Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, I am struck by the contrast. Santa Monica to Malibu, Morro Bay to San Simeon, Big Sur, Monterey to Santa Cruz, The Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Bragg to Oregon. Each section of the route has it’s own beautiful and unique scenery: Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, Pebble Beach in Monterey, and towering Redwoods North of Fort Bragg. All of these drives are spectacular in their own right. But when combined into one amazing road, the Pacific Coast Highway becomes a must see destination.
Perched precariously on the edge of the California shoreline, the Pacific Coast Highway is both a scenic wonder and an engineering marvel. Driving along the cliffs of Big Sur, it’s hard not to admire the audacity of those who conquered nature, building a highway where it’s almost impossible to believe one exists. Construction of the highway began over 100 years ago, and in some spots required nearly two decades to complete. Conquering the rugged coastline required advances in engineering and building techniques, pushing highway construction to new heights. The end result, quite possibly the most beautiful scenic highway in the world.
Coastline next to the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur.
Aside from its natural beauty, the Pacific Coast Highway makes for a tremendously fun driving experience. Blending the right combination of hairpin turns and straight aways, the drive can be as exhilarating or relaxing as you like. *Legal disclaimer – No traffic laws or speed limits were broken during the research for this article. 🙂
There have been plenty of articles and blog posts written on Pacific Coast Highway vacation ideas and itineraries, so I won’t bore you with information that’s already available elsewhere. I will just end by simply saying, if you ever get the chance to drive PCH don’t hesitate. As I was driving, I was questioning how on Earth I’d never done this trip before. Living in California most of my life, I really should had done this trip years ago. Live and Learn.
You’re right, Zach, this has to be one of the most beautiful, and eclectic, drives in the US. I’ve taken it many times and have always been awestruck. When you get to the northeast be sure to take the coast drive from Boston, through the few miles where New Hampshire touches the Atlantic, and the up the Maine coast. The Nubble Lighthouse is a great photo stop. Head a little farther north to Kennebunkport where the Bush family compound is located. As you approach from the south on the coastal route you will feel, at times, like you’re on the California coast. Beautiful! There’s one main restaurant in the small downtown area of Kennebunkport. Be sure to get the lobster bisque. Can’t beat it.