Photo by Nate Barton
When traveling to or from San Francisco, it is easy to take U.S. Highway 101 as the fastest and easiest route. But if the goal is scenic beauty and interesting detours, a trip along U.S. Highway 1 can be a road trip to remember.
Here is an itinerary for the wandering adventure-seeker or nature lover:
1. Start your journey with a visit to Muir Woods national monument to walk among towering Redwoods. After that, head south to cross the Golden Gate bridge and explore downtown San Francisco. If you need to spend the night, Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel is the prime destination for dorm-style sleeping arrangements and a fun staff while overlooking the water. Explore Chinatown and rent a bike.
2. Big Sur and Los Padres National Forest is the highlight of the trip. On a bike, it is a strenuous and exhilerating ride. Watch for RVs as shoulders are nonexistent. In a car, it is a scenic and leisurely cruise on cliffs overlooking the coast. Julia-Pfeiffer State Park is a remarkable campground fit with redwoods and a high-end resteraunt. Stock up on gas before entering Big Sur, as prices spike within the park.
3. Santa Barbara hosts a friendly downtown and a long beach-boardwalk for biking or roller blading. Sitting about 100 miles from campus, it will probably serve as the final stop on a North-South tour. Stay in town for the Spanish architecture and head to Santa Ynez for a hike through the mountains.
4. Check out Half Moon Bay to walk through tide pools for starfish, anenome and crabs. In the winter, watch as surfers tackle massive waves, which sometimes reach 50 feet.
5. Depending on the time of year, elephant seals often bask on the shores of Año Nuevo Bay. The seals are most active during mating season around February but they are only accessible by guided tour. Throughout the year, however, the seals are found basking on beaches for easy viewing. In the spring, 2,000-pound females bask in the sand while the 5,000-pound males arrive later in the summer.
6. Once you reach Cambria, Hearst Castle is an interesting but pricey destination seen nestled in the mountains to the East of U.S. Highway 1. Home to the late media mogul William Hearst, the castle is a necessity for those interested in architecture and history. Prices start at $25.
7. In winter, be sure to catch the monarch butterfly migration on Pismo Beach. The area’s winery tours are also renowned, for those who are 21 or older.
8. For closure, end the trip in Malibu’s Zuma beach. After a trip along the coast, relax in some of the whitest beaches with the bluest water in Southern California.
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Follow Nate Barton on Twitter: @TheNateBarton
