No journey to the west coast is full with out an epic street journey journey alongside California’s lovely coast.
Assuming you’re on this for the journey (you’re taking a California coast street journey in spite of everything), you need to plan on spending at the very least per week exploring to see what the totally different locations California’s Northern, Central and Southern areas have to supply and get the total expertise.
Prepare for an exhilarating, cliff hugging, home windows down, music loud California street journey!
See additionally: Fascinating Information About California
Mostly requested questions on California coast street journeys
Is it higher to drive up or down the California coast?
Personally, we predict it’s finest 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 entire California coast from begin to end. Nonetheless, this street journey is about making these superb stops! So, plan accordingly.
Northern California coast street journey itinerary
Your California journey begins on Pacific Coast Freeway, higher referred to as “PCH”.
The ocean views from above are so beautiful that you just’ll have to drag over to take all of it in. You don’t need to drive off the cliff. 😉
Alongside the street, driving on the California Hwy 1, you’ll additionally encounter the attractive Navarro River Redwoods State Park which has a singular, prehistoric really feel, nearly like a scene from Jurassic Park, with ferns peaking by the thick, stalky Redwoods.
See additionally: Greatest Seashores 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. It’s important to see it in individual. You’ll see the Redwoods just about till you attain San Francisco. Have your digital camera prepared!
Avenue of the Giants
That is the place a number of the largest and tallest Redwood timber on the planet are.
From Avenue of the Giants, you’ll drive on California Hwy 1 which finally turns into PCH. These are a number of the most unimaginable views you’ll see in your California coast street journey.
You’ll additionally need to cease in these cities for the total expertise:
Meyers Flat
Cooler in idea than in actual life. Max measurement is 7’ x 7’. I watched as a Tesla barely made it by. Then again, my SUV didn’t stand an opportunity.
When you actually need to drive by a tree, you may attempt the “Chandelier Tree” in Leggett whose opening has match SUVs.
That is an cute 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 automotive and accumulate your ideas or have a snack.
Eureka
Try the Victorian type 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 large 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 Medication)
California’s oldest, constantly working drug retailer
- Humboldt’s Hometown Retailer
You possibly can even step contained in the financial institution’s vault which is fairly superior. Then, stroll by the room that’s devoted to Meals Community Star, Man Fieri, who was born proper on the town.
Superbly saved fairytale-like backyard with a life-sized doll home and a hidden backyard walkway fabricated from vegetation.
Fort Bragg
Mendocino
You don’t need to miss this lovely seaside city overlooking Goat Island and Cypress. It provides 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 Huge Sur’s Bixby Bridge. It’s all a part of the California coastal street journey! Pull over to the facet to snap some epic photographs. However, no matter you do, don't cease in the course of the street. Sure, I've seen this finished. It’s a security hazard to your self but additionally, everybody round you.
Wine Nation
When you take pleasure in wine, take a tour by wine nation and check out totally different Californian wines. You’ll discover plenty of enjoyable, interactive experiences at totally different vineyards and wineries alongside the best way.
We’re going a little bit inland right here, going from Route 1 to the 128, however with many wine producers situated only a brief drive off the coast, you may hop from vineyard to vineyard and see what totally different wine rising areas have to supply.
Napa County
Calistoga
When 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 guide the movie was (loosely) based mostly on explaining the large California win that modified wine perpetually: 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 sort of vibe. No less than that’s what it felt like at Domaine Carneros. There are additionally different spots value testing.
Listed below are a number of nice Napa experiences to check out:
Discover the attractive grounds which features a backyard whose recent produce is utilized in most 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.
A number of extra locations to take a look at in Napa:
- Napa Mill
- Outlets, 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! Undoubtedly to not be missed. This can be a actually magical night. It’ll actually transport you to a unique world.
St. Helena
Sonoma County
Napa is legendary for its wine but additionally a bit crowded and overdone in the event you ask me. Strive a number of the lesser recognized areas right here in Sonoma, the actual deal.
Be a part of a guided vineyard tour with picnic lunch within the space!
Healdsburg
- Alexander Valley Winery
Santa Rosa
If driving by 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 right down to earth and funky. However, if you’d like one thing a little bit extra particular, be unique and spend a while in Sausalito, SF’s cute little sister. She’s simply as nice and…you received’t need to battle vacationers for a superb picture.
For the adventurers, begin in SF & trip throughout the bridge all the best way 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 method.
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 a little bit little bit of all the things… nature, journey, ocean, metropolis, culinary delights and extra.
Santa Cruz
- Amusement Park
- Pizza & drink sail to see the seals, Chardonnay Charters is a superb 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 exterior and take all of it in. You possibly can even watch kayakers, birds and seals from above.
Carmel by the Sea
This can be a little storybook coastal village if I ever noticed one! Right here, you’ll benefit from the one in all a sort really feel that’s uniquely Carmel. Discover quaint outlets and fairytale-like houses then, hit the seashore and go for some lunch at one of many city’s bistros with outdated world appeal.
- Carmel Seashore
- Get your golf on at one in all 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 outlets, eating places & historical past
- Hearst Fort
For an additional enjoyable cease additional inland, go to an enthralling village named Solvang, higher referred to 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 whenever you’ll actually begin to really feel these surfer, seashore vibes which might be quintessential to SoCal.
Right here, you’ll discover beautiful artist colonies, surf spots and seashores made well-known on TV collection like The OC, Laguna Seashore, The Hills and each Seashore Boys track.
See additionally: Greatest Mountain climbing Trails in Southern California
Santa Barbara
Right here, we enter the Northernmost level of SoCal.
- Take a browsing 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”!
- Hire a surrey bike at Zack’s Rental. It’s plenty of enjoyable to trip previous the seashore! Simply be careful for the pedestrians.
- Go to the surf outlets for some nice beachwear
- Stroll the Boardwalk
The place to eat
Laguna Seashore
Whereas Laguna Seashore is after all recognized for its seashore, 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 superb present! Stroll round and see totally different artwork galleries. You possibly can even paint a vase and take it dwelling with you.
- See St. Francis by the Sea- Guiness Ebook of World File’s smallest cathedral on the planet
The place to eat
Sit exterior for beautiful ocean views. The seafood was recent and attractive.
La Jolla
Speak about a enjoyable spot! This can be a basic Cali beachtown with a mixture of upscale and lowkey outlets and eating places with the seashore as the middle focus. You’ll know you’re in the proper place whenever you hear the seals!
- Stroll Avendida de la Playa
- Seashore sundown
- Go kayaking at La Jolly Cove
- Birch Aquarium
The place to eat
Malibu
In order for you a style of glamour and beautiful seashores, head to Malibu.
- Stroll Malibu Pier, a number of outlets & eating places
- Level Dume
- Matador Seashore
- Surf at Zuma Seashore
The place to eat
Don’t depart with out testing this superb restaurant! Reservations are extremely beneficial. I watched the large waves do their very own little present and received sprayed with sea mist whereas sipping cocktails earlier than diving into a tremendous 8 course seafood & sushi meal.
San Diego
This can be a lovely location away from the remainder of town.
- Stroll round (or keep at) Historic Lodge de Coronado
- Have a drink and take heed to reside music on the seashore
- 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 you can Plan an Epic Baja California Trip
And there you’ve gotten it! The place to cease alongside a California coast street journey! Hopefully you get some concepts in your upcoming street journey!
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