CALIFORNIA WITH DEE JENNER

NAME: Dee Jenner

WHAT DO YOU DO: Stylist & Collector of vintage

SOCIALS: @deejenner  & @thedetailsstore

WEBSITE: www.thedetailsstore.com

STAR SIGN: Aquarius

LIVING: Currently no fixed address!

SLEEP

My boyfriend Cam and I hired our campervan, “PJ,” from Lost Campers just outside of LAX. I liked that there was no advertising on the outside. 

We stuck to a loose plan of driving North from LA along Highway 1 for a week before heading to Joshua Tree where we were meeting up with friends. 

I loved the freedom of the campervan! We could drive as much or as little as we liked. Although finding a vacancy at a State Park wasn’t always easy (especially on weekends) we often arrived in the early morning to nab walk up parking spots and begged/pleaded when necessary! 

The places we stopped and stayed along the way:

After stocking up on groceries at Whole Foods in Venice our first stop was Leo Carillo State Park. Here we had a dip in the ocean and explored the rock pools. 

Early the next day we made our way to Wheeler Gorge Campground where we found a shady spot under the trees which made the perfect base for exploring nearby Ojai for two nights. 

Next stop was Montaña De Oro State Park where we watched the sunset over the bluff. 

We spent the next night at Kirk Creek Campground we parked the van on the hill, opened up the boot and watched the sunset from bed. 

The following morning we drove the coastline officially known as Big Sur before stopping at Fernwood Campground where we slept under the giant Redwoods. 

This felt like being in a fairy tale. It was so pretty! After arriving in Santa Cruz we decided on a whim to do a U-Turn and head south to Joshua Tree. We spent the first night at Indian Cove Campground which had huge stone boulders to climb and a lovely nature trail.

We spent the next two nights at Black Rock Campground with friends. This campsite looked completely different. Flat and full of Joshua Trees, it was the perfect place to watch the beautiful sunset. 

EAT

Stop in at Santa Barbara farmers market to stock up on lovely local produce to cook with. 

Splurge on fancy olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Ojai Olive Oil.

Try freshly squeezed citrus juice from Friend’s Ranches in Ojai.

Stop in for a cup of tea at the historic Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn. 

Enjoy a cold beer at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneer Town, just outside of Joshua Tree.

We didn’t eat out much as our van had a little propane gas double burner which meant we were able to cook healthy, fresh vegetarian meals for cheap. 

Light wraps, eggs, brown rice, sautéed cauliflower and Mexican chilli beans were staples on the road.

DO

Gaze at the postcard perfect view that is McWay Falls and hug a giant Redwood in Big Sur. 

Spend hours perusing Bart’s Books in Ojai, the largest outdoor bookstore in the US, and stock up on reading material. I found a Lonely Planet guide to California which was handy as phone reception is patchy at times but this meant I could still research stops and things to do without Google. 

Walk the The Indian Cove nature trail to learn all about native plants of Joshua Tree National Park. 

Visit Pioneer Town just outside of the Yucca Valley which was founded in 1946 by Hollywood investors who wanted to create an Old Western set. 

Take an early morning drive though Palm Springs to spot iconic mid-century architecture such as the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway and Kaufmann Desert House. 

Check out the Cabazon Dinosaurs en route back to LA.

SHOP

I loved visiting ‘The End‘, a vintage Oasis in the Mojave desert run by local artist & stylist Kime Buzzelli and trawling through the racks for a special, one of a kind piece.

I’m still wishing I bought more of the Thai Coconut Lip Balm from Ojai olive oil.

PACK

I lived in vintage Levis 501s that I bought from one of my all time favourite stores, Passenger Vintage in Echo Park. Worn with crew neck sweaters from Uniqlo in either Merino Wool (I like the mens!) or Cashmere. 

My trusty canvas Superga’s were the perfect sneaker for adventuring and I had a Matteau bikini and a light Turkish towel for a couple of icy ocean dips. 

I don’t wear much jewellery when travelling except for a fine gold necklace from Petite Grand and pair of chain earrings from Sarah and Sebastian. 

AYU’s fragrance ‘Souq’ will always remind me of a California roadtrip!

LOVE DEE AS MUCH AS WE DO?

Well, you can shop her curated edit of angelic vintage wares at The Details Store!