Where to Stop Along a California Coast Road Trip

No journey to the west coast is full with out an epic street journey journey alongside California’s stunning coast.

Assuming you’re on this for the journey (you take a California coast street journey in any case), 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 complete expertise.

Prepare for an exhilarating, cliff hugging, home windows down, music loud California street journey!

See additionally: Interesting Facts About California

Mostly requested questions on California coast street journeys

Is it higher to drive up or down the California coast?

Personally, we expect 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 the whole 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 novel, prehistoric really feel, nearly like a scene from Jurassic Park, with ferns peaking by 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 digital camera prepared!

Avenue of the Giants

That is the place a few of the largest and tallest Redwood bushes on the earth are.

From Avenue of the Giants, you’ll drive on California Hwy 1 which ultimately turns into PCH. These are a few of the most unbelievable views you’ll see in your California coast street journey.

You’ll additionally need to cease in these cities for the complete expertise:

Meyers Flat

Cooler in concept than in actual life. Max dimension is 7’ x 7’. I watched as a Tesla barely made it by. However, my SUV didn’t stand an opportunity.

Should you actually need to drive by a tree, you may strive the “Chandelier Tree” in Leggett whose opening has match SUVs.

That is an lovely treasure. It felt so practical, 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 gather your ideas or have a snack.

Eureka

Take a look at the Victorian type structure on this 19^th c. seaport city.

• Carson mansion
• Discover Outdated City Eureka & waterfront
• Drive throughout bridge to Woody Island

The place to eat

Ferndale

On this unassuming little city identified for its backdrop in some massive Hollywood motion pictures, you’ll get to get pleasure from some odd curiosities like a store housed inside a former financial institution and California’s oldest pharmacy.

• Rings Pharmacy (Rexall Medicine)

California’s oldest, constantly 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 the room that’s devoted to Meals Community Star, Man Fieri, who was born proper on the town.

Superbly stored fairytale-like backyard with a life-sized doll home and a hidden backyard walkway made from crops.

Fort Bragg

Mendocino

You don’t need to miss this stunning 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 Big Sur’s Bixby Bridge. It’s all a part of the California coastal street journey! Pull over to the aspect to snap some epic photographs. However, no matter you do, don't cease in the course of the street. Sure, I've seen this accomplished. It’s a security hazard to your self but additionally, everybody round you.

Wine Nation

Should you get pleasure from wine, take a tour by wine nation and take a look at 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 just a little 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

Should 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 significantly.

Good Learn: Learn the e book the movie was (loosely) based mostly on explaining the large California win that modified wine ceaselessly: 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. At the least that’s what it felt like at Domaine Carneros. There are additionally different spots price testing.

Listed below are a number of nice Napa experiences to check out:

Discover the attractive grounds which features a backyard whose contemporary produce is utilized in most of the dishes served on property. You may as well dine right here, get pleasure from a self-wine tasting expertise and discover their museums and be taught 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 really magical night. It’ll actually transport you to a unique world.

St. Helena

Sonoma County

Napa is known for its wine but additionally a bit crowded and overdone should you ask me. Strive a few of the lesser identified areas right here in Sonoma, the actual deal.

Be part of a guided winery 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 seems 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 would like one thing just a little extra particular, be unique and spend a while in Sausalito, SF’s lovely little sister. She’s simply as nice and…you received’t must struggle vacationers for 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 approach.

The place to eat

Central California

Now you’ll get again on Route 1 and proceed down the coast coming into the middle of California which is an ideal mix of the Northern and Southern areas its sandwiched between. You’ll get just a little little bit of all the pieces… 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 unbelievable views, it has scrumptious seafood! Seize a desk exterior and take all of it in. You may 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 certainly one of a sort 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 previous world attraction.

• Carmel Seashore
• Get your golf on at certainly one of 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 an alternative of numbers

Cambria

• Stroll the boardwalk of Moonstone Seashore and dip your ft within the ocean
• Foremost Avenue retailers, eating places & historical past
• Hearst Fort

For an additional enjoyable cease additional inland, go to a captivating 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 once you’ll actually begin to really feel these surfer, seaside vibes which can be quintessential to SoCal.

Right here, you’ll discover beautiful artist colonies, surf spots and seashores made well-known on TV sequence like The OC, Laguna Seashore, The Hills and each Seashore Boys music.

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 Outdated Mission Santa Barbara inbuilt 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 plenty of 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 identified for its seaside, I encourage you to skip it (not the prettiest, I do know, I grew up right here) and as an alternative, take a look at 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 may even paint a vase and take it residence with you.

• See St. Francis by the Sea- Guiness Guide of World Report’s smallest cathedral on the earth

The place to eat

Sit exterior for beautiful ocean views. The seafood was contemporary and attractive.

La Jolla

Discuss a enjoyable spot! This can be 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 precise 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

In order for you a style of glamour and beautiful seashores, head to Malibu.

• Stroll Malibu Pier, numerous retailers & eating places
• Level Dume
• Matador Seashore
• Surf at Zuma Seashore

The place to eat

Don’t go away with out testing this superb restaurant! Reservations are extremely advisable. I watched the large waves do their very own little present and bought sprayed with sea mist whereas sipping cocktails earlier than diving into an incredible 8 course seafood & sushi meal.

San Diego

This can be a stunning location away from the remainder of town.

• Stroll round (or keep at) Historic Resort de Coronado
• Have a drink and hearken to dwell music on the seaside
• Sea World
• Balboa Park
• Level Loma
• Outdated City San Diego

Some nice spots to hit are Outdated 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 could have it! The place to cease alongside a California coast street journey! Hopefully you get some concepts on your upcoming street journey!

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