For: People who need clean, pollen-free fresh air
Scenery: Ocean
Time spent: A few hours
Visiting season: Spring
Great for: Stunning views not found anywhere else
I decided it would be cool to take the really long way back for once. It’s a drive I’ve always wanted to do but it was just too long to meld into any other trips, and too far for a normal day trip but too close to justify an overnight. After spending some time along the Pacific Coast Highway, I must say it is worth it. It’s a trip that every self-proclaimed driving enthusiast must take at least once in their lifetime, before it’s all locked up by the environmentalists.
The route I took only followed the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Cruz down to near San Luis Obispo, but that’s because I’ve already driven the highway from Santa Cruz north to Point Reyes. It is a nice highway up there as well, but it’s not as foggy and cold south of Santa Cruz. I took a stopover in Monterey’s Cannery Row to look around. I was hoping to find a shop I’d visited in 7th grade because I wanted to buy another coaster from them, but sadly many storefronts are now empty due to the economy.
After walking around for an hour with no success, I decided it was time to move on. I drove down to Carmel by the Sea and then continued on down the coastal highway. It’s easy to see why this is a must-do for all riding and driving enthusiasts…yes, that sign says the next 63 miles.
That sign was placed right before the famous Bixby Bridge. This bridge is pretty famous, its been in several commercials and photo shoots.
There is a little known dirt road (Old Coast Rd) on the north end of it, to the east side of Highway 1, which brings you up to give better views of the bridge.
If you keep making your way south past Big Sur, not only does the scenery get better, but apparently so does the weather and the haze. The waters turn a slight hint of aqua that you see so often in those “tropical paradise” locations…who’d have thunk, right here in California!
However, I would advise you add at least an hour to the length that your map/GPS says it should take you to get down the highway. This is especially true after rainy season, since the road is so prone to wash out. Lucky me, it was an El Nino year, and there were two one-lane sections back to back.
The good news is that Mother Nature was nice enough to put these washouts in a convenient place with food, bathrooms, lodging, and picture taking opportunities. Caltrans also helped by closing the highway for a ridiculous stretch of time for no apparent reason…but then again, if it was apparent then I probably wouldn’t have taken this way home!
Near the end of the PCH where it rejoins 101, you run into San Simeon – home to the late William Randolph Hearst and Hearst Castle. If you’re lucky, you’ll see his zebras roaming around by the road.
