| I'm a long-time Californian, so come cruise with me | | | | for the day. Beautiful Bay views and a fun ferry ride to |
| through an ideal California Coastal Road Trip and then | | | | the Westcoast Ellis Island. From the island, you'll see |
| customize your own California Cruisin' Dream Trip. | | | | spectacular views of the San Francisco Skyline. |
| California runs nearly 800 miles; that makes this road | | | | Once you cross over the marvel of the Golden Gate |
| trip the equivalent of going through nine eastern states. | | | | Bridge, must-sees are the Golden Gate Park and |
| You'll be amazed at the different environments you'll | | | | Fisherman's Wharf. Grab a loaf of San Franciscan |
| find in the many cities dotting this expansive coastline. | | | | French Bread and a freshly cleaned/boiled crab, dangle |
| In cities like Eureka, Fort Bragg, and Mendocino, you'll | | | | your feet from the pier & simply savor the flavor of "a |
| find life there is laid-back, even bucolic. Yet here, you'll | | | | day in the life" of a San Franciscan. |
| see some of the prettiest coastlines imaginable along | | | | As you continue south, you're in for a treat as you |
| this curving highway. Get your camera ready to catch | | | | come to Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and Monterey; |
| the rock formations jutting out of the deep ocean blue, | | | | each city has a distinct pace, yet the easy going |
| or capture the fog rolling through tree skeletons | | | | atmosphere remains. Personal favorites in Half Moon |
| stretching out to greet the horizon, and even the | | | | Bay is the Moss Beach Distillery, boasting a |
| occasional cow meandering across the road as you | | | | spectacular ocean view from the dining room and a |
| round the next bend. | | | | firmly entrenched ghost! In Santa Cruz, there's a |
| Of course, just because you're hugging the coastline | | | | wooden roller coaster at the Santa Cruz Beach |
| doesn't mean you'll be relegated to endless beach | | | | Boardwalk. In 1987, it was honored as a national historic |
| views (though that's a darn nice way to cruise!). Include | | | | landmark, and still provides thrills after 84 years! Dance |
| in your Road Trip Planning a hike through the Humboldt | | | | barefoot in the sand with their free beach concerts |
| Redwoods State Park in Eureka, California's largest | | | | every Friday night during the summer. |
| redwood state park with more than 52,000 acres of | | | | The Monterey-Carmel-Big Sur area is my favorite |
| old growth coast redwoods. If it's occurring then, be | | | | recommendation to add to your Road Trip Planner |
| sure to indulge in the Mendocino Music Festival in | | | | because of all everything area offers: Old Fisherman's |
| Mendocino & be swept off into an evening of wine | | | | Pier, Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel |
| and music. Take your shoes off at Glass Beach in | | | | Beach, the world-renown Pebble Beach, Point Lobos, |
| Fort Bragg & marvel at the colors of the glass | | | | and a breathtaking meeting of land and water as you |
| pebbles, all rounded smooth through years of wave | | | | travel to the stunning Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in |
| action. Did you know that Glass Beach holds the | | | | Big Sur. |
| highest concentration of sea glass in the world? | | | | Next time, we'll continue even further south, all the way |
| A relatively unknown attraction to add to your Road | | | | to the Mexico border. I suggest you start filling your |
| Trip Plan is to stop in at the Sea Ranch Chapel, one of | | | | Road Trip with the Northern California things to do |
| my favorite examples of "free-hewn" architecture I've | | | | now because soon we'll be cruisin' through some of |
| ever seen. Traveling south toward the Bay Area, stop | | | | the most popular spots in Southern California. |
| at Tiburon for lunch & take the Ferry to Angel Island | | | | |