Explore California’s stunning coastline from San Francisco to San Diego
California: Road Trip On Highway. The fabled Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), which hugs more than 900 kilometers (600 miles) of California’s breathtaking and untamed coastline, was first constructed in the 1930s and is still a miracle of human labor. One of the world’s most breathtakingly beautiful highways, it should be driven slowly as you take in the breathtaking views of the mountains, tall trees, wide beaches, and boundless sky. Additionally, it gives visitors a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see all that California has to offer in terms of character, including roadside kitsch, Hollywood glitter, bohemian vibes, farm-fresh delicacies, wine, and pioneer outposts.
Here are some helpful hints to get you started on your road trip: The Pacific Coast Highway may be driven in about ten hours without stopping, but it’s advised to take your time, stop for overnight stays along the way, and enjoy the vistas, making your trip last at least six days. The Pacific Coast Highway is open for travel year-round in California because of the state’s temperate climate. The biggest travel months are July and August when the best weather is often forecast from late spring through fall.
Starting Point: San Francisco
San Francisco, a well-known hilly area of vegetation and urbanity, is a great place to start a PCH road trip. Golden Gate Park, a 1,000+ acre park with lush surroundings and two top-notch museums, a Japanese tea garden, a herd of buffalo, a windmill, and much more, is San Francisco’s crown gem. Before going to North Beach, a former hub of Beatnik and Italian culture, take a stroll through the park. Peruse the renowned and expansive City Lights Bookstore before to enjoying a drink at the impeccably disorganized Vesuvio Cafe—a quaint pub located directly on Jack Kerouac Alley. The oldest Chinatown in North America, replete with décor and bustling local eateries, is located just steps from North Beach. Before you hit the road, stop by the vibrant waterfront Ferry Building to stock up on epicurean local foods and enjoy views of the bay.
Make a quick stop at Devil’s Slide, a 2-kilometer (1.3-mile) section of land that was formerly part of Highway One and is now a beautiful walking trail in Pacifica, as you wind your way from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. Stunning views of the ocean await you as you swerve by beachfront outposts on the PCH, washing away any doubts you may have had about the journey. Visit the nearby hamlet of Felton, which is a sleepy mountain town surrounded by Redwood forests, before heading to the surfer-centric Santa Cruz. Refresh on the sunny back patio of Monty’s Log Cabin, a watering spot whose rustic exterior pays true to its name. Next, visit The Bigfoot Discovery Museum to get comprehensive knowledge on California’s most favored cryptid. Travel to Santa Cruz, a welcoming seaside town with a university, stunning redwood trees, and waves that attract surfers from all over the world. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk was established in 1907 and features vintage roller coasters with views of the Pacific Ocean, an arcade, and the intoxicating smell of hot dogs, cotton candy, and sea air. (Interesting fact: This is where parts of the iconic ’80s movie “The Lost Boys” were filmed.)
You’ll witness craggy mountains covered in romantic redwood woods that plunge into striking coastlines. Although camping is permitted in the forests, those who would like to sleep in a bed should check out Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, which is similar to vacationing with your amazing bohemian aunt. When you’re hungry after trekking, explore the adjacent Henry Miller Memorial Library and enjoy classic California cuisine (local wine and farm-fresh food, anyone?) on the soaring patio at Nepenthe, which overlooks the ocean.
Visit the Piedras Blancas Friends of the Elephant Seal rookery on your way into Cambria. Here, throngs of bulbous-nosed pinnipeds congregate to rest, mate, and engage in combat. (But be careful—these animals may weigh up to 8,000 pounds, or more than 4,000 kilograms.) Proceed to the quaint coastal community, characterized by rugged beaches, cliffs, and tidal pools brimming with marine organisms. Get a hearty helping of warm blueberry pie and vanilla ice cream at Linn’s Restaurant, a Cambria tradition.
There’s a good chance you may see some of California’s varied wildlife in Morro Bay, a small city situated on a big bay and estuary. Numerous exotic creatures can be seen at Morro Bay State Park, such as blue herons, monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and yes, even cuddly, fluffy sea otters. The park is a great place to stop for a road trip snack and a chance to stretch your legs because it has picnic chairs, paths, and a small museum.
San Luis Obispo
Travel along the Pacific Coast Highway to the laid-back college town of San Luis Obispo, also known as SLO, where you can explore peculiar sites like the vibrant Bubblegum Alley. Before you go, make sure to visit one of the more than 30 local vineyards to sample the wines, or trek to the Point San Luis Lighthouse for some fresh air and breathtaking vistas. Though there are many excellent lodging options in the town, the wonderfully colorful Madonna Inn boasts themed rooms like Caveman and Showboat. The extravagant décor, which includes Western murals, elaborate chandeliers, flocked wallpaper, and lots and lots of pink, doesn’t require you to stay there to appreciate it. At the counter, get a slice of (pink) cake and take in the ambiance.
Maybe you didn’t want to travel down the coast and stop in Denmark, but here you are. Solvang, Denmark’s little sister city, was founded in 1911 by pioneer Danes and is the location of numerous Danish bakeries. Explore the area’s traditional architecture and take in tributes to Hans Christian Andersen beside exact replicas of Copenhagen’s Round Tower and Little Mermaid monument. The rustically attractive town of Los Olivos is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, surrounded by large vineyards, and is only a short drive from Solvang. Schedule time for winery tastings at Demetria, where you may enjoy views of the rolling hills and beautiful roses.
The ideal representation of California’s dual nature—beachy casual and glitzy—is Santa Barbara. (Oprah has a property here.) This is a city full of mansions and adobe residences with Spanish Colonial Revival style. After learning about the city’s colonial past at the Old Mission Santa Barbara, shop and explore the Funk Zone, the unassuming arts neighborhood. At McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, indulge in a scoop of Churros Con Leche or Boysenberry Rose Milk Jam ice cream. At Enterprise Fish Co., take in the fresh seafood and seaside views while enjoying $1.50 oysters during happy hour. If you’re up for an adventure, head 20 minutes inland to Cold Spring Tavern, a restaurant and pub that was originally built as a stagecoach station in 1886. Next, make the most of the pleasant weather by seeing a movie at the Westwind Drive-In.
Los Angeles
Make Neptune’s Net your point of entry to Los Angeles. This seafood and beer tavern in Malibu, which is perched directly on the PCH, is well-known among bikers and Hollywood celebrities for its unique retro sign. It has been in everything from Point Break to Gossip Girl since it opened in 1956. Continue to Los Angeles to experience the seemingly endless personalities of the city: tarpits and world-class art museums, the adjacent Disneyland, malls, and vintage food markets; old Hollywood glamour on Mulholland Drive and at the Chateau Marmont; hipster cool in Silver Lake and Echo Park.
A border city known for its Mexican cuisine, San Diego is a surfing haven, a military station, and the location of a renowned zoo. It’s wise to try a few restaurants before deciding which is the best, whether it’s the tried-and-true menus at well-known establishments like Oscar’s Mexican Seafood and Las Cuatro Milpas or the updated menus at more recent outposts like Galaxy Tacos and Puesto. Asking which restaurant is the finest may spark a contentious debate. After consuming so many tacos, take a stroll on the beach or visit the Cave Store, which gets its name from the 145-step tunnel that leads to a 200,000-year-old sea cave that you can enter for $5. (A seal has at least once entered the store, which sells a variety of souvenirs, through the tunnel.)