By Gregory Thomas, Alissa Greenberg, Leilani Marie Labong, Jill K. Robinson, Robert Earle Howells and David Ferry

Oct. 12, 2022 | Updated: Oct. 14, 2022 10:59 a.m.

California’s coastal highway is a national treasure. This wondrous, 1,000-mile driving route weaves through long stretches of rugged, natural scenery the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else on Earth, punctuated by historic towns and, of course, the state’s cultural capitals.

This is the ultimate guide to the unrivaled experience that is Highway 1.

We have parsed the route into 6 unique regions, each with its own character and flavor, and spotlighted 153 must-see stops, landmarks and towns along the way. Here you’ll find a mix of the coast’s greatest hits, boutique stopovers and under-the-radar experiences to help you plan your perfect coastal getaway.

Select a region below to see recommended destinations for each segment of coast, from the Oregon border south to San Diego. Then use the interactive map to create a personalized list of your favorite places, viewable in the “My favorites” section.

Jump to itinerary: – Select -Crescent City to MendocinoMendocino County to MarinSan Francisco to MontereyBig SurCambria to Santa BarbaraVentura to San DiegoMy favoritesJump to map

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California Department of Parks and Recreation

Pelican State Beach

This jewel of a beach is just a couple of minutes south of the Oregon border and often overlooked due to minimal signage. Pull into the tiny parking lot, then tromp through the thick vegetation onto a beautifully desolate beach strewn with driftwood. The bleached, broad logs make great seats for picnicking and appreciating the view — white breakers, gray-green water, conifers and evergreens visible up the coast.

Add to my favoritesEducation Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Howland Hill Road

A highlight of Redwood State and National Parks is the gloriously scenic drive down Howland Hill Road, a 6-mile dirt track that plunges straight into the giant ferns and huge trees of the Late Cretaceous period. The road dips and twists through the trees, sometimes dwindling to a single lane and pulling the forest close around it. Note: Although the road is maintained remarkably well and often passable even without four-wheel drive, trailers aren’t allowed.

Add to my favoritesJoanna Di Tommaso / Special to The Chronicle

Grove of Titans Trail

The newly opened Grove of Titans Trail (1.7 miles) lives up to its name. Completed in early 2022, it takes hikers through stands of stately redwoods and down through a creek valley slung with moss. The Titans themselves are walls of vegetation the size of apartment buildings. For a longer jaunt, walk the impressive Boy Scout Tree Trail (5.3 miles). For a shorter option, stroll through Stout Grove (0.5 miles), where afternoon sunlight filters through the canopy of what many consider the state’s most beautiful redwood grove.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park is shorthand for the full patchwork of state parks and tribally managed public lands in this region. Look for the resident elk herd, often found at the well-named Elk Meadow or along Davison Road. And you’ll almost certainly want to make time for a side trip to famous Fern Canyon, the green and lush gorge featured in “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1 mile). Check for road closures, bring water-resistant shoes, and reserve parking during the summer season.

Add to my favoritesCavan Images / Getty Images

At least geographically, Crescent City is a good starting point for exploring the Jurassic wonders of Howland Hill Road and other highlights of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The south side of town offers a line of affordable and mostly pleasant motels, along with several diner-style restaurants that fit the community’s homey vibe. Otherwise, there’s not much to downtown Crescent City: a post office, a few stores, a brewery and Tsunami Lanes.

If you have extra time outside your redwood forays, be sure to check out charming Battery Point Lighthouse and its neighboring tide pools. For other pretty seaside spots, dodge sea lions on the long Lighthouse Jetty that stretches into the harbor or head to the B Street Pier to watch sea birds and see locals fishing and catching crabs.

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Battery Point Lighthouse

Built in classic Cape Cod style and first lit in 1856, the tiny, picturesque beacon sits on a rocky outcropping under a solitary tree on the outskirts of town. It is maintained by a cadre of volunteers who wait years for their turn staying in and caring for the historic building and giving tours. The lighthouse is open most days, but you’re free to venture across the wet sand to visit the outside whenever low tide allows. The beach is also prime tide pooling territory, but keep an eye on the sea or a tide chart, or risk wading back to your car.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Tidepooling at False Klamath Cove

The best spots at False Klamath Cove are found close to Lagoon Creek Picnic Area, where you can park and follow a short trail to the beach, scrambling over mussel-and-seaweed-covered rocks to hunt for russet sea stars, DayGlo sea anemones and spiny urchins. But this isn’t your only tide pooling option. To work tide pooling into your itinerary elsewhere, try Luffenholtz Beach Park and College Cove at the northern end of Trinidad Beach if you’re headed farther south, or hunt for treasures up north below Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Trees of Mystery

As you drive past Crescent City, you can’t miss the Trees of Mystery. After all, not many stretches of highway feature a giant, waving Paul Bunyan and his equally imposing blue ox. Inside, kitschy delights await: a set of hand-carved murals based on Paul Bunyan fables; a zigzagging path through the eponymous trees; a gondola ride through redwood treetops, and a skywalk that offers a unique chance to see these awe-inspiring trees from up in the canopy.

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Radar Station B-71

For a short but eventful side trip, take a left on route D7 south of Klamath, right before you cross the river on Highway 101. A one-way 9-mile loop along Coastal Drive and Klamath Beach Road offers picnic-worthy views along the coast and the mouth of the river; a couple of interesting historical plaques about the flood that ruined the up-and-coming town of Klamath in 1964; and a stop at Radar Station B-71, a World War-II era intelligence outpost disguised as a farmhouse. A few minutes after that, the road will deposit you on a cliff overlooking the river, a scenic spot for a snack before you start your drive again.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway

This alternate route through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park offers a variety of lovely walks, including Moormon-Pond Trail (0.8 miles), a meander up a moss-covered redwood canyon, and Revelation Loop Trail, a similar-length route through one of the most genetically diverse old-growth redwood forests around. Most redwood forests are populated with clones, but many of Prairie Creek’s redwoods grew from seed. Try to notice the differences here — curly bark, lighter, darker — as well as the prairies that mark this place as one of the forest gardens maintained for centuries by Yurok and other Indigenous communities.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

EdeBee’s Snack Shack

Travelers passing through take note: Food options are minimal along the chunk of 101 that runs between Orick and Crescent City, so you’ll want to plan your meals carefully. EdeBee’s Snack Shack makes for a quick, fun and tasty stop. The elk burger, pulled pork sandwich and milk shakes are perennial favorites. Farther north, the Log Cabin Diner serves down-home fare in Klamath during the high season but closes in winter. And a little way up the road, the drive-in snack bar A Good Place to Eat (also known as Woodland Villa) is, well, you know.

