56 reasons to visit California: Pacific Coast Highway in photos
One road. Eight nights. Three cameras. 990 photos. Approximately. The Pacific Coast Highway has attractions galore, whether you’re road-tripping solo or as a family – but none more tempting than the fabulous spectacular scenery.
Early on, I realised I’d have to ration the number of stops we made at viewpoints, beaches, coves and stupidly scenic stopping places – if we were ever to get to our main stops of Monterey and Pismo Beach after leaving San Francisco.
And whether there was blue sky or sweeping atmospheric mist and cloud, whether the surf was crashing on dramatic cliffs or the sand was powdery white against the waves, whether we had a few hours or a few nights, I loved every minute of it. Here are 56 reasons to visit California – my road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway in photos (don’t worry, not all 990 made the cut).
To check out our full 10-day itinerary along the Pacific Coast Highway, click here
Our starting point was San Francisco, our base for a few nights to soak up the quirky atmosphere, find out if the hills really are that steep (they are) and spot sea lions.
Not forgetting the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, firmly shrouded in cloud during our entire stay – the June gloom is another thing that’s true about the city.
In fact, the fog gets its own name. Meet Karl.
And the other icon of the Bay, the fearsome and formidable Alcatraz… bathed in sunlight and blue skies, with flowers blooming, the fascinating site had an oddly holiday atmosphere.
Then hitting the road. The Pacific Coast Highway, aka Highway 1, defies superlatives. I could have gazed and gazed and gazed.
But the road leads on… A brief stop in Santa Cruz, its famous boardwalk and pier so brightly coloured they look like a child’s drawing (with more style). The sky really was that blue too.
And on… to Monterey. Its fishing heritage is commemorated in artworks – today, the marine life is in the huge aquarium, contained in vast tanks and cleverly designed underwater habitats.
Monterey’s neighbouring Pacific Grove is also the start of 17-mile drive, leading to chi chi Carmel where even the bleached wood of the trees has a certain elegance.
A detour en route to see the redwoods. Far from the biggest even in California – you need to head north for those – they were still giants, towering above, too large to cram into a single photo frame, ancient and immense.
And another stop along Big Sur deserves its own mention: Pfeiffer Beach where the minerals from the hills turn the sand purple, although it was the waves crashing through the rock arches that kept me enthralled.
Lastly, a beach with a difference – Pismo Beach with its long pier, great seafood and retro vibe.
The road leads on, down towards Los Angeles and San Diego – not to mention the chance to head inland to Yosemite and Sequoia National Park. But that will have to be a road trip for another day. Tempted?
Check out my 10-day itinerary for a Pacific coast road trip with kids for more inspiration as well as the top things to do in Northern California with kids
PIN FOR LATER: REASONS TO VISIT CALIFORNIA – PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY PICTURES
All images copyright MummyTravels
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Fantastic pictures Cathy. I’ve yet to go but I’m living the Pacific highway wonderfully through your photos. Purple sand…wow! And those trees…stunning! More and more reasons to visit. Great post #citytripping
Thanks! I couldn’t quite believe the sand on that beach – reason after reason to go, I should have spent a month!
What amazing pictures! we are doing this in February 2018 and this is getting me really excited for it. We are doing San Diego to San Francisco. Monterey was going to be a stop but it is great to see what beaches you recommend. Our daughter will be almost 2 then
Thanks! How exciting – I would have loved to have carried on to San Diego but we just didn’t have time. Your daughter will love the aquarium at Monterey, I’m sure (post coming on that) but there’s beaches galore, wherever you go. A bit chilly to paddle in February I suspect though! (It was pretty chilly in June)
Your photos also defy superlatives – I could gaze on them all day long. Lovely! #citytripping
Thank you! That’s so lovely of you to say.
amazing photos! #city tripping
Thank you!
Fantastic photos of one of the best road trips anywhere!
#citytripping
Thanks! It is an amazing route – has got us contemplating more road trips next year.
