Cruising down the highway, with windows down and the music blaring from your speakers, you see out the windshield only open roads and gorgeous scenery. It’s a time for bonding with friends, for seeing sights around the country, and for relaxing as your only obligation is to travel as far as you want. Americans and foreigners alike dream of this type of road trip across the U.S.

My road trip took me through some of the most beautiful parts of the country that I’ve ever seen. All the long hours we logged in the car paid off as we reached incredible sights and cities, having adventures as we explored the highlights of the western U.S. Starting in San Francisco, we had a 171 mile drive in-land to Yosemite National Park. The transition from cityscape and Golden Gate Bridge to mountainous terrain and giant sequoia trees was stunning.

Along the…