There are few things more quintessentially American than a road trip, and few places that do it better than California. Think sun-drenched coastlines, snow-capped peaks, redwood forests taller than your average apartment block, and tacos so good they tear your eyes.

And just in time for the U.S. summer, Visit California has launched its new 2025 California Road Trips guide — a glossy, jam-packed, feel-good publication starring none other than Hollywood’s favourite everywoman, Kristen Bell.

Now available at VisitCalifornia.com, the guide is a love letter to the Golden State’s open roads, seen through the eyes of influencers, locals, accessibility advocates, and storytelling celebrities alike.

Kristen Bell, RVs, and Redwoods

Bell, actress, mother, and road trip aficionado, graces the cover and shares her journey through the Californian wilds. “California is what you make of it,” she says in the guide. “We have an RV that we drive around every summer. Now we are California-getting-on-the-road people.”

Route 66, Cucamunga Service Station, Cucamunga, CA

Her itinerary? Equal parts rugged and refined — camping at El Capitan State Beach just outside Santa Barbara, off-roading across the desert sands of Glamis, hiking through LA’s iconic Griffith Park, and soaking in the therapeutic hot springs of Calistoga. Throw in a smorgasbord of food experiences — because, naturally, it’s California — and you’ve got a family holiday that ticks all the boxes.

As Bell herself puts it, the real magic lies in the freedom of the road: “You can be whoever you want to be out here.”

Nine Journeys. Infinite Possibilities.

Visit California’s 2025 guide, Playful Journeys, offers nine curated road trips for every taste and temperament. Whether you’re after surf and sand or snow and slopes, there’s a drive with your name on it.

“There is no better way than a road trip to experience the unparalleled natural beauty, abundance of offerings and free-spirited attitude that make up the Golden State,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California.

And she’s spot on. This isn’t just a guide — it’s a people-powered, story-driven manifesto for hitting the open road, with contributions from travel experts, adventurers, and cultural commentators.

Highlights include:

• Cory Lee of Curb Free with Cory Lee explores San Francisco, Napa Valley, and Yosemite through a wheelchair-accessible lens — a refreshing and vital inclusion.

• Luxury travel guru Jeremy Austin meanders through Monterey, Carmel, and Mendocino, unearthing luxe lodgings and boutique experiences.

• Anthony and Marlie Love of Travelling While Black trace the rich African American history of Gold Country, visiting Sacramento, El Dorado, and Calaveras Counties.

• Photographer Harish Kumar delivers a visual feast with shots of the Shasta Cascade and North Coast regions.

• Ann Marie Brown, California guidebook author extraordinaire, offers an insider’s guide to all nine national parks — a dream for bushwalkers and stargazers alike.

And the range doesn’t end there. There’s a Route 66 jaunt seen through the eyes of an illustrator, a theme-park-filled family escape through Southern California, and even snowboarding adventures in Mammoth Lakes and Lake Tahoe.

Fast-Track Entry with the MPC App

There’s more good news for those planning their Californian odyssey from Down Under. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is proving a quiet revolution in international arrivals. Free, official, and designed to cut immigration queues in airports like Los Angeles and San Francisco, it’s a traveller’s dream.

“While the new U.S. administration is taking a closer look at international arrivals, the underlying procedures for Australian visitors remain unchanged,” assures Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). “The rules are clear, and the process is straightforward for those who are prepared. Headlines tend to highlight exceptions, not the norm.”

In other words, don’t let the nightly news derail your American adventure. Instead, get ahead of the pack.

Cola Maurirere, a Travel Associates Victoria Point travel advisor and a proud Visit California’s Agent Advisory Council member, gives the MPC app a big thumbs-up.

“I’ve used MPC on my last three U.S. trips,” she says. “The process is so simple, and I’ve never waited more than 15 minutes at immigration.”

The app is free to download via the App Store or Google Play, and travellers can preload their profile before they leave Australia. Upon arrival, digitally submit the customs form and breeze through the designated MPC lane.

It’s old-fashioned efficiency with a modern twist — and very welcome news for those who prefer exploring Yosemite to queuing at LAX.

From Tarmac to Trailhead

As always, California is open for business — and open roads. With the 2025 guide in hand, Kristen Bell at the wheel, and the MPC app loaded on your phone, there’s no excuse not to make this the year you finally chase your California dream.

So fire up the playlist, load the esky, and point the bonnet west. From the vineyards of Napa to the switchbacks of Big Sur, the only wrong turn is the one not taken.

By Jason Smith

===================================