🚗 Travel along the Pacific Highway: a route for a week 🌊
Are you used to seeing the USA as a country of financiers and bankers? Do you think that Americans are only interested in ruling the world and playing political games? For you, the States are soaring skyscrapers and the indestructible block of the Capitol? Go ahead – break stereotypes about the soullessness, severity and dullness of America! Today we'll take a trip along the Pacific Coast Highway, the most scenic road in the United States, if not the entire Western Hemisphere.
A thousand kilometers of road surface will give you amazing natural views, the flavor of different cultures , ancient sights, relaxation on sunny beaches and surfing in the endless Pacific Ocean. You are free artists of the canvas of your impressions. But for those who are not so keen on improvising, I propose to follow in my footsteps and create a route for five to six days. However, be prepared that you will need a tourist visa.
What is the Pacific Highway and why is it worth traveling along it?
Officially, this road is called California State Route 1 (SR1). Unofficially Pacific Coast Highway. But no matter what you call it, the impressions from it will not diminish. Just wait for the disapproving glance of the navigator monitor if you do not enter this route into it.
The Pacific Coast Highway stretches 1,050 kilometers along the picturesque coastline and connects the extreme points of California in the north and south. The most famous and beloved part of it by tourists is between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and we will ride along it.
On what? The choice is between organized bus excursions (you can find one on Trip.com) and a car. In my experience, the best travel option would be to rent a car: for the American open spaces, mustangs and iron ones are best suited. Read about other life hacks for organizing an independent trip to California here. In addition, you can select a tour from all tour operators.
Route
Having arrived at Los Angeles airport and wasting no time, we immediately set off to explore the pearls of California. Traveling to this American state is good if only because different types of recreation are organically intertwined there: beaches, shopping, nature, museums, and gastrotourism.
Los Angeles, sights – day 1
Los Angeles, despite the worldwide fame surrounding it, in reality turned out to be somewhat different than on the TV screen. Vast Latin American neighborhoods, endless highways, scant history. Therefore, we will not stay here for long.
An absolute priority should be a visit to the Griffith Observatory. Mainly because it offers the best views of downtown, Hollywood and the Pacific Ocean. This is where most people take the photo of the Hollywood sign from.
The observatory itself is also an interesting site to visit. Especially for those who dream of the starry sky. Entrance to the observatory is free, you only need to pay extra for visiting the planetarium, $10.
There are two ways to experience such glorious local cinema. The first, free, walk along the Walk of Fame and find your favorite actor. The second costs from $109, Universal studio tour. If you have always been interested in the behind-the-scenes of cinema, then you can’t find a better tour.
Los Angeles, shopping, beaches, vineyards – day 2
Having run around the main city of California on the first day, we will devote the second to relaxation. We are about to take our first steps outside the metropolis.
First, let's go to Beverly Hills, the most famous and most glamorous… no, not an area, but a city! Yes, the place of residence of many Hollywood celebrities is not officially Los Angeles, but is a separate administrative unit. Well-groomed streets, manicured lawns and, of course, chic estates will be the most pleasant thing you will see in Los Angeles County. By the way, this town belongs to one of the most famous zip codes in the world – 90210. All thanks to the youth series of the same name: “Beverly Hills, 90210”.
I'm not sure the average traveler can afford to buy anything on Rodeo Drive. But it’s definitely worth visiting the heart of the Golden Triangle. To motivate yourself for career achievements, and also try to meet a movie star who went shopping with a string bag.
What would California be without the ocean? Near Los Angeles there are the most famous beaches in the world – Malibu, Santa Monica, Laguna and others. The Pacific Ocean is quite cold, but it doesn’t matter – when will you have another chance to plunge into this abyss inaccessible to Europeans!
When you're lying on the beach exhausted, why not reward yourself with a glass of wine? Or even several. Heading to the Pacific Coast Highway, in the Los Angeles suburbs you will find a large number of wineries that offer wine tours and tastings (tastings with five to seven glasses of tartar start at $15). California is famous for its Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay varieties. Find a vineyard based on your route and taste here. By the way, for lovers of wine tourism it will be interesting to get acquainted with the guide to the Hungarian wine region.
Pacific Coast Highway: Santa Barbara and Solvang – Day 3
It's worth living to see the beauty of Route 1. And it’s worth lamenting, raising your hands to the sky and asking why it was the Americans who got such amazing views. Neither words nor photographs can describe what you will see on the most famous road in the United States.
What should you pay special attention to in the scattering of Californian delights? The first point will drive millennials crazy: the city of love and sin – Santa Barbara. The city, immersed in greenery and flowers, is truly a paradise on earth, far from the chaos of big cities, quiet and neat. In the church known to all fans of the series, we found another wedding. This is probably the best thing to do in Santa Barbara. Other great destinations for your honeymoon are collected in this post.
From the typical sultry Latin culture we burst into Nordic culture. It was unexpected to find a Danish city in the heart of California, but it exists – this is Solvang. From Danish the city is translated as “Sunny Field”, and the settlers did not bend their hearts. The town of six thousand is very cozy and clean, and also extraordinary. In the post-war period, buildings here were erected mainly in the Danish style. The main thing is not to forget where you are in the morning.