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Traditional canoeing in Yurok County

The Yurok tribe believe canoes are beings worthy of honor and treat them as such: A traditional Yurok canoe has a nose, heart, kidneys and a name. The Klamath River was once a bustling byway filled with these watercraft, but when it bucked its banks in 1964, a huge portion of the tribe’s canoes were washed out to sea. You’ll learn this story and more on a two- or four-hour canoe tour leaving from Klamath, a peaceful journey full of misty redwoods, waterbirds and Yurok storytelling. If you’d like to learn more, you can also visit the newly opened Stone Lagoon visitor center and Yurok Country Visitor Center.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Sue-Meg State Park

Formerly known as Patrick’s Point, this state park was renamed in 2021 at the request of the Yurok tribe. Though it covers little more than 1 square mile, the park packs a lot in a small area, offering summertime camping, beautiful cliff walks overlooking turquoise bays, beaches filled with agates and anemones, and rich Yurok history. Once you’re finished with the longer Rim Trail (2 miles) or have gone to Wedding Rock (0.2 miles), stop at Sumêg Village, a re-creation of a traditional Yurok compound.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Popular for its stunning beaches, plentiful and beautiful walks and upscale restaurants and fish market, Trinidad is also a prime jumping-off point for Sue-Meg State Park and the Avenue of the Giants. The town has a classed-up fishing village feel that’s half California surfer, half Oregon bohemian. If you’re eager to hike, follow the path that curls around Trinidad Head, or one of a number of scenic options in Sue-Meg. If local history is more your speed, the small-but-mighty Trinidad Museum offers exhibits on Indigenous basketry, the Gold Rush and the rise of the region’s fishing and logging industries.

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Trinidad Bay

With its tony-restaurants-meets-fishing-village feel, Trinidad town has plenty to offer. But the top draw here is Trinidad Bay, which offers an exquisite set of cliff-top lookout points and sandy beaches backed by dramatic sea stacks, extending south from Trinidad Head through the sandy expanse of Moonstone Beach. The views along Scenic Drive south of town are uniformly stunning, with each nook boasting its own vibe. Stop to watch folks slacklining from incredible heights at Baker Beach, catch the sunset from Houda Point or let your dog run free along Moonstone Beach.

Add to my favoritesMatt Gush / Special to The Chronicle

Life in Arcata revolves around the charming Plaza at the center of town and the Cal Poly Humboldt campus to the north. This coastal town is a mix of old school (Jacoby’s Storehouse, a 19th century department-store now filled with boutiques and the Gold Rush history of Phillips House Museum) and college-town vibes (record stores, a remarkable variety of pizza purveyors, and the region’s only 24-hour diner). Along with the standard restaurants and bars, you can also find quirkier fare, such as Hatchet House Arcata, where you can try your hand at ax throwing, and Cafe Mokka, a vintage coffeehouse with newspapers from around the world and Finnish-style saunas that you can rent by the hour.

Add to my favoritesAmy Kumler / Eureka Lodging Alliance

Eureka has quieted down since it heyday as the capital of the West Coast lumber industry. Still, the city’s Old Town has blossomed in recent years. With a new coat of paint (and over 100 murals), plus bars and restaurants lined up along the water, it’s a lively stopping point. Keep your eyes peeled for the characteristic Victorian architecture scattered around town, particularly the why-is-that-so-familiar-level famous Carson Mansion (now a private club). Then immerse yourself in the majesty and power of the trees you’ve come to Northern California to enjoy, at Sequoia Park Zoo’s Redwood Skywalk, which brings visitors up into the canopy to see the forest from a fresh perspective.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

It’s only a slight exaggeration to say that Ferndale is the storybook Victorian town of your dreams. Just a few minutes off Highway 101, the absurdly picturesque Main Street is lined with brightly painted confections, making it a great stop for a stroll or dinner on your way north or south. Admire the native flowers and elaborate Victorian kids’ playhouse at Hadley Garden, then walk to the center of town, where you’ll find gift shops, art galleries, antique stores and bakeries. Although Palace Saloon is erroneously labeled the westernmost bar in the U.S. — that honor belongs to the Yellow Rose in Petrolia — it’s still historic and charming. For an off-the-beaten-path experience, consider tagging along with local musician Margaret Kellerman on an Art Hike, combining history, exploration and sketching. And don’t leave town without using what are without a doubt California’s cutest public bathrooms.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

At more than 50,000 acres, Humboldt Redwoods State Park is California’s third largest, featuring myriad groves of old-growth trees along a variety of hiking trails and the legendary Avenue of the Giants. Besides the requisite drive along that famed route, a walk is the best way to experience the park. Marvel at the heft of the fallen Dyerville Giant at the end of Founders Grove trail (0.6 miles), crane your neck at the immensity of the trees at Stephens Grove Trail (0.8 miles), or wonder at the bright green carpet of redwood sorrel at Grieg-French-Bell Grove (1 mile).

Add to my favoritesHUM Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Confusion Hill

Confusion Hill dates from 1949, meaning this is retro roadside kitsch at its best. The central attraction here is the Gravity House (think Santa Cruz Mystery Spot), but Confusion Hill also offers a half-hour small-gauge train ride through an appealing mountain forest. Keep an eye out for the “chipalope,” a diminutive chipmunk with antelope antlers that’s the attraction’s fabled mascot. The area is chock full of kitschy fun, from the tasty grub at the Peg House, with its “Never Don’t Stop” motto, to the chain-saw carvings and cryptid paraphernalia for sale at nearby Legend of Bigfoot.

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Grandfather Tree

Since you’re here to see the redwoods, lean into it and really see them. The enormous, ancient Grandfather Tree is some 1,800 years old, with a 24-foot diameter and its own gift shop. Have a snack at the Living Chimney Tree Grill and walk down into the remnants of the tree that gives the spot its name, a huge hollowed-out trunk. Or pop into the One Log dispensary and ask for the code to see the One Log House, a 1946-era tiny house built from a 2,100-year-old redwood.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Avenue of the Giants

This 32-mile stretch of highway has been around since the days when stagecoaches brought throngs from San Francisco to see the giant trees many thought were a hoax. Since 1960, you’ve had the option to cut around this drive to stay on Highway 101, but why would you? It’s just a few minutes longer from end to end than the highway — and many times more beautiful. Pull off at one of the many trailheads along the route and explore the forest.