Such stunning photos – wow! I have a rather train obsessed dad so we always were a little more in-land on California road trips when I was a teenager (more towards Tehachapi etc). I’d love to do this route though! #citytripping
Thank you! I have a train obsessed dad as well, but our trips tended to focus on steam trains across the UK – this is definitely one that’s worth hopping in the car for.
What a beautiful collection of photographs. The Golden Bridge is really iconic but my favourite picture is the one of the Ocean and the cliffs, what a view ! #citytripping
Thank you! The coastline is just spectacular – so many different types of place to photograph, but the beaches and cliffs were incredible.
I’m so enjoying your America posts that I want to move there, never mind visit! This one is especially lovely. I too would have stopped too often to admire the scenery. #CityTripping
Thank you! I’m not sure I’ve ever tempted anyone to think of moving home before – that’s so lovely of you to say 🙂
Lovely Photos! We used to live in CA and the PCH never got old in terms of new little towns to explore. #CityTripping
Thanks! I can imagine – I could very happily spend another 10 days or so redriving that route and I’m sure I’d rediscover a whole new set of places to explore.
Beautiful pics! It’s been a while since I’ve been to California, I need to go back!
Very nice to enjoy those places through your photos! 🙂
Thanks! There’s plenty to tempt there, that’s for sure.
Wow! The Pacific Coast Highway looks beautiful! I would have had a hard time not stopping every few miles to take photos too! #citytripping
It really is stunning – it’s a good job we had accommodation to reach, otherwise I think we might have made it about 5 miles from San Francisco after I stopped every 200ft 🙂
Beautiful pictures! When I was younger we drove the PCH from LA to Monterey. I would love to do it again now that I’m older and less likely to get car sick 🙂 #citytripping
Definitely better when you’ve grown out of car sickness (which I used to get too) – although I wonder if the scenery is distracting enough here anyway…
Okay.. Give me 3 cameras and 8 nights in California and I’m sure I would have more than 990 photos. But probably not as nice as yours! Especially love the Monterrey photos and that wall mural. The little cable cars on Santa Cruz look kind of scary, though I think my boys would think it’s fun. And oh.. you totally got me at great seafood and that giant oyster signboard. #CityTripping
🙂 In some ways, I’m surprised I didn’t take more than 1,000. We didn’t go up into the cable cars either, was very happy to watch the colours from below, but there’s plenty to keep everyone happy I think.
Oh my! Look at those Sea Lions! I’d prefer going on this trip alone without the kids though because there’s just so much to photograph. Maybe just give me a day without them *nods nods* That would satisfy by craving to photograph everything beautifully without distractions. Super loving that cable car ride! The color pops and it looks like bubble gums! #citytripping
Yes, I’m glad I was with my husband for this one so I could snap away – although she was very happy playing on the sand too while I took a lot of my photos. Santa Cruz was amazing for photos too, those colours were incredible.
Fabulous photos Cathy, I absolutely adore this route and can’t wait to take the girls back to do it. Very tempted to do it next year actually!
Thanks! They’d be a great age for it, I think – although I suspect there’s not that many ‘bad’ ages to drive along here.
Amazing photography! Any time photos feature bright colours against a blue sky, I’m in love. I love the way you organized the photos by place and brought us along for the ride.
Thanks! And absolutely – clear blue skies and bright colours make me very happy.
Beautiful photos. Makes me want to visit someday.
Thank you – I hope you get there.
Well you’ve definitely convinced me – purple sand and beautiful marine life!!
It’s a winning combination 🙂
Have been to Los Angeles a couple of time, and, yes, I have a lot more to see of Cali 🙂
So much to discover
That crab sculpture is SO cool. These photos do make me want to visit!
I thought so, loved that crab – glad to tempt
Can you believe this west coast girl has NEVER driven that section of Highway 101? I’m obviously more familiar with the Oregon section, equally as beautiful I will admit, but now I MUST see this. We were further south this summer on the PCH from LA to Santa Barbara – a distinctly different beauty. Looks like you had a classic American road trip full of nature and kitsch and wonder. Cheers from Copenhagen! Erin #MondayEscapes
You must! I would love to explore further south and see more of Oregon too but this stretch is wonderful.
