SAN FRANCISCO
to LOS ANGELES
Easily the most quintessential American road trip after Route 66 , the Pacific Coast Highway is too beautiful to skip . Begin in San Francisco instead of Los Angeles , so you ’ ll be driving closer to the ocean . Stop in quaint seaside towns like Carmel-bythe-Sea and Pismo Beach that feel more local and laid-back than touristy .
72 DESTINATION BLISS
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the best in the country , boasting more than 35,000 animals including humpback whales . Wildlife can also be experienced in its natural habitat : get up close to 15,000 elephant seals at Piedras Blancas Beach . Outdoorsy travelers must stop at Big Sur for hiking , bird watching or camping over magnificent ocean vistas .
There are plenty of cultural attractions as well as natural ones . Gaze at 17th century art and artifacts and colorful gardens at the still-operating church , Old Mission Santa Barbara . Nestled in the hills of San Simeon village , Hearst Castle , the famed home of late newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst , is a study in opulence . You may get inspiration for your new home together !
Old Mission Church in Santa Barbara