking tour: an in-depth dive into the place where Beat writers and poets lived and created culture-changing works.<\/p>\n

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San Francisco Railway Museum<\/h3>\n

Address: <\/strong>77 Steuart St, San Francisco, CA 94105<\/p>\n

Fun fact\u2014before she became the famous poet and writer we know today, Maya Angelou was the first Black woman to conduct cable cars in San Francisco. After snapping photos of her famous words engraved on the sidewalk along Jack Kerouac Alley, consider stopping by the San Francisco Railway Museum. There, visitors can learn more about what her first job might have been like and stand at the conductor\u2019s station of a streetcar exactly like the one she would have worked on before she started writing. The museum offers free admission to all and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charter Bus Parking: <\/strong>All three of these destinations are located on the northwestern side of the city, relatively close to each other. In other words, to reach these attractions, you\u2019ll depart your bus from the same place: the designated loading\/unloading zone in Chinatown, along the east side of Columbus Avenue. From there, your driver and charter bus rental can wait for you in the motorcoach parking lot near Oracle Park.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Yosemite Valley<\/h2>\n

Driving past Stockton<\/a>, you\u2019ll come face-to-face with one of the most popular natural spaces in the U.S.: Yosemite. While this national park frequents many folks\u2019 itineraries due to its breathtaking landscapes, thrilling climbing routes, and unique hikes, not many people know Yosemite as a literary destination. But it is!<\/p>\n

Yosemite (and more specifically, Hetch Hetchy Valley) was naturalist John Muir\u2019s pride and joy\u2014so much so, he wrote dozens of essays about the area in an effort to preserve it. While Muir didn\u2019t consider himself much of a writer, many cite his Thoreau-esque prose in the ways we think about national parks and nature conservation today.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, any nature enthusiast or aspiring poet should consider stopping at Yosemite to take in the views and get inspired by the West\u2019s most unique landscapes. After all, in the words of Muir, “No amount of word-making will ever make a single soul to ‘know’ these mountains. One day’s exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books.”<\/p>\n

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Yosemite National Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

Address: <\/strong>9035 Village Dr, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389<\/p>\n

Charter Bus Parking: <\/strong>Places your driver can park your bus rental include:<\/p>\n