Practical Wanderlust

Off-Beat Travel Blog

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

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

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 
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Where to stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to stay): a local's travel guide.
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Where to Stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to): A Local’s Guide

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It can be incredibly confusing to figure out where to stay in San Francisco. There are a TON of different neighborhoods, each with a completely distinct vibe, history, scenery, and even weather. And despite San Francisco’s relatively tiny size, it can take hours to get from one side of the city to another on public transportation thanks to those ridiculous hills and traffic. Basing yourself in the right spot can mean the difference between walking out your front door to explore, and spending an hour and a half in a bus or train or car just to see the sights. Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you! Here a comprehensive guide to where to stay in San Francisco – and where NOT to stay.

by Jeremy 
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Mendocino, California is located a few hours north from San Francisco along the scenic Highway One/Pacific Coast Highway. It's the perfect destination for a weekend getaway!
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8 Marvelous Things to Do in Mendocino, California on a Weekend Getaway

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Mendocino, California is located just a few hours north of San Francisco on California’s stunning Pacific Coast Highway. It’s one of the best weekend trips from San Francisco, and we’ve been up to visit multiple times. Mendocino is known for it’s world-class wine and stunning coastal views, and the area is a perfect spot for a romantic getaway or girl’s trip! The first time we visited Mendocino, we happened to go tidepooling the same day that some kind of Porsche Club had their annual kite outing? No, I’m serious – the beach was like, FILLED with rich old people flying kites. So for a while we had the weird impression that Mendocino was full of people who drive Porsches and fly kites. Which, it turns out, it isn’t … usually. Here are our favorite things to do in Mendocino!

by Lia Garcia 
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12 charming things to do in Cayucos, California, a quiet little beach town on California's Central Coast. Cayucos is of the best stops on any road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway!
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12 Charming Things to Do in Cayucos, California

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Cayucos, California is a tiny coastal town located in California’s Central Coast, right next to Jeremy’s hometown on the Pacific Coast Highway. Cayucos feels sort of like you’ve stepped back in time to the Old West, except on the beach: it’s small-town Americana, often described as the last of the historic California beach towns. There are saloons and American flags and antique shops selling exquisite marine-themed crafts and the air is thick with salt, coastal fog, and the scent of the ocean. If Gilmore Girls had been filmed in California, it could have been filmed here. Here’s 12 charming things to do in Cayucos, California!

by Lia Garcia 
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