There is nothing like a California Coast road trip. That California life is so awesome with all that nature and sunshine. What better way to experience it than by doing a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway? This Golden State itinerary begins at the northern border, but reverse this travel plan and you’ll have just as amazing of a time by starting in San Diego.
Planning Your California Coast Road Trip
These are our best ideas for a CA coastal road trip. Lots of things to do along the coastal drive including California lighthouses, hikes in state parks, beach stops along Highway 1 and even awesome foodie finds along the coast.
So you’ve just crossed the border from OR into CA on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), aka Highway 1 (and sometimes 101). Get ready because your coastal road trip is going to be totally different than what you experienced in Washington and Oregon. This itinerary visits Big Sur and Monterey as you drive from San Francisco to LA. You’ll visit the Redwoods, missions and more along the PCH.
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
The Conch Inn is centrally located in the mid Cape area making access to both the upper and lower Cape easy and convenient. The town of Dennis where the Inn is located has some of the most beautiful beaches on Cape Cod, in fact one is in easy walking distance from the Inn on Nantucket sound.
The Inn features three guest rooms, two on the first level and the third on the second level. All rooms, feature private entrances, air conditioning, private baths, tv, mini frig, armoires, wifi, queen beds, and outdoor seating areas with awnings.
Each morning a three course breakfast is served in the dining area.
Go north, across the Golden Gate Bridge, past the sleepy coastal pastures, and over the winding roads that lead to the magical town of Mendocino. There, tucked between the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean and the silent giant redwood forest, you’ll find a small slice of heaven. Mendocino is a rugged place where time stands still and devices like cell phones and Internet access are rarely used. This is great news for those who want to disconnect from civilization and reconnect with nature. Unlike many remote towns that are perched on the jagged cliffs of Northern California, Mendocino has plenty of options when it comes to dining, sleeping, and adventuring.
On Your Way There
Mendocino has an impressive wine region and 25% of its vineyards are Certified Organic. Mendocino wine country leads the country in “green wine” production, which mean less toxins in your glass of vino. The region is best known for its full-bodied Pinot Noirs and light sparkling wines.
On highway 128, numerous wineries line the valley. There are big names like Roederer and Scharffenberger, but the real gems are tucked away on gravel roads, behind big oak trees. Lula Cellars in one of those special places. Chances are you’ll get to meet the award-winning wine maker when you visit the property. Jeff Hansen, winemaker for Lula Cellars, brings nearly 30 years of grape growing and winemaking experience to the brand.