Pacific Coast Highway Holidays
USA, North America
The Pacific Coast Highway is often referred to in California as California State Route 1 or Highway 1. It is a state highway which runs along much of the coastline of California, acknowledged widely as one of the most beautiful coastlines of the world. The nature of this coastline has led to the designated nickname of the highway as America's Best Free Attraction, and the highway is very popular with motorcyclists.
Pacific Coast Highway Holidays Planner
This highway stretches from the north in Leggett, with some of the world's largest trees, in Mendocino County, and ends at Capistrano Beach in Orange County in the south. There are plenty of beautiful spots in between.
One of the more notable landmarks along the way is Hearst Castle, which was donated by the Hearst Corporation to the state in 1957. It has 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, and the world's largest private zoo that still contains some exotic animals. It is now a national monument, and it's entrance can be found next to the entrance of San Simeon State Park, where it is perched on a hill at 1 600 feet, one of the Santa Lucia range of mountains. Apparently when Randolph Hearst first arranged with the architect to build his castle, it was originally meant to be a modest bungalow. Today, one of the features is the Neptune Pool, reputedly rebuilt three times and featuring a genuine Roman temple façade at one end. While you're nearby, you may want to go to San Simeon State Park and see the elephant seal colony there.
Also to the north on the route is the Monterrey Aquarium. This modern aquarium avoids keeping any mammals in captivity other than otters. It is also the only aquarium in the world that has managed to cultivate giant kelp, which requires turbidity to grow, and is part of its featured California coastal exhibit.
South of San Simeon and north of Carmel is Big Sur where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly out of the sea and gives people along the highway some spectacular ocean views. The area had been inhabited for thousands of years by Native American tribes like the Ohlone, Esselen, and Salinan, before Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century.
More to the south, you can visit the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a nature reserve in the city of Huntington Beach. It is a wetland area where visitors can enjoy bird watching, and hiking. Nearby Bolsa Chica State beach is also a great place to visit for beach activities, particularly for surf fishing.
Carmel-by-the-sea, or Carmel as it is more commonly known by, is a dog-friendly small town at the southern reaches of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range which has a strong artistic tradition. In the eighties, Clint Eastwood served as mayor for a term. It is also known for the odd bylaw that requires high-heel wearers to carry a permit. The by-law was enacted to prevent injury lawsuits by people who injured themselves on the uneven sidewalks.