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California coast road trip
The ultimate 2-week Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary |.
Everyone seems to have a different number for how long the California coast really is: The California Coastal Commission says "1, magnificent miles across ten degrees of latitude. If you include small bays and inlets, it gets up to more than 3, miles.
While they may not agree on the number, they can agree it's a fascinating place for visitors. If you want to drive along the California coast , most of your trip will be on the coastal highway.
The definition of Northern California varies depending on who you talk to. For the purpose of this guide, the line is at Carmel. Starting from central Big Sur and going south, you'll find plenty of places to visit on the coast. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies.
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You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings , which can also be found in the footer of the site. By Betsy Malloy. Betsy Malloy. Betsy has been writing about California for nearly more than two decades as TripSavvy's expert on the state.
TripSavvy's editorial guidelines. Fact checked by Jillian Dara. Emerson College. Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. TripSavvy's fact-checking. Driving If you want to drive along the California coast , most of your trip will be on the coastal highway.
Fun Facts More than 20, rocks and small islands offshore contribute to California's coast, with two main tourist attractions: Catalina Island , Channel Islands National Park. The popular attraction of Alcatraz is also an island, but it's inside the San Francisco Bay, not offshore. California is home to 11 major ports. The combined ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach make up the sixth-busiest port in the world. In parts of the Big Sur coast and north of San Francisco, the "coast" that you can reach is barely wider than the road that hugs the coastal mountains.
California's beaches and natural areas vary with its geography. In some places, the beaches are long and sandy, but in others, they can be rocky. Some are bordered with lagoons full of wildlife. A few are made of small pebbles. Along the California coast between Monterey and San Francisco, farmers grow most of the brussels sprouts and artichokes produced in the United States.
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California Coast Road Trip: Map, itineraries, ideas and tips
A fire that scorched the ocean-view Ventura Botanical Gardens in revealed a secret: hidden terraces and long stone walls from the late s. They're now an integral part of the acre Mediterranean-themed gardens, which have since grown back.
Find your zen at the hilltop nature and spirituality sanctuary , housing a temple, a meditation garden, and a lake with duck, swans, fish, and turtles. Hang out at the public beach house featuring the Marion Davies Guest House, a historic swimming pool with marble decking, volleyball courts, and more. Built in the s by William Randolph Hearst for actress Marion Davies, the property was sold to the state of California in It's operated by the City of Santa Monica.
Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, the Venice Canals built in by Abbot Kinney to resemble Venice, Italy are surrounded by lovely homes with private docks for non-motorized boats. Stroll along sidewalks and bridges to photograph the pretty canals. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests.
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Travel Gear. Around the world, there are many bizarre rocks, which may have strange shapes, be in unthinkable positions, or are balanced in a way that defies gravity and nature.
In America,…. Organizing an on the…. Some of you may be wondering what possibly could be left to do in San Francisco when you have to figure out what to do when a day is freed…. Silicon Valley is a place we have all heard about before and now plays a central role in the collective imagination when it comes to computers and technology in general…. Northeast of San Francisco, beyond the Bay Bridge, lies Oakland, a city that, with its , inhabitants, is among the largest and most important cities in the bay.
Thanks to…. It is located in the Santa…. This is a place where seeing art and spending time on the beach should be top of your agenda. We did a self-guided walking art tour of the downtown area, which was a great introduction to the place, and we also loved visiting the gorgeous Treasure Island Beach, which had a landscaped park above it, which was ideal for hanging out with Otis.
We also visited the Pacific Marine Mammal Centre , which does great work rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine mammals. Read more in my guide to the best things to do in Laguna Beach.
We stayed in a phenomenal room in Laguna Beach, which was right on the oceanfront, looking out across the waves — we were so close to the surf, it almost felt like we were on a boat. It was so special, listening to the waves as we went to sleep and waking up to see the surfers take their morning swim. We ordered room service from the onsite restaurant to our balcony one night, which is a highly recommended treat.
The journey from Venice Beach to Laguna Beach takes about an hour, but that depends heavily on the traffic. We left Venice after rush hour, which meant we avoided any delays. The downtown part of Laguna Beach is walkable, but you need a car to explore the rest. We particularly enjoyed wandering the impressive 1,acre Balboa Park, which is home to over 15 museums, art venues, trails and the famous San Diego Zoo.
And we celebrated halloween in the local neighbourhood of Kensington, which was amazing for experiencing a slice of local life — the trick or treating there is amazing! La Jolla is a chi-chi, pretty part of town with a fantastic family-friendly beach at La Jolla Shores. And Torrey Pines is breathtaking, reminiscent of a smaller Bryce Canyon and perfect for a day hiking. Read more in our detailed San Diego itinerary and our guide to things to do in San Diego with kids.
We stayed in three different places in San Diego, all with a distinct character. The Lodge at Torrey Pines is something special. The Five Diamond luxury resort has a classic, old-world elegance and overlooks a world-renowned golf course with views of the Pacific Ocean.
We were lucky to stay in a suite that had no fewer than three fireplaces — one in the lounge, one on the spacious terrace, and another in the bathroom!
It was pure luxury and a wonderful place to kick back and relax, taking advantage of the spa and exploring the nearby state reserve. Hotel Republic is a design-conscious centrally-located hotel in downtown San Diego, just outside the gaslamp quarter. The modern lobby and bar is a stylish place to hang out, and they also have a trendy rooftop bar and restaurant not on the very top of the building, but on a roof at level three.
The bathroom in our room was beautiful with a huge tub in a haven of clean design. It lived up to the hype and also gave us a taste of local San Diego life. San Diego is home to some of the best Mexican food we ate in California at Puesto , which has several locations in the city. They serve elevated tacos and other delicious Mexican fare. Another highlight was Donut Bar , which again had some of the best donuts we had in the states.
And I also recommend trying Holsem Coffee in North Park where they serve inventive flavours, such as a banana bread cold brew so good! Finally, if you stay at Torrey Pines, be sure to try their chocolate croissant desert — it was divine! To get from San Diego to Laguna Beach takes just under 1.
The journey from downtown to La Jolla takes about 20 minutes. Let us know if you have any questions. Get our posts direct to your inbox. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Consider heading inland for a day of culture and pop culture.
Less rigorous on the mind is a walk down the star-studded Hollywood Walk of Fame and a stop at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, where you can find the handprints of your favorite movie stars. End the day in downtown Los Angeles with tacos from B. Taqueria followed by a cocktail with city views at The Upstairs Bar, the rooftop space atop the Ace Hotel. After a morning outdoors, feed your mind with ancient art at The Getty Villa in Malibu. If you want to spend more time in the Los Angeles area, you can easily fill a couple of days enjoying Disneyland Resort.
Wake up early and drive north on the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Thirty-five miles from Malibu, at Oxnard, merge onto U. Head north on U. Make boat reservations in advance. Take U. Get a history fix at the Santa Barbara Mission, which might be the most beautiful of the 21 Spanish missions in California. If your schedule is flexible, you might consider another full day in Santa Barbara, another day of wine-tasting in the nearby Santa Maria Valley, or a day on the Gaviota Coast.
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