If you like Candy Islands views, check out our colleague’s experience on a trip to Denmark, Sweden and Estonia.
Pacific Coast Highway: Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey – Day 4
In the middle between Los Angeles and San Francisco is located one of the most famous mansions in the United States – Hearst Castle. Built in the mid-19th century, it retains Victorian-era features. The California castle was once visited by Charlie Chaplin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill. And Lady Gaga filmed a video for the song GUY here
We move further towards San Francisco and continue to enjoy the Californian nature. Dear tourists, on the left you can see the endless expanses of the Pacific Ocean, bordered either by smooth sandy beaches or by formidable breakwater rocks. And on the right, a mountain range opens up to your eyes, literally trying to slide into the ocean. And also gorges that are mesmerizing in their depth. This 150-kilometer narrow strip along the ocean is called Big Sur.
One of the gorges is crossed by a camera favorite – the Bixby Bridge. This is the highest single-arch concrete bridge in the world (98 meters).
The path, winding in every sense, will lead you to Monterey, the old capital of California. Monterey is home to one of the best aquariums in the United States, ancient port facilities, and the first Californian cultural institutions – a theater, a library, and others. Be sure to try the delicacies of seafood to break the stereotype that Americans are unsuitable for cooking.
17 Mile Highway, San Jose – Day 5
Before we plunge into the world capital of innovation and get lost again in the concrete jungle of the metropolis, let's take a double dose of romance. We will also visit a closed Californian club for the elite. This one is located between Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, in a noble branch of the Pacific Highway. Some of the state's most expensive mansions, major golf clubs and exquisite parks are located here.
The rich don't like mere mortals to disturb their privacy. Or, at least, to do it for nothing. Therefore, the 17-mile highway, which runs through the pathos area, has a toll ($11). The beautiful views, however, are worth every dollar. The symbol of the highway is a lone cypress tree. And for the promised romance, come to the Park “Place of Lovers”.
Between the hills of Silicon Valley lies the suburb of San Francisco and at the same time a self-sufficient metropolis – San Jose. It is impossible to imagine visiting it without a visit to the Technical Museum of Innovation, St. Joseph's Cathedral and the Winchester House, where, according to legend, the ghosts of all those killed by the rifle of the same name live.
San Francisco – Day 6
One of the most beautiful cities in California is called “the city by the bay” by locals. But I would call it the city of a thousand hills. I think roller coasters were invented here. What was an attraction for me, a passenger, became a real torment for the driver in the conditions of few traffic lights and constant ups and downs. Therefore, be careful while driving.
If the regular streets don't bring you enough adrenaline, take a ride down Lombard Street, a 180-metre serpentine road with eight hairpin turns. And then test the strength of your knee joints by climbing up on foot. The reward will be excellent views of the bay.
I would like to budget at least three or four days for San Francisco. After all, you can spend hours admiring the Golden Gate Bridge, the city’s bay and the Alcatraz prison hidden there, where the gangster Al Capone once whiled away his days. The cult 90s action movie “The Rock” with Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage was also filmed there. They organize special excursions to Alcatraz with a unique opportunity… to sit in a cell. Fortunately, it’s ten minutes, not years. Be sure to purchase tickets for excursion ships departing from the pier in advance – they sell out quickly even out of season.
The city is also known for its whimsical Trans-American Pyramid skyscraper, Coit Tower and abundance of Victorian architecture.
What else is worth doing in California?
If you decide to move around the state less and pay more attention to entertainment, then here is their basic list. Find to suit your taste:
- Learn to surf, just not on the Internet, but in the classic way – on a board, conquering the waves of the Pacific (not really) ocean. If time and money allow, sign up for group lessons with professional surfing instructors and ride your first wave!
- Has traveling to California blown your budget? We'll make up for it! You know California is the gold rush state, right? Thousands of gold miners flocked here in the 19th century to radically change their lives. The fever went away, but the gold remained. Sign up for gold mining courses and try yourself in an unusual craft. And may luck accompany you!
- Today, however, the surest way to get rich is not by panning countless amounts of sand in search of golden grains. And working for one of the many companies in Silicon Valley. Here it is, a real gold mine: Meta, Netflix, Google, Apple and many other technology giants have settled in the capital of IT talent of the world. Currently, Silicon Valley is already a collective name, since its residents are located in several Californian cities. But the core of the valley is the city of San Jose. You can plan your own visit to some global brands for free, read more here.
- There are so many exciting excursions, new knowledge and the most diverse experience, but it’s time to just relax. You can lie on the beaches of Santa Monica, or you can go to a major sporting event. Americans have four main sports passions: baseball, basketball, hockey and American football. Choose what you like and go to the stadium for an experience. Bright, noisy, cheerful, cheerful – this is how real Californians get sick. You will see this for yourself. I recommend basketball (of course, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers) and hockey (the NHL clubs Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Ruslan Salei’s former club Anaheim Ducks) are more familiar to the Slavic soul. Hockey tickets start at $80 and can be purchased on the official website.
- But the most important thing that you can’t miss when visiting California is going to the national parks. There are nine of them, and one is more famous and beautiful than the other. However, this is a completely different story, which we will tell someday.