Add to my favoritesGregory Thomas / The Chronicle

Nothing in Shelter Cove is a straight line, from the shimmer in the air over Black Sand Beach to the roads that wind precipitously from Route 101 down to this remote fishing village. The town is a scattering of quirky houses and cabins huddled under the cliff against what is often a wind-whipped ocean. To take in the views, stop at one of the waterside picnic areas along Lower Pacific Drive, makiing time as well to visit Cape Mendocino Lighthouse. Pause for a beer at Mario’s Marina and watch the occasional plane land at the airstrip across the street. This small downtown area hosts Arts at Heart, a local artist collective where you can pick up souvenirs, along with the Shelter Cove RV Campground and Deli, which serves killer fish and chips. A quick drive is Black Sand Beach, which marks the southern end of the 25-mile Lost Coast Trail, a beloved hiking route through a wild slice of coast.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Chandelier Drive Thru Tree

It’s not a proper Northern California road trip until you’ve driven through a hollowed-out redwood. Happily, you have multiple opportunities to do so. For a classic, simpler experience, drive through the Chandelier Tree in Leggett, or try the Klamath Tour-Thru Tree, 150 miles north in Klamath. For a more elaborate experience, hit the Shrine Drive Thru Tree in Myers Flat.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Glass Beach

There was a time when Glass Beach was covered with so much ocean-smoothed glass that there was almost no visible sand. That bounty was thanks to what locals called the Dumps, an accumulation of the town’s junk at the water’s edge until 1967, when authorities closed the site. Time, tourism and the power of the waves have all taken their toll, which means that if you’re out to see the pebble-size shards of yesteryear, you’re likely out of luck. The waves still crash dramatically here, and the sand that’s pushed and pulled with the tides is still bursting with multicolored gems — they’re just much smaller. For more sea glass content, head to nearby International Sea Glass Museum, which features many remarkable finds from Glass Beach.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Sandwiched between Mendocino and grittier towns along the Redwood Highway, Fort Bragg is a pleasant mix of “historic beach destination” and “no-nonsense Anytown, USA.” Vistas from Pudding Creek Trestle, Noyo Headlands and Pomo Bluffs Park showcase the rugged cliffs and sandy seashore of this part of the coast. Kayak the Noyo River if you’re feeling adventurous. Or visit world-famous Glass Beach, the town-dump-turned-sea-glass-treasure-trove. Ride through the redwoods on the 130-year-old Skunk Train to see a bit of the area’s history. Afterward, stop by the old Union Lumber Company store, which has been converted into a mini mall. Top off your visit with a meal at one of the restaurants in Fort Bragg’s compact, charming downtown.

Add to my favoritesYalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Skunk Train

The name Skunk Train comes from the distinctive stench of the fuel that powered the historic cars that have plied this railway for more than 130 years. This was the last train to deliver mail in the U.S. until 2003. Now the mix of historic cars and open-air platforms offers another fun opportunity for visitors to get out into the redwoods and learn a little local history. The open-air cars are pleasantly breezy, especially with redwoods rising all around and accompanied by a cocktail or bag of popcorn from the snack car. If your schedule doesn’t match up or you prefer more exercise with your train experience, try the line’s rail bikes. And for train enthusiasts or those with more time to spend, the Skunk Train can still take you all the way to Willits.

Add to my favoritesCavan Images / Getty Images

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse

Taller and more traditionally designed than its cousin in Shelter Cove, the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse sits on a spit of land between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. A spur off Route 1 winds past the white sand and clear blue water of Caspar Beach to the light station, a slice of greenery and rocky cliffs accessible via hiking trails or a walk along the road. The lighthouse also hosts a small museum full of local history and marine science.

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Russian Gulch State Park

Most people stop at Russian Gulch for the photo op — the park offers a spectacular view of the dramatic Fredrick W. Panhorst Bridge and plunging cliffs around — but it’s also a prime spot to picnic, stretch your legs and learn a little about the area’s local history. It’s named for the settlers that plied this coast in search of seal and otter furs starting in the early 1800s. The park offers easy access to hiking, including beautiful water views along Headlands Trail (0.75 miles). That walk includes a stop at the odd, oddly spectacular Devil’s Punchbowl, a 100-foot-wide, 60-foot-deep sinkhole that fills with ocean water at high tide and features an impressive waterfall during the wet season.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

With its pretty Victorian houses and cliffs plunging into the ocean, Mendocino is one of the most picturesque spots in Northern California. The town manages to squeeze several blocks of earthy-crunchy cafes, art galleries and wine bars onto a compact peninsula. Tucked among them is the bright red and green Temple of Kwan Tai.

Architecture and culture aside, the natural beauty surrounding Mendocino is the real highlight here. Start your morning on the cliffs of Mendocino Headlands State Park, take in the exotic flora at Mendocino Botanical Garden, then spend the afternoon by the beach at Big River or the lighthouse at Point Cabrillo.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Mendocino Headlands State Park

This park, a quick jaunt from town, features huge, slablike cliffs dropping dramatically into aquamarine pools below. It’s a lovely stop for a picnic and picture taking if you’re in a hurry, or for exploration by foot, canoe or kayak if you have more time. The Headlands Trail (4 miles) is one way to explore the area in depth.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Little River Blowhole

A short trail through the Little River Cemetery takes you to a odd geologic feature that started as a blowhole but has eroded into a punch bowl. At high tide, ocean waves funnel through a narrow rock tunnel and empty into the punch bowl’s sandy bottom. During nights when there’s a full moon illuminating the Gold Rush-era cemetery and a low tide at sea, drum circles will occasionally form in the depths of the punch bowl — percussionists rappell down with their instruments using a fixed rope at the site.

Add to my favoritesMichael Maloney / The Chronicle

Van Damme State Park pygmy forest

This so-called pygmy forest formed when trees are stunted by low-nutrient soil that sits on ancient former ocean floor. The result is a collection of natural bonsai, with half-inch tree trunks boasting decades of growth rings. The pygmy forests of California’s North Coast (found at Salt Point, Van Damme and Jughandle state parks) formed due to an “ecological staircase” made of giant terraces uplifted from the ocean floor over many millennia. The quarter-mile Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail at Van Damme sits just inside the park’s southern entrance, and its boardwalk wends through stands of miniature pines and cypresses that normally might tower more than a hundred feet. For a longer jaunt, try Jughandle, where you can play giant on the 2.5-mile Ecological Staircase Trail.

Add to my favoritesDavid Zentz / Getty Images

The hub of the late 19th century North Coast logging industry is now a booming creative community. The wares of this tiny coastal town’s disproportionately deep bench of artistic talent can be discovered at the Artist’s Collective Gallery, a shared exhibition space for 30 local artists. Elk’s gastronomic culture is also surprisingly robust. The Elk Store’s stacked-high deli sandwiches — particularly the banh mi with house-smoked pork belly — are standard provisions for beach picnics. The Restaurant at Harbor House Inn, where celebrated chef Matthew Kammerer serves a 12-course fixed-price dinner featuring purple sea urchin and four types of seaweed sourced from the property’s private ocean cove, is currently the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Mendocino County. For a dose of nature, have a seat on a driftwood log at Greenwood State Beach or watch the harbor seals at Navarro Beach.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands

In March 2014 former President Barack Obama declared these 1,700 undeveloped acres as the only onshore section of the California Coastal National Monument. A rich microcosm of wildlife, from humpback whales to peregrine falcons to the endangered Point Arena mountain beaver, thrive in the equally wide variety of habitats. A quintessential visit includes a stop at the historic Point Arena Lighthouse, a wander along the 5.7-mile out-and-back coastal trail and a photo opp teetering atop one of the sandstone spheres at Bowling Ball Beach.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

