Picture it: Driving down the scenic California coast, in the awesome car of your choice, windows (or top) down, blasting your favorite tunes…sounds like the perfect road trip, right? Well, the Pacific Coast Highway, formally known as California State Route 1, is the ultimate road trip route. It’s designated an All-American road for its scenic views, and it packs one heck of a path that takes you past some pretty rad attractions and places. Here’s a guide to the must-see spots while road tripping the PCH!
With natural scenery as fabled as that of the California coast, is it any wonder that one of America's richest newspaper moguls chose to build his legendarily opulent estate here? The Hearst Castle in San Simon is actually a collection of luxurious mansions built by William Randolph Hearst between the 1920's and the 1950's. Here, he entertained the most fabulous movie stars and other members of the social elite at the time. Today you can tour the buildings, which are kept up by the California State Park Service. Tickets might seem pricey at $25 a pop for adults, but once you see the massive, gorgeous pool, you'll realize that it's worth it.
One of the most famous views in all of Big Sur is that of McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. You can't get too close to them, but it's doesn't matter, because they look fabulous from this particular angle.
Located below the ritzier restaurant Nepenthe is the casual and more relaxed Cafe Kevah. It's the perfect place to take your time with a cup of coffee and some brioche French toast or a cheese board. Also, they serve brunch all day!
While much is made of how lovely the wild, rugged coast of Big Sur is, the rocky cliffs made it super hard for sailors to navigate during the olden days. Thankfully, a lighthouse was built on this outcropping, now called Point Sur Historic Park, to guide the way. The rough terrain meant that the lighthouse keeper and his family here lived a pretty isolated life, and it wasn't even automated until the 1970's. Tour the property to take in the views and learn about the human history of this special landscape.
Named after the John Steinbeck novel (also called "Cannery Row") which took place in Monterey, the real-life Cannery Row is a waterfront street that was once home to numerous sardine canneries. In what might be one of the most enchanting opening sentences of any book ever, Steinbeck described it by saying, “Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream." Today, it's more of a tourist attraction, but there are tons of shops for browsing, restaurants and bars, and things to see and do.
If you're getting hungry, head to the Santa Cruz Diner. Any place that serves meatloaf, lasagna, and pho all at once definitely has my attention, plus, it was mentioned on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so it's got the Guy Fieri seal of approval. It also has a great diner-y, beachy atmosphere which makes eating here even more fun!
Housed in a historic lighthouse, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is right at home in this coastal town. Photos, artifacts, and more document the changes in surf culture, "from idyllic summers spent at the beach in the 1930s and 40s, through the hipster beach party 50s, the surf rock 60s, the 'soul surfing' 70s, the neon 80s, and the rebirth of classic long-board riding in the 90s." Rad!
Seriously, who wouldn't want to enjoy from freshly-grown produce, straight from the farm? Swanton Berry Farm is a local co-op that has a U-Pick option in case you're okay with working for your snack, and a little farm stand where they sell jams, jellies, fruit, baked goods, and tons more.
Pomponio State Beach is another lovely beach right off the highway! Rocky bluffs and stretches of sandy beach, plus a secluded lagoon, make this beach pretty typical of the ones you'll find on the California coast... but don't pass it up! It's especially lovely at sunset.
Today, people come to the Moss Beach Distillery for the freshly-made food and views, but back in the 1920's, celebs flocked here for illegal hooch! The private beach located below the restaurant was the perfect place for bootleggers to land their boats loaded with booze so that it could be carried into the restaurant under the cover of night. This restaurant was featured on Unsolved Mysteries for their resident ghost, The Blue Lady, who, according to legend, was a married woman having an affair with the piano player at the eatery. The two were attacked, and she was killed, while they walked on the beach below. Diners and employees alike have reported mysterious happenings, which they think were caused by her spirit.
It may not look like much now, but back in the early 20th century, these crumbling ruins were once the largest indoor swimming pool in the world, called the Sutro Baths. Seven massive pools could hold up to ten thousand swimmers, and there was even a museum, amphitheater, and ice skating rink inside as well. But the huge attraction proved hard to maintain, especially as its popularity waned, and it caught fire shortly after it closed in the 1960's. The remains are pretty fun to explore, though!
The best time to travel the Pacific Coast Highway: It should be noted that June, July and August are particularly foggy months. If you're looking for a time of year with the clearest views and best weather, October is generally the best time to road trip down the PCH. Also, the summer months can get very crowded at many of the attractions along the route, plus since it's high tourist season you'll experience higher rates at hotels and longer waits at restaurants (many of which are also seasonal and closed in winter).
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