Travelers can visit an official cryptid headquarters, haunted roads, alligators, mermaids and the oldest city in the country.

Once a treacherous curve along California’s main north–south route, Heller’s Bend is now a quiet preserve where the ghosts of early motorists meet the silence of reclaimed nature.

Any of these scenic drives will take you past stunning landscapes and breathtaking views. So, grab these road trip essentials, fill up with gas, and get going! But make sure to take a break from your ...