Picking up the car in San Fran, headed south to LA, stopping for a few nights at different locations along the way. Night 1 was in San Simeon and Night 2 was Santa Barbara.
We had a nightmare journey for the first half as there was a landslide on PCH1 which closed the road until 2024, so we had to do a major 3 hour detour down the main California interstate highway.
Stops & Highlights (North to South)
1 - Devils Bunker, an old World War 2 bunker just off the highway with some cool views. Good for a quick pit stop.
2 - Shark Fin Cove, a secluded beach with a huge rock in the shape of a shark fin and cave. A steep walk down. At the top of the cliff is a disused railway.
3 - Monterey Bay Aquarium, lots to see and do in Monterey, we stopped at the famous Aquarium. Great location, good exhibits, a little pricey at $60 but it's a good one to tick off the list.
4 - Bixby Bridge Vista Point, looking out over the famous bridge of the same name, Beautiful scenery and views here for a quick stop off.
5 - Big Sur, heading a little inland to the forest, this area is stunning. We stopped at 'Nepenthe' for some food and drink. High up overlooking the coast, this is a great stop to relax and refresh.
6 - Hearst Castle, just outside of San Simeon, definitely worth a visit to this sprawling estate. Lots of history and grand rooms. You can to the downstairs or upstairs tour, or both! Head to the visitors car park early as it's a good 15 minute drive via shuttle bus to the top! The Roman and Neptune Pools are beautiful.
7 - Morro Bay, great stop for lunch where you can see Sea Otters and Seals in the wild, with the backdrop of the huge Morro rock.
8 - Santa Barbara, one of my favourite stops, this nice community nestled between the beach and mountains, Beautiful scenery, marina, restaurants and Inns. We stayed at the Mason Inn which was just near the waterfront and really lovely.Lots of Spanish colonial influence everywhere here in the buildings. Go to the Courthouse, it's free to walk around and go up to the clocktower. We arrived just as the bell tower was going and as two prisoners were being guided across the courthouse from the cells!
9 - Solvang, a traditional Danish town, a cute out of place town in the middle of California! A good stop for some Danish savoury or sweet treats :-)
10 - Malibu, a quick stop here at the pier, looks very similar to those found in the UK! A great spot on the way to LA.
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