Love your photography, this road trip is on my list of trips to plan, i’ve bookmarked your post. Thank you! Popping over from #citytripping & the last #mondayescapes 🙁
Thank you! It’s a fantastic road trip
I just love these photos! I did the coastal road years ago – before I had children – and loved the experience. You’re giving me so much inspiration to go back.
Thanks! I wonder how different you’d find it second time around – although it’s a road I suspect you never tire of.
We drove from SFO to Big Sur this time last year (San Fran was foggy then too!) The views are just epic and this has to be one of the most drool worthy stretches of coast in the world. Love your shots.
Thanks! It is the most stunning coastline, isn’t it.
Totally tempted! Great pictures. I could love these places. If you will have time, join TRAVEL INSPIRATION link up on my blog, I’ll be glad.
Anna xoxo
Thanks! Glad to tempt – will check out your linky too.
Makes me miss home every time I see this post! #FarawayFiles
I’ve never been to the west coast of the USA and looking at your beautiful photos really makes me want to make it happen sooner rather than later. Roadtripping is pretty much our family’s favourite type of travel so this really would be a perfect holiday for us….now to win the lottery! #farawayfiles
Reminding me again how lovely and how much I need to see this stretch of Highway 1. Fantastic. And the beauty just continues – I am a firm believer that the west coast is the best coast! (I may be biased.) Thanks for linking with #FarawayFiles
Definitely tempted! There are so many great sights to see, you could spend an awfully long time driving that road if you weren’t careful! I’ve always wanted to go to Big Sur in particular so it’s an easy yes please from me 🙂
Your photos are amazing! I’ve always wanted to see the Golden Gate bridge, and as a road trip, it seems like you’d constantly be stopping to check out the view (not that that’s a bad thing!)
I would like to explore northern and central California sometime. I’ve spent a lot of time in Southern California since my grandparents lived there and also my brother for awhile. But I’ve never been north of the Los Angeles area. Your photos are making me realize I need to change that. #farawayfiles
You can imagine how much I love this post! After living in California for a long time, My heart gets a warm feeling when somebody says or posts something nice or pretty about the state. I am glad you enjoyed your roadtrip and got to see so much. I know how hard it is to pick stops. it took us an entire day to drive from the San Simeon area to Carmel. That is maybe 90 miles but we were encountering spectacular views every two minutes. #FarawayFiles
Visiting again from #FarawayFiles, I wished I’d stopped to examine the Redwoods more closely on my trip down the coastal route. this would be a fantastic trip with my boys. Still loving your photos!
Thanks! There is just so much to do along that stretch of coast – I would have loved to see the huge redwoods further north as well, although these were quite gigantic enough to keep me happy.
California is so bright and sunny – just the ticket on this dark winter afternoon. I think coastal trips are wonderful and your photos make me want to plan a trip now. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
The light is wonderful, isn’t it – it was a lovely reminder when I hunted it out for the linky too.
This post is a walk down memory lane as that was our honeymoon itinerary! The first of a lot of married travel adventures. 🙂 Now we travel with the kids along, too, and I work hard to make the travels educational for them. In doing the research for the guide books I write for them, I find out so many more cool things for myself than I would have before!
We are planning another trip like this one with the kids to possibly include San Diego and Comic Con. We have a super hero fan here.
I love how you only took 990 photos. You showed tremendous restraint. LOL! Actually, does that mean that your daughter takes photos, too? We love giving the kids a camera and have done that since they were 5 and 7. SOO interesting to see what they choose to photograph. Love seeing things from their perspective.
Ah happy reminders! And I could easily have taken a LOT more photos – my daughter has just got a new kids’ camera as her old one stopped working. She was only about 3 with that so here shots were a bit hit and miss although fun to see the world from her point of view. Looking forward to seeing what she takes with this.