B. Bryan Preserve

Animal conservationists Frank and Judy Mello established the 110-acre B. Bryan Preserve in 2004, not just to restore populations of threatened species (including the greater kudu antelope and Rothschild’s giraffe), but also to spread the word about Africa’s natural wildlife habitats, declining due to an increase in poaching and intensified political unrest. Each motorized tour — self-guided is an option — culminates in hand-feeding carrots to the giraffes.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Not that this town wasn’t already on the map before March 2014, when President Barack Obama established 1,665 acres of its coastal prairie as the first onshore addition to the California Coastal National Monument, but such a presidential declaration can be a reputational boon and boost for the local economy. Of the varieties of hikeable terrain here, one landmark has been helping travelers get their bearings since 1870: The Point Arena Lighthouse (the tallest of its kind on the West Coast at 115 feet). Another vestige of the logging era is Point Arena Pier, which was rebuilt in the mid-1980s after a 1983 storm dismantled its forebear. Anglers have been known to hook cabezon, buffalo sculpin, sea perch and even octopuses from its railings. It’s also been a favorite place for locals to sit on the dock of the bay with a pie from the iconic Point Arena Pizza and watch the whales float by.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Bowling Ball Beach

Crucial to visiting this Point Arena beach is checking the tide tables. Peak low tide is the best time to see the dozens of globular sandstone concretions, shaped by millennia’s worth of whipping winds and crashing surf. From the north end of the parking lot, take a short hike through a meadow, which will lead to a rickety ladder — some scrambling over boulders will be in order. Then walk along the beach for a half mile to see these geologic wonders.

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Surf Market BBQ

For the last decade, this vintage gourmet grocer has been mounting a festive weekend barbecue to live music in its parking lot, drawing anyone who finds the aroma of smoke and charred meat irresistible. Over grills smoldering with white-hot mesquite charcoal, the market’s skilled pitmasters prepare baby back ribs, rotisserie chicken and tri-tip to their tenderest smoky-sweet potential. Since the barbecue experience is often judged by the available sides, Surf Market’s roasted sweet potatoes and corn on the cob are slathered with butter and then topped with chile crunch.

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Oz Farm cabins

Cabins on Oz Farm, a 17-acre, off-the-grid horticultural oasis powered by wind and solar, include yurts and a two-story octagonal shanty called the Tower that evokes a stove-top espresso maker. The most architecturally striking are the Domes, on the south bank of the Garcia River, which hark back to the counterculture structures handbuilt in the Mendocino backwoods. In the spirit of the surroundings, guests can order a CSA farm box and purchase bottles of estate-brewed hard cider made from over 50 varieties of European and heirloom apples grown on Oz Farm’s orchard.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

The rural Sonoma Coast seems like an odd place for a globally acclaimed utopia of modernism, but nevertheless one exists on a jagged coastal shelf that was once a late-19th century ranch. In 1963, visionary developer Al Boecke, landscape designer Lawrence Halprin and the San Francisco architecture studio MLTW broke ground on Sea Ranch, a residential community driven by nature, a philosophy inspired by area’s Indigenous Pomo nation.

Clad in local redwood, the exteriors of structures here develop the familiar weathered-gray patina of coastal trees and echo the color of the frequently soupy setting. Homes are arranged perpendicular to the coast for democratic access to ocean views, while others are intentionally tucked behind cypress hedgerows for protection from the elements. The hamlet’s 10-mile-long bluff-top trail offers opportunities to descend to black sand beaches and tide pools, plus close-ups of the groundbreaking architecture.

Add to my favoritesKathleen Duncan / The Chronicle

Coastal Bluff Trail at Sea Ranch

This 10-mile trail fronts Sea Ranch’s jagged coastal shelf and leads to a variety of outdoor experiences, not to mention endless close-ups of the modernist enclave’s iconic architecture. Be sure to stick to public-access paths. Head down to Black Point Beach, just a two-minute walk north from the newly renovated Sea Ranch Lodge for a perspective on the coastal terrace from the bottom of the bluff. Swimming is highly discouraged due to dangerous rip tides.

Add to my favoritesGeorge Rose / Getty Images

Meyers Grade Road from Jenner to Timber Cove

This higher-altitude detour is popular for motorists seeking a brief respite from the twists and turns of Highway 1. Along this approximately 11-mile route, you’ll find Fort Ross Winery. A reservations-required, 90-minute wine tasting at the estate — a modern mountain cabin surrounded by forests and meadows — is paired with small chef-prepared bites like risotto with leeks or beef sliders with peri-peri sauce, making the winery a pleasant pit stop for the peckish over-21 set. If the coast happens to be socked in, you’ll be above the fog line, which will feel like you’re floating, no wine required.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

You may not recognize Bodega Bay as the location for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 thriller “The Birds.” But take a closer look at the subdued, treeless landscape and old-school fishing harbor, and you’ll soon be able to imagine large flocks of fowl darkening the sky. The old Potter Schoolhouse (now a private home), was the site of a key bird attack in the film, and can be found a few miles inland in the town of Bodega. Not far from there is the Casino Bar & Grill, hardly a gambling hall as the name implies, but rather a favorite among locals for its homey tableau and sophisticated, farmers’-market-driven menu.

Beach camping is popular in Bodega Bay. Where the Bodega Dunes campground is more secluded — that is, by a pleasantly strollable mile — from the popular surfer haunt Bodega Dunes Beach, Doran Regional Park has a beachside campground for immediate toes-in-the-sand gratification. Doran’s Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail, a 1.2-mile loop around saltwater marsh, turns a morning constitutional into a birding excursion worthy of the town’s cinematic history. On any given day, you may see northern harrier raptors, Bewick’s wren, merlins and maybe even a bald eagle.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Bodega Head

Atop this granite promontory that protects the town of Bodega Bay from stormy ocean weather, the 1.7-mile Bodega Head Nature Trail loops through windswept meadows of California poppies, lupine and aster, plus large patches of ice plant. From November through April, when gray whales make their annual migration from the cold feeding grounds of Alaska to Baja’s warm calving lagoons, this bulbous landmass is a prime viewing spot along their 10,000-mile round-trip journey.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Oysters on Tomales Bay

A slurping excursion to Marshall, on the eastern shore of Tomales Bay is a favorite pastime of Bay Area residents. Slide into a picnic table at Hog Island Oyster Co., where a selection of freshly harvested oysters — from buttery Kumamoto to French Hog, a rare variety with coppery notes — is served raw with a side of Hogwash, the jalapeño-spiked house mignonette.

