If you’re looking for a different kind of vacation in the US, why not try a road trip along the California coast? Giving you the ultimate freedom to explore the iconic landscape and culture, a vacation in a car by air makes for a unique and unforgettable getaway that you can truly make your own.
With the Pacific Coast Highway measuring some 1,055km, you won’t be short of terrain to explore. Those cruising California in a Mustang will be able to cover a huge amount of ground in just one week, seeing famous and little-known places. And you can adapt your trip to your tastes, either by choosing to stay in hotels or by choosing to travel in a motorhome, thus combining your trip and accommodation in one.
There is nothing more memorable than exploring California in a convertible. Los Angeles County, Long Beach is the perfect place to start your adventure. It has been the home of the RMS Queen Mary for the last 40 years and you can even spend the night on this art deco ship, or simply choose to take a deck tour of it.
From here you can head to Hermosa and Redondo beaches, where you can watch surfers catching waves while you spend some time relaxing on the sand. Nearby Malibu is also a fantastic place to people watch this sport, and Zuma Beach is particularly good for this as well.
If you want to see some of California’s skaters, Venice Beach is a good place to stop. Home to skateboarders and skateboarders, there are also countless other sports to watch in play here, such as volleyball.
Driving 75 more miles will bring you to Santa Barbara, an incredibly beautiful area nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynes Mountains. Their vineyards produce some fantastic wines and they starred in Sideways, a film about the wine adventures of two friends the week before a wedding.
Despite this publicity, the area is still relatively crowd-free and has a somewhat sophisticated air. Home to many boutiques and excellent cuisine, it’s a must-visit on any road trip along the California coast.
From here you can head to San Luis Obispo, which has charming towns with impressive shopping districts, as well as areas steeped in history. You can visit Guadalupe, a border town known for its 1950s vibe.
Nearby Pismo Beach is perfect for those wanting to see more surfing in action, while there are plenty of other attractions in the surrounding area as well, including golf.
Your next stop is likely to be Big Sur. Located just an hour from San Luis, it has fantastic scenery and incredible views along the highway. In San Simeon you can visit Hearst Castle, once the home of 19th century newspaper legend William Randolf Hearst. Meanwhile, you can also head to Piedras Blancas, where you can see a colony of elephant seals that occupy the area.
As you leave here, you’ll see some of the most impressive highway views in the world. The views from the road are intertwined with jaw-dropping sights such as humpback whales. You’ll also be able to travel over the historically significant Bixby Creek Bridge, as it brought car travel to Big Sur.
You can also explore Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to see stunning redwoods and one of the few waterfalls in the area that plunges directly into the sea.
You can then drive to the Monterey Peninsula, which is home to Carmel, famous for electing Clint Eastwood as its mayor. Although he still resides in the area, he no longer holds the position. However, you can head over to Mission Ranch, a restaurant he runs, which offers a piano bar every night and an excellent brunch.
After visiting the Monteray Peninsula, you can head to Santa Cruz, another home of surfing. This is a great place to soak up California culture just by people watching.
From here you can drive on highway 84, through the mountains of Santa Cruz. Along the route you will be able to see a panorama of San Francisco, the destination to which the highway takes you.
In the city you can visit iconic places like the Golden Gate Bridge before heading home.