What better way to kick off a new year than to travel up the California Coast, especially when you're destination is the beautiful city of San Francisco & its neighboring wine country, Napa Valley, both of which I will discuss in my next blog. For now, I'm going to focus on the scenic drive up Pacific Coast Highway which is like driving directly through a masterpiece painting. We started early, at 5am to be exact, so by time the sun rose, we were already through Los Angeles (and the traffic) just in time to see bursts of bright yellow and orange coming over the peaks of the valley. It was glorious. By the time we reached the ocean, a blanket of sunshine had washed over the waves.
First stop, the seaside village of Cambria and the wonder of Hearst Castle. The quaintness of Cambria is worth a stroll and a cup of java at one of their delicious bakeries. You'll see gorgeous victorian houses, eclectic boutique shops, and a community vibe that is welcoming & endearing. Up the road, high in the hills, lies one of the largest historic house museums known as Hearst Castle. You'd really have to plan an entire day here to visit this massive mansion but it's worth a quick stop just to see it mounted on top of the hill like a crown jewel. The history, the art, & the wine (yes, there is a Hearst Ranch winery) are all completely fascinating.
So why are all these people turning out just after San Simeon? In two words... Elephant Seals. Hundreds of these sand flipping mammals lie on the beaches of Piedras Blancas and the sight of them will put pure joy in your heart.
A great place to stop for lunch is Ragged Point. The views from here are nothing short of phenomenal. There is a lovely gourmet restaurant with outdoor seating, or if you prefer, a wine bar, espresso stand, and sandwich shop where you can pick up your food and enjoy a stroll along the cliffs. If you're gutsy enough, you'll take the dirt pathway all the way down to the ocean and play in the waves. Whatever you choose, you won't be disappointed with this stop, but don't blink or you might miss it!
Winding on up the road, (fresh air comes in handy on this part of the trip), fortunately the scenery is so stunning, one tends to forget the nausea of the twists and curves, you suddenly take a turn from the blue of the water to the green of trees as you enter the mountainous village of Big Sur. Here, there are art galleries, gardens, hiking trails, & most importantly probably one of the best cappuccinos I've had since Italy. A beautiful shaded retreat from driving.
Our final destination was the lively & energetic town of Santa Cruz. I absolutely LOVED Santa Cruz. It's like a forest on a beach. We stayed in the charming rustic hills of Scott's Valley at the fabulous Hilton Santa Cruz. The hotel exterior has a bit of a castle feel to it & the staff here made you feel like royalty.
Downtown Santa Cruz had so many interesting shops and eateries, it was hard to choose which one to go to. This is a college town and the upbeat and hip vibe flows throughout it. It felt like a time warp just driving a few miles from our castle surrounded by evergreens to the famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk where games & rides sit right in the sand for you to play on all day long.
Not far from the excitement & activity of the boardwalk lies a photographers wonderland of old railroads and an isolated bay with a stunning lighthouse to boot. I got more amazing photographs in this one location than on my entire trip up the coast. I'll leave you with just a few...
My trip up the coast of the state I grew up in was long overdue. It is by far the best 7 hours I've ever spent in a car. And hey, road trips are part of living in this great country we call America. Next time, I'm breaking out the convertible on Route 66!
Check back for the scoop on the secret hot spot I found in San Francisco and the winery that took me by surprise...
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