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America turns 239 this weekend, and you’re sure to celebrate it with a bang. After all, it’s what Thomas Jefferson would have wanted.
But before you break out the barbecue staples and confine yourself to the backyard, consider celebrating America by hitting the open road. California is uniquely blessed with some of the country’s most scenic terrain, and there’s no better vehicle to explore it in than the 2015 Toyota Prius. With an estimated 51 miles to the gallon, a wind-cheating aerodynamic design and loaded with next level technology (from remote air conditioning to a Hybrid System Indicator that assesses your driving efficiency in real-time), this year’s Prius is as fuel-efficient as it is stylish.
Not to mention affordable. Thanks to the Toyota July 4th Sales Event, you can get behind the wheel of a 2015 Prius Liftback, Prius c, or Prius v at super low prices with great financing options. Hurry, their special Independence Day Weekend offers on Prius end July 6.
In honor of one of America’s most storied holiday weekends, the Toyota Prius presents five historic Californian road trips.
La Honda Road
Nothing celebrates independence like the freedom to go against the grain. Start in Woodside and head up La Honda Road. After winding through the lush Santa Cruz mountains you’ll pass through the town of La Honda, where author Ken Kesey hosted some of the ’60s counterculture’s most notorious events.
El Camino Real
Sometimes called “the King’s Highway,” El Camino Real links the former Alta California’s 21 missions from Sonoma to San Diego. Much of the original road no longer exists, but the route is followed by US 101. With so much to see along the route, one of the more interesting stops is Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma. Not only was it the only mission built under Mexican rule, it’s also at the center of Northern California’s premier culinary destinations.
Donner Pass
Everyone knows the fate suffered by the Donner party, but the spirit of their journey was undeniably American. The beauty of their surroundings juxtaposed with the direness of their situation serves as a somber reminder of what people have sacrificed to make our country great. Head east on Donner Pass Road from Soda Springs and treat yourself to sweeping vistas of the Sierra Nevada and majestic views of Donner Lake.
Rincon Sea Level Road
Say the words “California road trip” and most people immediately think of awe-inspiring coastal drives with miles and miles of mountains tumbling into the Pacific Ocean. This Fourth of July, pay homage to the original coastal drive: Rincon Sea Level Road. Connecting Ventura and Santa Barbara, it was the first drivable coastal route for motorists traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Route 128
Route 128 is one of the more magical, underrated roads in California. Beginning near the mouth of the Navarro River and running southeast, it traverses lush watersheds, redwood groves, and rich valleys of orchards and vineyards. We recommend driving through Anderson Valley, one of California’s lesser-known wine regions, and stopping in Boonville, where you might hear the locals speaking Boontling, the local jargon.
To get make your Independence Day Weekend a memorable one and to get a great deal on your 2015 Toyota Prius, click here.
