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Practical Wanderlust

Off-Beat Travel Blog

Hiking & Outdoor Adventure, United States

42 Places to Go Whale Watching in California: The Ultimate Guide

October 9, 2020

Ah, whales: these majestic, enormous marine mammals have been immortalized in our culture in everything to Moby Dick to Finding Nemo. California is the best whale watching destination in the United States, with about 20,000 gray whales making their annual swim down the coast. In this post, you’ll discover the best destinations for whale watching in California, plus everything you need to know to plan your trip!

by Jeremy 
9 Comments
This guide to the best Pacific Coast Highway road trip stops will help you plan your Highway 1 road trip up the California coast. Includes Pacific Big Sur, Monterey, Morro Bay, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara tidepools, redwoods, vineyards, beaches, waterfalls, where to stop, what to eat, things to do, California travel tips, and more!
United States

The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks, & Restaurants

May 29, 2020

Sheer cliffs. Towering redwoods. Playful otters. Foggy beaches. Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is not only one of the best California road trips: it’s one of the best road trips in the world! And for Jeremy, it’s home: the Pacific Coast Highway runs through the middle of his hometown. Although we’ve driven Highway One dozens of times, on each road trip we stumble upon new hidden spots, points of interest, towns to explore, and restaurants to return to again and again. We’ve included them all in our massive guide to the best Pacific Coast Highway stops!

by Lia Garcia 
8 Comments
This 10-day California coast road trip itinerary covers all of our favorite Californian things: sunny beaches and foggy coastline, swaying palm trees and towering redwoods, playful otters and flomping elephant seals, fresh oysters and vintage wines - there's even a clothing-optional hot spring, if you're up for it. Here's everything you need to know about driving Highway One/the Pacific Coast Highway.
United States

The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary

May 8, 2020

Barking sea lions. Salty air. Waves crashing on critter-filled tidepools. Driving Pacific Coast Highway is the most beautiful road trip in the entire world (we’re biased, but it’s true). This massive 10-day California coast road trip itinerary covers all of our favorite Californian things: sunny beaches and foggy coastline, swaying palm trees and towering redwoods, playful otters and flomping elephant seals, fresh oysters and vintage wines – there’s even a clothing-optional hot spring, if you’re up for it. Here’s everything you need to know about driving Highway One (aka the Pacific Coast Highway)!

by Jeremy 
19 Comments
Big Sur is one of the 10 best weekend trips from the San Francisco Bay Area!
United States

The 10 Best Weekend Trips from San Francisco, California: A Local’s Guide

Last Updated:   January 21, 2021

If you live in the Bay Area, very weekend is a chance to explore one of California’s many iconic destinations. Within a few hours drive from San Francisco at any time of the year there’s beach, forest, mountains, snow, desert… anything your heart desires. Here are our 10 favorite weekend trips from San Franscisco, plus what to do & where to eat in each destination.

by Lia Garcia 
14 Comments
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