No journey to the west coast is full with out an epic highway journey journey alongside California’s lovely coast.
Assuming you’re on this for the journey (you’re taking a California coast highway journey in spite of everything), it’s best to plan on spending not less than every week exploring to see what the totally different locations California’s Northern, Central and Southern areas have to supply and get the complete expertise.
Prepare for an exhilarating, cliff hugging, home windows down, music loud California highway journey!
See additionally: Interesting Facts About California
Mostly requested questions on California coast highway journeys
Is it higher to drive up or down the California coast?
Personally, we predict it’s greatest to begin North and head South. This weblog is organized so as of cities you’ll hit driving on Route 1.
What number of miles is California’s coast?
California’s coast spans over 800 miles!
How lengthy does it take to drive California’s coast?
With out stopping, it’ll take you between 10 – 12 hours to drive your complete California coast from begin to end. Nonetheless, this highway journey is about making these superb stops! So, plan accordingly.
Northern California coast highway journey itinerary
Your California journey begins on Pacific Coast Freeway, higher often known as “PCH”.
The ocean views from above are so attractive that you simply’ll have to tug over to take all of it in. You don’t need to drive off the cliff. 😉
Alongside the highway, driving on the California Hwy 1, you’ll additionally encounter the attractive Navarro River Redwoods State Park which has a singular, prehistoric really feel, virtually like a scene from Jurassic Park, with ferns peaking by means of the thick, stalky Redwoods.
See additionally: Best Beaches in Northern California
Humboldt County: “The Redwood Forest”
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
The Redwood Forest is each bit as epic because the photographs you see in magazines and Instagram, solely 10x higher. You must see it in particular person. You’ll see the Redwoods just about till you attain San Francisco. Have your digicam prepared!
Avenue of the Giants
That is the place among the greatest and tallest Redwood timber on the planet are.
From Avenue of the Giants, you’ll drive on California Hwy 1 which ultimately turns into PCH. These are among the most unimaginable views you’ll see in your California coast highway journey.
You’ll additionally need to cease in these cities for the complete expertise:
Meyers Flat
Cooler in principle than in actual life. Max dimension is 7’ x 7’. I watched as a Tesla barely made it by means of. Then again, my SUV didn’t stand an opportunity.
In the event you actually need to drive by means of a tree, you’ll be able to strive the “Chandelier Tree” in Leggett whose opening has match SUVs.
That is an lovable treasure. It felt so life like, at any given second, I used to be anticipating to see an elf come out of the door.
Dyerville
Enter to the left of Dyerville Overlook for secluded views of the water. It’s a pleasant place to park your automobile and accumulate your ideas or have a snack.
Eureka
Take a look at the Victorian model structure on this 19th c. seaport city.
- Carson mansion
- Discover Previous City Eureka & waterfront
- Drive throughout bridge to Woody Island
The place to eat
Ferndale
On this unassuming little city recognized for its backdrop in some massive Hollywood motion pictures, you’ll get to take pleasure in some odd curiosities like a store housed inside a former financial institution and California’s oldest pharmacy.
- Rings Pharmacy (Rexall Medicine)
California’s oldest, repeatedly working drug retailer
- Humboldt’s Hometown Retailer
You may even step contained in the financial institution’s vault which is fairly superior. Then, stroll by means of the room that’s devoted to Meals Community Star, Man Fieri, who was born proper on the town.
Fantastically stored fairytale-like backyard with a life-sized doll home and a hidden backyard walkway manufactured from vegetation.
Fort Bragg
Mendocino
You don’t need to miss this lovely seaside city overlooking Goat Island and Cypress. It offers the vibes of a Mediterranean coastal city.
- Mendocino Headlands State Park
Standing on the bluffs looking to sea is essentially the most calming feeling because the waves are crashing and wind blows throughout you.
The place to eat
Insider Tip: On the drive down, you’ll inevitably be passing well-known websites like Big Sur’s Bixby Bridge. It’s all a part of the California coastal highway journey! Pull over to the aspect to snap some epic pictures. However, no matter you do, don't cease in the midst of the highway. Sure, I've seen this performed. It’s a security hazard to your self but additionally, everybody round you.
Wine Nation
In the event you take pleasure in wine, take a tour by means of wine nation and take a look at totally different Californian wines. You’ll discover numerous enjoyable, interactive experiences at totally different vineyards and wineries alongside the way in which.
We’re going slightly inland right here, going from Route 1 to the 128, however with many wine producers situated only a quick drive off the coast, you’ll be able to hop from vineyard to vineyard and see what totally different wine rising areas have to supply.
Napa County
Calistoga
In the event you haven’t seen the film “Bottle Shock”, you’ll need to earlier than heading to wine nation. That is the place California wine turned heads worldwide and began being taken critically.
Good Learn: Learn the e book the movie was (loosely) primarily based on explaining the massive California win that modified wine endlessly: Judgment of Paris: California Vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine.
Napa
Napa is essentially the most well-known of the wine areas. Put together for a Disneyland chaos form of vibe. Not less than that’s what it felt like at Domaine Carneros. There are additionally different spots value trying out.
Listed below are just a few nice Napa experiences to check out:
Discover the attractive grounds which features a backyard whose contemporary produce is utilized in lots of the dishes served on property. You too can dine right here, take pleasure in a self-wine tasting expertise and discover their museums and study extra about wine and cooking inside.
Just a few extra locations to take a look at in Napa:
- Napa Mill
- Retailers, eating places. Cease into Classic Candy Shoppe for some wine and decadent truffles.
- Napa Welcome Signal
The place to eat
CIA at Copia has some superb eating places.
Brunch: The Grove
Dinner: Le Petit Chef 3D Expertise
A whirlwind of an expertise! Positively to not be missed. It is a actually magical night. It’ll actually transport you to a special world.
