California has some of the most breathtaking views in the country and a lot of its natural beauty is carefully maintained by its residents known for their green ways. Take a trip down highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles and you will see how much variety you will witness in the land, sea and local traditions. You can rent a car or take many of the available bus tours – budget, comfort, flexibility and company will be the key deciding factors. Whichever option you choose, the ride will be magnificent, with ocean color the deepest of blue, mountains shimmering black, and big green rolling hills.
Start your trip up north in San Francisco. From the ocean and bridges to hills and trolleys, from China town to Union Square, from fine restaurants to Ghirardelli chocolate, this is a city of many layers. This boisterous, hip and down-to-earth town offers something for everyone, full of different and widely distinct neighborhoods. Since we have a long road ahead of us, I will dwell on just a few of my favorites, which you can see in two or three days.
The Pier.
In fact, there are a few surrounding the city. Pier 39, also known as Fisherman’s Wharf, is a bustle of activity. There are merchants, food, live music and plenty of tourist traps. The Aquarium of the Bay is very entertaining, especially as you walk under the tunnel of fish, including sharks and turtles. Kids will enjoy petting a baby shark and playing with fish. Local vendors selling pearls and more traditional merchandise are neighbors to the lazy looking seals basking in the plentiful sun. If you are hungry, there are all kinds of fresh seafood – both fast-food vendors and more sophisticated restaurants right at Fisherman’s Wharf. As with any city pier, many of the city tours start right here.
I highly recommend the boat cruise, especially the one that includes the infamous Alcatraz prison. Bring your jacket though; it gets very chilly in the ocean. From the boat you can see all the highlights of the city, thanks to its hilly nature, as well as catch a glimpse of the upscale and pristine town of Sausalito right across the Bay.
You can do a lot of walking in San Francisco, but beware of direction. A place may be just 2 or 3 blocks away, but if the direction is all uphill, it can be a very steep climb. One of the steepest areas in the city is the famous Lombard Street – the crookedest street in the world. Walking up is not as amusing as driving (or watching those that attempt it even at the allowed 5 miles/ph) up and down the street. It is a relaxing place to be with flowers all around. The highest hill in the city is Nob Hill. Nob hill used to be the area where the wealthiest people of San Francisco would reside. Nicer view, clean air and a great location – what more can you ask for? The 1906 earthquake and fire completely destroyed the area, which is still beautiful (check out the Fairmont hotel right in the middle of Nob Hill), but is no longer the hip place to be.
If you get tired of walking, hop on a trolley – one of the few left in the country. You can take a historic trolley where the Market Street line starts – also a fun place to watch the trolley tracks turn – or at many other locations around town. Note that the ride is not cheap ($5 or more). There are older more conventional trolleys around, such as the F line – San Franciscans use them for their daily trips – they are also a fun way to travel around town to hop to a different neighborhood.
There is a lot of diversity in San Francisco which brings a special flavor to the city. Two of my favorites are Chinatown and North Beach. China town is noteworthy because it’s one of the largest concentrations of Chinese population and culture outside China. The area is easily recognized by the ornate entrance. Streets are full of local vendors, small shops and restaurants. But it’s also just a living area, so you will see playgrounds and parking meters, just like everywhere else. North Beach used to be home to the Latin Quarter in the early 19th century, then it turned into Little Italy and now it’s just an eclectic colorful and bohemian district. There are many great Italian restaurants, cozy bars and gelato shops. Union Square is a central area surrounded by some of the best shopping (Levy’s home store to name one) and the fast growing theaters. I think I have dwelled on San Francisco enough. This town is a must-see and a perfect start to the beautiful coastal trip.
From San Francisco, let’s head south through San Jose, along the San Andreas fault line, to the town of Salinas – home to John Steinbeck – in the heart of Steinbeck country (Cannery row). The town is small and wineries surround it. The Steinbeck Center and Museum is definitely worth the drive. It’s a little piece of history and you can learn a lot about Steinbeck works and time, as well as Salinas valley, which is so frequently depicted in his books. This land very much inspired all of Steinbeck’s works, ultimately bringing him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.