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Chicken Ranch Beach

In the gently lapping waters of this under-the-radar beach in Inverness, on the west shore of Tomales Bay, swimmers may be surprised to find no fowl in sight, but rather juvenile bat rays skimming the shallows and fist-size jellyfish farther from shore, making this beach a captivating aquarium setting for swimmers, paddleboarders and kayakers. See nearby Blue Waters Kayaking for rentals.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Heidrun Meadery

This wine producer, located on a pastoral 300-acre former dairy farm just outside of Point Reyes Station, puts a spin on Northern California’s winemaking heritage by fermenting honey with water to create sparkling mead. If you’re new to this grape-less style, a tasting flight is a good introduction to the “flower to flute” fizz.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

As the main commercial district for the Point Reyes National Seashore, this no-stoplight town’s culture quotient is higher than that of most rural outposts. The destination officially came to be in the 1870s when a train depot was built on a dairy pasture belonging to a ranching heiress. That frontier feeling endures, perhaps due to the main drag’s original late-1800s Italianate-style edifices. Point Reyes Station’s two gourmet grocers, Palace Market and Toby’s Feed Barn, are stacked with packable artisan provisions. As for a relaxing apres-adventure scene, knock back a cold one in the dark and musty Old Western Saloon, a mainstay since 1860.

Add to my favoritesTalia Herman / Special to The Chronicle

Point Reyes Lighthouse

This far-flung, westernmost point on the Point Reyes National Seashore also happens to be the foggiest — and second-windiest — spot along North America’s Pacific coast. After a 45-minute drive from the town of Point Reyes Station, the journey culminates in a 313-step descent to the historic lighthouse, which transmitted its inaugural beams a whopping 24 miles out to sea in 1870 thanks to its “first-order” Fresnel lens, restored for posterity in 2019.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle

By now, this little shoreline bohemia’s begrudging attitude toward outsiders just adds to its charm. For a place that takes its hidden-gem status perhaps too seriously, enchanting amenities seem tailor made to oblige respectful visitors: There’s a vintage inn (Grand Hotel) and a cool new vacation rental (Ocean Parkway House). There are quaint eateries (Coast Cafe) and drinkeries (Smiley’s Saloon, rumored to be the oldest continually operating watering hole on the West Coast). Surf schools (Bolinas Surf or Tamalpais Surf Club) capitalize on Bolinas Beach’s beginner-friendly waves. And art and history are under one roof at the Bolinas Museum. The shoreline of the Bolinas Lagoon, once lined with hotels, is now a 1,100-acre protected tidal estuary, part of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, where harbor seals, large waders like herons and egrets, and birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, take refuge.

Add to my favoritesDon Feria / Special to The Chronicle

Visitors arriving to Stinson Beach have either cruised in on a roller-coaster section of Highway 1, hiked in via challenging footpaths in the labyrinthine Mount Tamalpais trail system, or completed the famous Dipsea Race, which has led racers 7.5 rugged miles from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach since 1905. You’d think such arduous travel would discourage tourism in this normally sleepy coastal town, but it seems only to make it more alluring.

This former World War II observation post turns into a slice of beachy Americana on weekends and especially on patriotic holidays, when barbecue picnics fill the grassy 51-acre beach park. Colorful umbrellas dot the town’s eponymous attraction, a 3-mile-long crescent of white sand beach; surfers and skimboarders vie for easygoing waves and frothy shore break, respectively; and the overall mood among Stinson Beach visitors is flag-wavingly festive.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Agate Beach

Predominantly pink thanks to a proliferation of coralline algae, the tide pools at this large shale reef on the southern tip of the Point Reyes peninsula can be easily accessed through Agate Beach in Bolinas. Just like all discovery missions to the intertidal zones along the California coast, it’s best to visit Duxbury, a state marine conservation area, during an ebb cycle (consult the NOAA tide table).

Add to my favoritesGabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

Dipsea Trail

This quintessential Marin County trail dates to 1905, when two friends — members of San Francisco’s Olympic Club — made a wager: Who would finish first in a strenuous footrace over 7.5 miles of rugged Mount Tamalpais terrain, starting at the Mill Valley train depot (Cascade Drive, Cascade Way and Molino Avenue in Mill Valley) and ending at the Dipsea Inn, a hotel in the coastal town of Willow Camp (now known as Stinson Beach). But you don’t have to participate in the race to enjoy the trail. If you finish in Stinson Beach, consider a dip in the sea to celebrate.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

In picturesque Sausalito, houses either cling to hillsides or, famously, float on the bay. Taking a self-guided tour of Sausalito’s iconic floating homes is a classic way to pick up the local vibe, whether by land or by sea. From Sea Trek on Richardson Bay, rent a kayak and paddle 15 minutes due north.

While downtown Sausalito is a borderline tourist trap, strolling the promenade is practically obligatory. At Copita Tequileria y Comida, the juicy lamb quesabírria is a gamey, gourmet take on a trendy dish, and more than 100 tequilas and mezcals are available. Head to Fish, at the Marina Plaza Harbor, for piled-high albacore tuna melts, grilled local octopus stew and crab rolls to celebrate peak-winter Dungeness season.

Sausalito is also home to major forces of art and design. The Headlands Center for the Arts, in historic Fort Barry, offers immersive experiences — open houses, workshops, nature walks, exhibitions and community meals — for visitors to engage with artists in residence. And a tour of the original Heath Ceramics factory on Gate 5 Road is full of historic and artistic insight into the award-winning mid-century brand.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Golden Gate Bridge

This globally recognized marvel of engineering, constructed in the 1930s, attracts scores of travelers the world over. Pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users can travel the 1.7-mile span via a walkway on its eastern edge, and linger below the 746-foot towers and cables. With two trailheads on Lincoln Boulevard, the Batteries to Bluffs Trail above Marshall’s Beach and Baker Beach features an elevated view of the Pacific Ocean horizon, as well as the Presidio’s western shoreline.

Add to my favoritesGabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

Rodeo Beach

Arriving at this semi-sheltered cove beach toward the end of a loop around Fort Cronkhite (take the Miwok up to Wolf Ridge, then descend on the Coastal Trail) includes a detour through military history. Hill 88, about two-thirds of the way around the loop, once housed Cold War-era Nike missile bunkers and a radar station. Once you reach the beach, you’ll immediately notice its unique sand geology — different iron levels in undersea chert form the multicolored pebbles. Rodeo Lagoon is a brackish habitat for river otters, American goldfinch and the endangered tidewater goby, a small fish that lives its entire life in this shallow body of water.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Hike the Marin Headlands

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Land’s End

At the northwestern corner of San Francisco, Lands End contains hiking trails, a memorial to the USS San Francisco, the West Fort Miley batteries, and the ruins of Sutro Baths. Mile Rock Beach can be found from the Lands End Coastal Trail, and is a ruggedly beautiful place to enjoy the sunset. The Lands End Lookout Visitor Center was added in 2012, and has indoor exhibits and videos on the natural and cultural history of Lands End, Sutro Baths, and Sutro Heights.

Add to my favoritesStephen Lam / The Chronicle

Between the city and the Great Highway, which runs along Ocean Beach, Sunset and Richmond district residents embrace the neighborhoods’ reputation for fog with a wink, knowing it’s often sunnier than visitors expect.

Start your journey by having brunch at Outerlands, known for its driftwood décor and delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. Or, visit Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant to discover why the margaritas have a global following. While Playland, the storied seaside amusement park, is long gone — those in search of outdoor fun have a wide swath of Golden Gate Park to enjoy, from watching the bison paddock’s shaggy residents to lounging near six of the park’s 10 lakes.

