Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you love California's weird, wacky side, stop in
Santa Cruz
. Surfers hit the
bodacious beaches, while kids go nuts on the carnival beach boardwalk. On the other
side of the bay,
Monterey
has the rough-and-ready seafaring atmosphere of a John
Steinbeck novel - don't miss feeding time at the giant aquarium.
Heading south, Hwy 1 plunges into
Big Sur
, where modern-day hippies, beatniks
and bohemians gather. Seek out hot springs and waterfalls, hike through misty red-
wood forests and keep looking skyward to spot endangered California condors soar-
ing above ocean cliffs.
Hwy 1 tumbles downhill past
Hearst Castle
, a monumental hilltop mansion, be-
fore lazing in the seaside village of
Cambria
. Rent a kayak to paddle around
Morro
Bay
, with its landmark volcanic rock. Slow down for the college town of
San Luis
Obispo
, surrounded by fruitful vineyards and farms.
Soak up the sunshine at
Avila Beach
or go fishing off the pier at
Pismo Beach
.
Follow Hwy 1 to detour out to the monumental sand dunes of
Guadalupe
, then head
back inland and cross Hwy 101 for bucolic back roads that wind through
Santa Bar-
bara Wine Country
.
Let yourself fall under the spell of the Mediterranean climate, red-tiled roofs and
golden beaches of
Santa Barbara
. From Ventura, sail out to
Channel Islands Na-
tional Park
to get truly wet and wild. Hwy 1 keeps cruising south through star-stud-
ded
Malibu
, where celebrity sightings are as predictable as the tides, before hitting
Los Angeles
.