As you move along the famous 17-mile drive, you will see plenty of natural beauty and you should stop whenever you see anything that is out of the ordinary. The ocean stretches along on your right side and the water color is the deepest of blue and green.
Trust me; there will be many rock formations and even a few waterfalls that will catch your eye. Don’t drive too fast (the steep hilly turns will make it easy) and keep your eyes open!
Do stop for a man-made creation – an old bridge that to this day is an advertising favorite – a fair share of car commercials have been shot here. Note that on this winded road many locals will travel fast, so pull over to a dedicated stop point if you need to slow down.
Monterey is the next stop on our trip. I have to admit, this is my favorite place in California. This part of California has one of the most breathtaking coastlines in the world. There is a picture opportunity at every corner.
Definitely stop at the Pebble Beach Golf Course – many of the masters have played there. The view from the main building offers a perfect panorama of the ocean and land.
Also stop for the Lone Cypress – a nature-made treasure. Not surprisingly, many movies have been filmed in Monterey area – Star Trek, Turner and Hooch, the Big Bounce, National Velvet, too name a few.
Next, make your way down the Big Sur park highway, to see the coastal California redwoods. These towering giants enthrall you with their quiet powerful beauty. You really get the appreciation for nature and the importance of environment when you are there. There are many cabins around, so stop for a day or two to detox and get closer to nature.
Our next stop symbolizes the glamour and glitz of old Hollywood – the estate of the former publisher and self-made magnate, William Randall Hearst. The Hearst mansion is incredibly ornate, including many Greek sculpture pools. This was a place to see and be seen – celebrities such as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Howard Hughes – visited frequently and many had their dedicated houses. It took Hearst 28 years to build the mansion, as he wanted to be the perfect creation, done with the famous San Francisco architect, Julia Morgan. The mansion counted 165 rooms and over 100 acres of gardens, walkways and pools. He was a big collector and his mansion reflects the eclectic style. Some of the family still lives in the house and much of the land is worked on. What a view from that hill! You will need to book the tour in advance – a guided tour is definitely worth it. Be sure to call the reservations at (800) 444-4445 to reserve your tour in advance.
From grandeur to quiet charm – make your way further south through San Luis Obispo, to the small town of Solvang. This is a charming Danish village, full of windmills, wine and family values. The traditional symbol of Denmark, a little Mermaid sculpture, greets visitors in Solvang. During the day you can visit the Hans Christian Andersen museum and look through his books, sketches and other fairy tale memorabilia. Most of the restaurants in town close around 8 pm and it gets very quiet – a perfect opportunity to go to bed early and prepare for the wine tour in the day ahead.
Wine making is a specialty in California and you can pick any of the wineries along the way. If you haven’t stopped at any in the Monterey region, then Solvang, right in the middle of the Santa Ynez Valley, which is part of the Santa Barbara wine country, is the next great pick. In fact, there are over 70 wineries in this valley, best know for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.
Head south to the town of Santa Barbara – a pristine combination of deep blue waters and red-white Spanish architecture. Many in the Los Angeles area visit this town for a quick vacation and many living here work in LA. Two of the highlights in this town include the Pier and the Santa Barbara historic courthouse. The latter has a perfect view of the town from the top floor. This courthouse is 160 years old and the art inside reflects various traditions – from the Italian Renaissance ceiling in the mural room to the murals depicting scenes from California’s history to Tunisian tile – a delicious piece of history. The Pier is a nice place to relax, enjoy some sun and have a drink. The old-fashioned wooden pier has been around for over 150 years and remains a favorite spot for both locals and tourists. Santa Barbara is just an hour away from the Los Angeles area, so if you are flying back, it will have more options. Look for our Los Angeles feature coming up in the next few months.