Shoppers in search of material items that have a strong sense of this area’s vibe should drop in at Mollusk Surf Shop or General Store in the Sunset.

Add to my favoritesCarlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Ocean Beach

This 3.5-mile beach forms San Francisco’s western border, and at one time, it was separated from the rest of the city by a vast sand-dune wilderness. Between 1850 and 1926, 20 ships were wrecked on the beach. Ocean Beach and the Great Highway marks the western edge of Golden Gate Park, and those looking for more history can step into the Beach Chalet to view WPA-era murals with scenes from the everyday life of San Francisco and Golden Gate Park.

Add to my favoritesCarlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Sharp Park Beach

Extending along Pacifica’s waterfront near the Pacifica Municipal Pier and south to Mori Point, this black-sand beach gets its distinctive color from the iron oxide magnetite. The L-shaped pier is one of the most popular fishing locations along the coast, and anglers often pull in catches if salmon, striped bass, surfperch, and jacksmelt. Located on a promontory, 110-acre Mori Point was once a haven for settlers, travelers, and bootleggers, and today is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Add to my favoritesSmith Collection / Gado / Getty Images

It takes only a 20-minute drive to feel as if you’ve been transported a world away from San Francisco. Highway 1 cuts straight through Pacifica, between the Southern Coast Ranges and the Pacific Ocean, and those tempted to blaze a trail south have missed out on this city’s coastal vibe.

Public lands surrounding Pacifica are part of one of the world’s largest urban national parks, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and you can look out to the edge of the horizon from Milagra Ridge and Sweeney Ridge or stop for an oceanside moment at Mori Point.

Since the Tom Lantos Tunnels between Pacifica and Montara were opened in 2013, the old roadway through Devil’s Slide has been converted into a 1.3-mile multi-use trail where hikers, runners, and bicyclists can pause to enjoy gazing at the coastal waters without having to worry about keeping an eye on the road.

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Linda Mar Beach

The southernmost of Pacifica’s large beaches, Linda Mar Beach is also known as Pacifica State Beach. The wide cove and crescent beach are beloved by many who come for the surf, hiking trails, and chilling out on the sand. Nearby merchants include the Nor Cal Surf Shop, and a beachfront Taco Bell that some believe is the most beautiful of the fast-food chain’s locations. To the south, the Devil’s Slide Trail is a 1.3-mile paved foot-and-bike trail that was converted from a roadway to part of the California Coastal Trail.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is one of the most spectacular, accessible, and protected tidepool sites along the Northern California coast. To get the most out of a visit, come during a low tide; the lowest low tides tend to occur around the time of the full moon and new moon. Winding across the Moss Beach bluffs is the California Coastal Trail, part of an effort to connect more than 1,200 miles of trails along the state’s coastline. Nearby, the historic Point Montara Lighthouse is an 1875 fog signal station and lighthouse that’s been repurposed into a hostel.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Pillar Point Harbor

A haven for both commercial and sport boaters, Pillar Point Harbor is also an ideal spot for those who love the ocean. It’s home to Mavericks, the big-wave surf break that shows up in winter months, and lures avid surfers to either test their mettle against the huge waves, or the more forgiving swell at Surfers Beach at the harbor’s south jetty. Enjoy the view from the beach or handful of harbor restaurants, or venture out on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard at Half Moon Bay Kayak Company.

Add to my favoritesHelynn Ospina / Special to The Chronicle

With a population of approximately 12,583, the city of Half Moon Bay may be the largest of its coastside neighbors, but it’s still a small town. The region is an agricultural center for farmers, Pillar Point Harbor is an active commercial and sport fishing harbor, and Half Moon Bay is a day-trip haven for Bay Area residents.

Historic Main Street is home to boutique shops, art galleries, cafés and restaurants—many in renovated 19th-century buildings. Sandy beaches line the coast, ideal for beachcombing, long walks, and spying migrating California gray whales.

Big-wave surf spot Mavericks lures skilled surfers eager to ride 60-foot-high waves in winter, but smaller waves also abound, as well as opportunities for stand-up paddling, kayaking, sailing, and fishing. Visit in fall to see fields packed with bright-orange pumpkins just in time for the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival.

Add to my favoritesPeter Prato / Special to The Chronicle

Half Moon Bay State Beach

Half Moon Bay State Beach is comprised of four beaches: Francis Beach, Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt Beach. The combined 4-mile stretch of wide, sandy beach has day-use parking at each of the four beaches — the most popular of which is Francis. Get sustenance at The Barn, a casual restaurant with locally sourced ingredients, or Dad’s Luncheonette, where reinvented roadside classics are served from an historic train caboose.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Heading south from Half Moon Bay gets you into Slow Coast territory — that 50-mile stretch of coastal land that stretches to Santa Cruz dotted with you-pick farms, produce stands, redwood forests and pocket beaches. Tucked 2 miles inland from the coast, the small town of Pescadero retains its old-school vibe as part of the coast’s farming and ranching community.

Slow down and wander the relaxed main drag, which has a variety of shops, markets, restaurants, and cafés where you can find locally made furniture, wine, olallieberry pies, artichoke bread, and grilled fish tacos. At the edge of town, spy farm animals from pigs to dairy goats. Road bicyclists love riding the lesser-used ribbon of Stage Road that runs from downtown Pescadero to San Gregorio, or even following Pescadero Creek Road into the hills to Loma Mar and La Honda.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Standing 115 feet high at the edge of a rocky outcropping, Pigeon Point Light Station is one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States. Located just outside the town of Pescadero, it’s a great excuse to get close to the ocean without sitting in the sand. Drop in, explore the grounds and snap photos. There’s also a hostel here where you can book a rental house, an ideal coastal escape.

Add to my favoritesLaura Morton / Special to The Chronicle

As California’s oldest resort town, Capitola began as a destination for stressed-out people to escape to the coast.

When you look at the brightly painted cottages along Capitola’s sandy beach, you may understand why. Capitola City Beach has sweeping views of Monterey Bay, a long wooden fishing wharf, and sailboats along with smaller craft like kayaks and paddleboards scattered beyond the surf. Surfers delight in the consistently good waves here, and lessons are plentiful.

The city itself is quite small (just 1.6 square miles) and very much of Capitola looks the same as it did in its early days, but the community offers plenty of modern-day appeal. The Village, the city’s shopping and dining district is packed with big style and flavor. Swing by on Labor Day to catch the Capitola Begonia Festival, which has been around since 1952 and features a parade with begonia-laden rafts floating down Soquel Creek.

Add to my favoritesLiPo Ching / Special to The ChroniclePatrick Tehan / Special to The Chronicle

Seacliff State Beach

A mile-long expanse of sand connects this beach (popular for camping, walking, fishing, and picnicking) with New Brighton State Beach, where wooded bluffs provide expansive views of Monterey Bay. Seacliff is known for its fishing pier that extends out to a concrete tanker, the SS Palo Alto, constructed during World War I. While the ship is closed to the public, it attracts an immense variety of birds and marine life. Nearby, Marianne’s Ice Cream is a great stop for a beach treat.

