You find yourself in the beautiful Val di Susa, or are you just eager to reach this enchanting and authentic place? Do you want to know what to do in 2 weeks in Val Susa during the summer? You’re in the right place! In this...
The Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway, or California State Route 1 is the most well-known and beloved scenic road in California and among the most famous destinations for a road trip in the United States.
The route runs along the beautiful central coast of California, specifically the Big Sur, from San Simeon to Carmel by the Sea.
A significant portion of the Pacific Coast Highway traverses remote lands and lookout points that allow you to enjoy the rare and stunning natural beauty of the coast.
It’s a spectacular journey that covers almost the entire California coast, featuring green-covered cliffs, coves, turquoise waters, and towering rocks. Along the 1000 km of breathtaking views, you’ll pass through Orange County to Mendocino County.
The common itinerary starts from Los Angeles (although many start from San Diego for its beautiful beaches and great weather) and ends in Leggett, a town about 300 km north of San Francisco.
At certain points, the route merges with the U.S. Route 101, especially along the Golden Gate Bridge and for a 90-kilometer stretch between Ventura County and Santa Barbara County.
But the Highway 1 also offers incredible surprises for history enthusiasts. Along the Pacific coast, you’ll find numerous Franciscan missions that settled in California starting from the 18th century, now part of the historic El Camino Real itinerary.
For more information, visit visitcalifornia.com.
San Diego
Let’s start our itinerary from the beautiful city of San Diego, heading north towards San Francisco.
Orange County
Known primarily for Disneyland, Orange County also boasts beautiful beaches and enchanting hidden coves.
We recommend stopping at various coves and inlets along the Laguna Beach area, such as the Treasure Island Park Cliffs.
Surfing enthusiasts can search for the perfect wave at Huntington Beach (also known as Surf City USA and considered by many as the surfing capital of the United States), Newport Beach, and The Wedge on the southern tip of Balboa Peninsula.
Long Beach
In Long Beach, you’ll find the Queen Mary, the historic transatlantic ocean liner now transformed into a hotel that preserves its original features from its glorious maritime days.
At 708 Gladys Avenue, you can see the narrowest house in the United States, measuring 3x15 meters.
Venice (Los Angeles)
The Venice neighborhood is known for its scenic boardwalk along the ocean.
The beach area is a continuous display of street performances.
In Marina del Rey, the most popular area of Los Angeles, the colorful Fisherman’s Village recreates a New England fishing village atmosphere.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica, a city north of Los Angeles, attracts visitors from near and far.
Famous for its expansive beach, featured in countless films and TV shows, it is also known for the Santa Monica Pier, a charming amusement park on the pier, and being the end point of Route 66.
Worth a visit are Palisades Park with ocean views and the 3rd Street Promenade.
Malibu
In Malibu, or simply The Bu for surfers and locals, the Getty Villa houses masterpieces of ancient art, particularly Greek, Roman, and Etruscan, while the Adamson House showcases a unique Mediterranean-style residence.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara deserves a prolonged stop, especially for its various historical landmarks and the many buildings in Spanish colonial style.
The Mission of Santa Monica - nicknamed The Queen of the Missions and surrounded by the Santa Ynez Mountains - is one of the most picturesque sites in the city.
Among the county’s most beautiful public buildings, also in Spanish colonial style, is the Courthouse.
From the Clock Tower, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city.
From Santa Barbara to Big Sur, you will come across some very characteristic coastal villages: small and sparsely populated in winter but highly frequented in summer.
Big Sur
Here the Pacific Coast Highway showcases its most impressive stretch of road.
Inaccessible before the construction of the Pacific Coast Highway, Big Sur started attracting tourists in 1937.
Considered by many as America’s most fascinating road trip, the rugged and wild stretch bounded by the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west is a place of grandeur and eloquent silence, as described by Miller in his novel Tropic of Cancer.
Landscapes that seem to be taken directly from a romantic painting, kissed by the crashing waves of the ocean and surrounded by winding narrow roads that snake along the edge of the towering mountains.
Here you’ll also find Bixby Bridge, a true symbol of this journey.
Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula holds many hidden gems, starting with Carmel By the Sea, a fairytale-like town with the beautiful Mission of Monterey, famous for its large aquarium and numerous preserved historic buildings, and the colorful pier.
Don’t miss Pacific Grove, the Point Pinos Lighthouse, and Point Lobos, a splendid protected area.
Carmel by the Sea
A place rich in history and natural beauty.
Take a visit to the Mission Basilica, one of the most interesting Romanesque-style Catholic churches, and drive along the 17 Mile Drive, a winding 27-kilometer scenic road that hugs the ocean.
San Francisco
San Francisco, also known as Frisco or City by the Bay, is deservedly one of the most visited cities in the United States.
For many, the road trip along America’s most scenic road ends here, but the Highway 1 still has much to offer as it continues onto one of the most famous bridges in the world.
We’re referring to the Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic red bridge that spans the bay, and through the Muir Woods giant sequoia forest.
But not without a small detour to admire one of the most picturesque lighthouses on the West Coast, the Point Bonita Lighthouse.
And how can we forget Alcatraz Prison, Lombard Street, the world’s most crooked and steep street, the Painted Ladies, charming pastel-colored Victorian houses in Alamo Square, and the largest Chinatown in the United States.
North of San Francisco
This stretch is the least known and least touristy along the coast, but even here, the Highway 1 still offers some breathtaking views of the cliffs overlooking the sea.
In the area of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, Marin County offers suggestive views of sea stacks and cliffs. For lighthouse enthusiasts, this coastal stretch is home to some of California’s most scenic and famous lighthouses, including the Point Reyes Lighthouse within the Point Reyes National Seashore.
Sausalito
Once populated by fishermen, the picturesque town of Sausalito now hosts a community living in boathouses.
Here you’ll also find the Marine Mammal Center, which is dedicated to the rescue of injured and endangered marine animals, and the Spaulding Marine Center, preserving the maritime history of the San Francisco Bay.
Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay was the setting for Hitchcock’s film The Birds.
To enjoy one of the best views, I recommend heading to Bodega Head along the Westshore Road.
Mendocino
Mendocino is a town with 19th-century historic buildings constructed using the local redwood sequoia wood.
This village north of San Francisco resembles the coastal villages of New England, and it was actually the setting for the TV series Murder, She Wrote.
The Victorian Blair House Inn, now a lodging establishment, was the residence of Jessica Fletcher, and it features a room called Angela’s suite.
Lighthouse enthusiasts will also find plenty to explore. In this area, you’ll find the Point Arena Lighthouse and the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, both built after the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which can be reached with a short detour from Highway 1.
In Mendocino County, you’ll also find the unique Bowling Bowl Beach, a beach famous for its round rocks resembling a spread of bowling balls.
Redwood National Park
The official last stop of the Pacific Coast Highway is Leggett, where the route joins Highway 101 and leads to the Redwood National Park with the tallest sequoias in the world.
