Follow The Winding Road
Stretching roughly from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Highway 1 travels 656 down California. This route is a favorite for cruisers as it combines jaw-dropping nature with some of California's most iconic history. For ease, we've arranged our sites from North to South.
1. Muir Woods
Okay, technically Muir Woods is not on Highway 1, but we're not going to miss a chance to recommend it. Just North of SF are some of the oldest and most beautiful redwoods in the country. If you're in the area, you simply must extend your trip to visit this cathedral of nature.
2. Pigeon Point Lighthouse
First lit in 1871, Pigeon Point Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast. Since its automation in 1974, the area has been used as a museum and a state park. You can even book a stay in the lighthouse hostel to enjoy the cliffside hot tub.
3. Cannery Row
Made famous by John Steinbeck's 1945 novel of the same name, this historic waterfront is a monument to a bygone era. After the sardines were fished nearly to extinction, the canneries remained open and empty. Gradually, Cannery Row turned into a commercial street once more, with hotels, shops & tourist attractions.
4. Monterey Bay Aquarium
At the north end of Cannery Row is one of the best aquariums in the country. Watch schools of sardines swim overhead, hang out with the playful sea otters, and explore the planet of the jellies. While you'll have plenty of chances to try and spot some marine life on your drive, this is the easiest way
5. Carmel-By-The-Sea
At just one square mile, Carmel-by-the-Sea may be small, but it sure packs a punch. Thanks to 1930s zoning laws, chain restaurants, billboards, and buildings over two stories were all outlawed to preserve the town's historic charm. Carmel is a taste of Europe about as far away from it as you can get.
6. 17-Mile Drive
You're really getting a deal with 17-Mile Drive. It's 17 scenic stops for just $11 dollars per vehicle. Ghost Tree, Bird Rock, and Cypress Point are among the most popular stops.
7. Bixby Bridge
We're getting into Big Sur, so prepare to make frequent stops! Bixby Bridge is a gorgeous bridge with even better-looking views. No drive down Highway 1 is complete without a stop.
8. Point Sur
Point Sur State Park is home to another beautiful lighthouse overlooking scenery so rugged it belongs in the Scottish Highlands. This overlook is one of the best chances you'll have for whale watching, particularly grey whales and humpbacks. Time your visit right and you'll get a moonlight tour of the lighthouse.
Letty.V.AllSmiles on Wikimedia
9. Nepenthe
Named after an ancient Greek potion of forgetfulness, Nepenthe is anything but forgetful. Built in 1949, this famous eatery used to be the place to spot Hollywood stars enjoying lunch 800 above the ocean. You'll definitely want to remember these views.
Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD on Wikimedia
10. McWay Falls
Just one of the natural wonders in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, McWay tops many Big Sur "must-do"s. This waterfall is unique as during high tide it empties directly into the Pacific. There's only one other waterfall of this type in California.
11. Elephant Seal Vista Point
You can see regular seals and sea lions up and down the California coast, but elephant seals are somewhat rarer. Luckily, you can watch nearly 20,000 of these big & brash seals brawl, soak up the sun, and fine love. Peak seal season is November through March.
12. Hearst Castle
Just five miles south of Elephant Seal Vista Point is a relic of classic Hollywood. We know what you're thinking: a mansion in Southern California? Groundbreaking. However, Hearst Castle is no ordinary Hollywood McMansion. Hearst Castle has Roman baths, a gothic suite, and a lifetime of secrets in its walls.
13. Edna Valley
Love wine? You need to stop in the Edna Valley AVA just outside San Luis Obispo. Moderate temperatures, pacific breezes, and morning fog contribute to California's longest growing season and wines filled with unique flavors. A bottle or two makes a wonderful keepsake, even after drinking.
14. Mission San Luis Obispo De Tolosa
This beautiful church was one of eight founded by St. Junípero Serra. The Mission is worth a visit not only for its rich history, but because it is one of a kind. Not only does it combine a belfry and vestibule in a way no other California missions do, but it has a unique L-shaped layout.
15. Cambria
Cambria is a cozy town of just 5000 with enough charm to power a small city. Cambria truly has it all: cute bed and breakfasts, hippy-hippy art galleries, sea otters and tidepools, and more. And, if that isn't enough, there's an honest-to-goodness cowboy saloon dating back to 1866.
16. Pismo State Beach
Peaceful Pismo Beach is popular with tourists year-round. This beach is great for the usual surfing and sunbathing, but also includes dunes for sand surfing. Additionally, visit in the winter and you'll have a good chance at seeing one of the country's largest monarch butterfly colonies.
Joyce Cory on Flickr as docentjoycefrom u.s.a. on Wikimedia
17. Mission Santa Barbara
The queen of the missions, Mission Santa Barbara's pale pink domes are a perfect match for the roses in the garden. This living landmark offers guided tours throughout the chapel and grounds as well a wonderful choir. Make. Make sure you check out the cemetery to learn a bit about the Chumash who lived on this land first.
18. Santa Monica Pier
Yes, the Santa Monica Pier is a gaudy tourist trap filled with overpriced hot dogs and rigged carnival rides. However, after such a long trip down California's coast, you might need a break from all that natural beauty. It's worth doing at least once.
19. Long Beach
Skip some of the brutal LA traffic by visiting Long Beach for your journey's end. You get all the hustle and bustle of SoCal but without quite as much price-gouging, influencer-baiting, celebrity-sighting madness. Don't miss out on the RMS Queen Mary; it's the closest any of us will get to setting foot on the Titanic.
20. Route 66
What better way to end your trip down one famous highway than to start on another? Granted, you'll have to backtrack a little bit to Santa Monica, but it's hardly a blip on the radar. Now, onward to Chicago!