Add to my favoritesLaura Morton / Special to The Chronicle

Capitola Beach

Right in the heart of Capitola Village where multi-hued buildings line the sand, Capitola Beach is an intimate beach beloved by surfers and beachgoers alike. With plentiful restaurants and shops in the village, there are plenty of options to combine beach time with other pursuits. The 855-foot-long Capitola Wharf sticks out into Soquel Cove, and is often an uncrowded place to fish and enjoy the views. Birds flock to the lagoon that’s formed by Soquel Creek just behind the beach.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Santa Cruz’s most identifiable landmark is a classic West Coast tourist attraction. The 115-year-old boardwalk’s wonderfully garish assortment of theme park rides and carnival games includes the wooden Giant Dipper, the fourth- or fifth-oldest roller coaster in the country. The boardwalk is great family fun during the day and features on-the-sand live music shows on summer evenings. It has also graced the silver screen as the setting for all kinds of Hollywood movies.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Natural Bridges State Park

Named for naturally occurring arches that were carved by the ocean, Natural Bridges State Park has only one remaining natural arch that’s one of the most photographed beach icons in the state. The beach is right on the western edge of urban Santa Cruz and is a popular family park with excellent tide pools at low tide. It’s also home to a eucalyptus grove that has been designated a Natural Preserve for migrating monarch butterflies, which overwinter in this location from mid-October to mid-February.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Elkhorn Slough

The remainder of an ancient river valley, the main channel of Elkhorn Slough winds 7 miles inland, feeding 2,500 acres of rich marsh and tidal flats. Countless fish, sea lions, and sea otters, as well as pelicans, herons, and egrets call the slough home. Explore by kayak, or on miles of well-maintained trails. Don’t miss spending time in tiny Moss Landing, a fishing village with art studios, antique shops, and seafood restaurants like Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

In the middle of the half-moon sweep of Monterey Bay, the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town of Moss Landing is the gateway to the Monterey Canyon, one of the deepest submarine canyons on the West Coast of the United States.

It’s where you can get away to the old-school vibe of California fishing towns that move at nature’s pace. Spot wildlife at Moss Landing State Beach, an important stop along the Pacific Flyway for seabirds and shorebirds, and in Elkhorn Slough, a 7-mile-long tidal slough where you can hike on trails or get a close-up view on a guided kayak tour.

Taste the freshest seafood straight off the boat at local restaurants, such as Phil’s Fish Market and The Whole Enchilada. Literary fans can check out the rare book and reference collection at the Shakespeare Society of America’s New Shakespeare Sanctuary. Or, watch people driving by on Highway 1, knowing they’re missing out.

Add to my favoritesNoah Berger / Special to The Chronicle

Fort Ord Dunes State Park

A former military processing and training center, Fort Ord was decommissioned in 1994 and transferred to California State Parks in 2009. Enjoy the miles of trails on foot or bike, or skip straight to the beach to look for migrating whales. Stop at nearby spots in Sand City and Seaside for an after-adventure thirst quencher at Post No Bills, Counterpoint Coffee, or Other Brother Beer Co.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / The Chronicle

Asilomar State Beach

The 1-mile Asilomar Coast Trail, adjacent to the flat, sandy strip of Asilomar State Beach, meanders among rocky coves where harbor seals and sea otters often seek refuge. Near the trail, the Point Pinos Lighthouse is the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the West Coast, and was also a social hub in early Pacific Grove. A short walk inland is the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary, one of the largest overwintering sites in the country where migrating monarch butterflies spend their time from November to February.

Add to my favoritesBrian Feulner / Special to The Chronilce

Monterey Bay Aquarium

With a mission focused on inspiring conservation of the ocean, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has more than 200 exhibits and 80,000 plants and animals that give visitors a look into the world at and below the surface and its impact on the Earth. Its location on Cannery Row connects it to the area’s fishing and canning industrial-era past, and the evolution of an extractive to a sustainable mindset. Grab a bite at Hula’s Island Grill, which is a member of the aquarium’s Seafood Watch program highlighting environmentally friendly products.

Add to my favoritesLaura Morton / Special to The Chronicle

Monterey has been home to native Rumsien Ohlone communities, has served as the capital of Alta California under Spanish and Mexican rule, and is where the state of California was born with the signing of the state’s first constitution in 1849. Since then, the Monterey region has branched out and grown up, but also retains much of its rich history.

Monterey and its neighbors — small-town Pacific Grove and fashionable artist retreat Carmel-by-the-Sea — have beautiful beaches, performing and fine arts venues, outdoor pursuits, stylish shops, epicurean delights, and an inland region known for wine and agriculture. Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey is steps from the city’s adobes and gardens from the Spanish and Mexican era, and Cannery Row has morphed from a fishing center to a bustling spot with shops, ocean-view restaurants, and a world-class aquarium. Even relaxing on Monterey’s oceanside bluffs may bring the chance of spotting a migrating whale.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / The Chronicle

Old Monterey

When the crowds at Cannery Row become overwhelming, venture to downtown Monterey for a more laid-back atmosphere. The walkable corridor around Alvarado Street features tasting rooms from local wineries, renowned craft breweries and excellent cuisine.

Add to my favoritesLiPi Ching / Special to The Chronicle

Stillwater Cove

Kayakers and paddleboarders love the natural beauty of Stillwater Cove when it’s calm and glassy. The protected inlet between Pescadero Rocks and Arrowhead Point in Pebble Beach also happens to be the backdrop between the 7th and 17th holes of Pebble Beach Golf Links. There’s a fee ($11.25) per vehicle for the famed 17 Mile Drive, but for some, the spectacular landscape is more than reward enough.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Carmel Beach

Right at the foot of Ocean Avenue, Carmel Beach is beloved by many for good surf, evening sunsets, and the long stretch of sand for walking alone or with your best canine pal. There are no bad days when you can witness extreme dog joy here. The beach is an excellent home base for a day trip in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and forays into the village can view local art at the Carmel Art Association Gallery and choose from a wealth of restaurants (such as La Bicyclette and Toro Sushi) for a delicious meal.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / The Chronicle

Garland Ranch Regional Park

Visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea shouldn’t overlook the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, packed with vineyards and hiking trails. The 4,462-acre Garland Ranch Regional Park is a popular spot for hikers (and is also dog friendly), with a wide range of trails — from the East Ridge Trail and Snivley’s Ridge Trail with views of the valley and Ventana Wilderness to the easier Buckeye Nature Trail. Drop in at Folktale Winery & Vineyards for some of the region’s wine and Café Rustica for some California-style comfort food.