St. Helena
Sonoma County
Napa is known for its wine but additionally a bit crowded and overdone in case you ask me. Attempt among the lesser recognized areas right here in Sonoma, the true deal.
Be part of a guided winery tour with picnic lunch within the space!
Healdsburg
- Alexander Valley Winery
Santa Rosa
If driving by means of a winery on a bar bike whereas sampling grapes off the vine and sipping on totally different varietals appears like a enjoyable California afternoon to you, you’ll love St. Francis whose historical past is simply as attention-grabbing as its fortunate escape from the California hearth that attempted to take them down.
San Francisco & Sausalito
Take Freeway 101 North throughout the Golden Gate Bridge until you’ve entered San Francisco, the land that wants no introduction.
We’re all conscious of the issues that made SF famously all the way down to earth and funky. However, if you would like one thing slightly extra particular, be unique and spend a while in Sausalito, SF’s lovable little sister. She’s simply as nice and…you gained’t must battle vacationers for a great picture.
For the adventurers, begin in SF & trip throughout the bridge all the way in which to Sausalito. Take the ferry or bike again. I’ll warn you, it’s a little bit of a distance. I used to be exhausted after going 1 means.
The place to eat
Central California
Now you’ll get again on Route 1 and proceed down the coast getting into the middle of California which is an ideal mix of the Northern and Southern areas its sandwiched between. You’ll get slightly little bit of the whole lot… nature, journey, ocean, metropolis, culinary delights and extra.
Santa Cruz
- Amusement Park
- Pizza & drink sail to see the seals, Chardonnay Charters is a good firm
- Stroll the pier and watch seals
Monterey & Pacific Grove
The place to eat
Not solely does this restaurant have unimaginable views, it has scrumptious seafood! Seize a desk outdoors and take all of it in. You may even watch kayakers, birds and seals from above.
Carmel by the Sea
It is a little storybook coastal village if I ever noticed one! Right here, you’ll benefit from the one among a form really feel that’s uniquely Carmel. Discover quaint retailers and fairytale-like houses then, hit the seaside and go for some lunch at one of many city’s bistros with outdated world attraction.
- Carmel Seashore
- Get your golf on at one among Carmel’s many cutting-edge golf programs
- Do the 17 mi. drive, cease at Pebble Seashore
- See the storybook homes which have totally different names as a substitute of numbers
Cambria
- Stroll the boardwalk of Moonstone Seashore and dip your ft within the ocean
- Important Road retailers, eating places & historical past
- Hearst Fortress
For an additional enjoyable cease additional inland, go to a captivating village named Solvang, higher often known as the Danish capital of America and the city the place the wino film Sideways was filmed.
Southern California
Then, you’ll get onto Freeway 101! That is once you’ll actually begin to really feel these surfer, seaside vibes which might be quintessential to SoCal.
Right here, you’ll discover attractive artist colonies, surf spots and seashores made well-known on TV sequence like The OC, Laguna Seashore, The Hills and each Seashore Boys tune.
See additionally: Best Hiking Trails in Southern California
Santa Barbara
Right here, we enter the Northernmost level of SoCal.
- Take a surfing lesson
- Go to Previous Mission Santa Barbara in-built 1786
- Stroll down one of many longest deep-water piers between LA & SF – Stearns Wharf
The place to eat
- In-N-Out of Course! It’s a Californian staple.
Huntington Seashore
Welcome to “Surf Metropolis, USA”!
- Lease a surrey bike at Zack’s Rental. It’s numerous enjoyable to trip previous the seaside! Simply be careful for the pedestrians.
- Go to the surf retailers for some nice beachwear
- Stroll the Boardwalk
The place to eat
Laguna Seashore
Whereas Laguna Seashore is after all recognized for its seaside, I encourage you to skip it (not the prettiest, I do know, I grew up right here) and as a substitute, try these different spots…
- Stroll to Hesler Park gazebo, look out to the ocean, see an artist portray the scene
See Paegaent of the Masters which is a good present! Stroll round and see totally different artwork galleries. You may even paint a vase and take it residence with you.
- See St. Francis by the Sea- Guiness E-book of World Report’s smallest cathedral on the planet
The place to eat
Sit outdoors for beautiful ocean views. The seafood was contemporary and attractive.
La Jolla
Speak about a enjoyable spot! It is a basic Cali beachtown with a mixture of upscale and lowkey retailers and eating places with the seaside as the middle focus. You’ll know you’re in the correct place once you hear the seals!
- Stroll Avendida de la Playa
- Seashore sundown
- Go kayaking at La Jolly Cove
- Birch Aquarium
The place to eat
Malibu
If you’d like a style of glamour and lovely seashores, head to Malibu.
- Stroll Malibu Pier, a number of retailers & eating places
- Level Dume
- Matador Seashore
- Surf at Zuma Seashore
The place to eat
Don’t depart with out trying out this superb restaurant! Reservations are extremely really helpful. I watched the enormous waves do their very own little present and acquired sprayed with sea mist whereas sipping cocktails earlier than diving into an incredible 8 course seafood & sushi meal.
San Diego
It is a lovely location away from the remainder of town.
- Stroll round (or keep at) Historic Lodge de Coronado
- Have a drink and hearken to dwell music on the seaside
- Sea World
- Balboa Park
- Level Loma
- Previous City San Diego
Some nice spots to hit are Previous City San Diego Historic Park and Whaley Home.
- Woflie’s Carousel Bar
- Breakfast & Bubbles
- Rockin Baja Lobster
See additionally: How to Plan an Epic Baja California Vacation
And there you may have it! The place to cease alongside a California coast highway journey! Hopefully you get some concepts to your upcoming highway journey!
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