Add to my favoritesNic Coury / Special to The Chronicle

Garrapata Beach

Driving south along Highway 1 from Carmel toward Big Sur, Garrapata is one of the first beaches you’ll hit, and it’s a doozy. Spread across a broad cove and flanked by sharp rock outcroppings, it’s a gorgeous slice of NorCal’s rugged shoreline. The surf here absolutely slams, which makes swimming a no-no but creates a transportative auditory sensation — like a cleansing sound bath. Bring a book and a towel and post up beneath the bluffs.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Bixby Creek Bridge

This unmistakable concrete bridge, buttressed by a massive arch that rises 280 feet above the sandy beach below, has been tagged in more than 125,000 Instagram photos. For that alone, it surely ranks as one of Highway 1’s most iconic landmarks. You can’t walk on the span, but you can marvel at it from a small parking lot at its north end. Break out your selfie stick and snap some pics.

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Point Sur Lighthouse

The centerpiece of this state historic park is a lighthouse perched on a chunky volcanic-rock outcropping that juts into the Pacific at Big Sur’s northern edge. The former naval facility here once tracked Soviet submarines. Today, you have to book a docent-led tour to visit, and it’s well worth it to hear the stories of top-secret missions and Cold War military strategy.

Add to my favoritesEric Luse / The Chronicle

Andrew Molera Beach

Kodiak Greenwood / Special to The Chronicle

Sykes Hot Springs

Buried deep in the mountains behind Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is Sykes Hot Springs, an old hippie hangout along the Big Sur River where the water is warm and clothing is optional. To get there, park at the Big Sur Station and hike 10 miles due east of Highway 1 along the Pine Ridge Trail. This is a wilderness zone, and you’ll pass several other glorious backcountry campgrounds along the way. Note: Sykes was once notoriously over-loved, with poop and litter all along the trail out there, so please be especially respectful of the environment here.

Add to my favoritesKodiak Greenwood / Special to The Chronicle

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Clara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Pfeiffer Beach

What a cool spot. The main sandy area at Pfeiffer Beach happens to be a front-row seat to some dramatic sea stacks, one of which features Keyhole Arch, a cavernous tunnel that is one of Big Sur’s most recognizable features. When the sun drops low in the sky, it blasts the arch with spectacular, photogenic shafts of light. Note: The small parking lot here fills up quickly and early, so plan accordingly.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Nepenthe

This historic Big Sur institution marries fine dining with casual vibes and an unbeatable view of the undulating shoreline south for tens of miles. Nepenthe is a rustic lodge-like restaurant with intimate lighting, wraparound windows, a nice wide patio, and quality surf-and-turf menu options. While you wait for an open table, sidle up next to the patio fire pit with a margarita and meet some new friends.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Henry Miller Memorial Library

Clara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Partington Cove

On a bend of Highway 1 north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is Partington Cove. Park on the shoulder and stroll down the steps west of the roadway to a rocky protuberance above the rollicking, foaming ocean. Or head east up Partington Creek on a tough uphill trail that passes through redwood stands before opening into panoramic views of the ocean from on high. The historic, falling-apart Tin House residence, said to have been built as a hideaway by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is up here too, and worth a quick sightseeing detour.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

McWay Falls

You’ve more than likely seen photos of McWay Falls celebrated in travel magazines or floating around the internet. People just love the sight of this natural oddity: It’s a solid stream of water that plunges from a rock outcropping directly into the sandy beach 80 feet below. You can’t access it, and it’s only visible from a narrow viewing platform just off Highway 1 inside Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. But if you’re in Big Sur, stop by for a minute to see what all the fuss is about.

Add to my favoritesKodiak Greenwood / Special to The Chronicle

Esalen Institute

A bastion of Big Sur’s hippie roots, the sprawling retreat center clings to the cliffs on a remote swath of the highway, seemingly unencumbered by the wider world around it. This is a place where weekend clients come to center their spirits and explore the limits of human potential. While it’s generally not open to walk-in visitors, before the pandemic you could visit between 1 and 3 a.m. to take advantage of their thermal baths for a small fee. Hopefully they bring them back soon!

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Jade Cove

This craggy cove has a reputation for generating authentic jade stones that casual visitors can harvest easily along the beach. But that’s not exactly accurate: The place has been well picked over, and removing rocks above the mean high tide is illegal. Still, it’s a gorgeous spot to sit in and marvel at the powerful Pacific. A short hike across a flat meadow gets you to the bluffs. Getting into the coves (there are more than one) is a little trickier and involves a steep descent.

Add to my favoritesVentana Wilderness Alliance

Salmon Creek Trailhead

Here is a remote nook with hard hiking and great rewards. A short 0.3-mile walk through the canyon gets you to the 120-foot cascade of Salmon Creek Falls, but intrepid backpackers use this as a jumping-off point into the Silver Peak Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest. The Buckeye Trail between Salmon Creek and Soda Springs Trailhead offers exceptional views of the southern end of Big Sur. Note: Campfires are illegal here most of the year. Check the Ventana Wilderness Alliance website for updates.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Hearst Castle

At the southern end of Big Sur, above San Simeon, is this historic estate, a monument to Gatsby-era opulence that has made for a fun tourist attraction since 1954. Apart from the 115-room manor, there are gardens and viewing pools, all available to explore. A fun aspect of Hearst is how visitors are all but encouraged to linger: bring a book and some lunch and find a scenic spot to hang out. Tour reservations are strongly recommended.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Elephant seals at Piedras Blancas

The beach at Piedras Blancas is awash in wriggling, sausage-like elephant seals several times throughout the year. They come to molt, mingle and deliver fresh pups. Expect lots of barking and snorting, with the occasional mano-a-mano duel between aggro males. It’s a regular soap opera out there. While the beach is off-limits to visitors, there are viewing areas above that are free and open daily.

Add to my favoritesJason Henry / The Chronicle

Moonstone Beach

Whether you opt for the boardwalk that runs the length of Moonstone Beach on the bluffs above or stroll on the sand below, it’s easy to understand why this single mile is one of the most beloved stretches of coast in California. The views out to sea and up and down the coast are wonderful. There are tide pools to explore, driftwood to admire and at the south end, all manner of gulls, cormorants and egrets to watch in the mouth of Santa Rosa Creek. A string of popular motels line the inland side of Moonstone Beach Drive. For a slightly wilder oceanside walk, head a mile south to Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, where 8 miles of trails spread across coastal bluffs and into Monterey pine forests.

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Nitt Witt Ridge

When you’ve had your fill of Hearst Castle’s studied opulence, go gawk at Nitt Witt Ridge. The late Art “Captain Nitt Witt” Beal spent decades creating his own multi-tiered hillside castle out of flotsam, jetsam, sea-polished stones and whatever else he came across — toilet lids, washer drums, advertising signs, abalone shells and beer cans by the hundreds. The result is a remarkable work of folk art that is a California Historical Landmark. The place recently sold, and tours have been discontinued; check with the Cambria Chamber of Commerce for the latest information. Or just drive by.

Add to my favoritesPatrick Tehan / Special to The Chronicle

Cambria’s two aspects, coastal and arty, are different worlds that are both worth exploring.

Its coastal strand, Moonstone Beach, is a mile-long stretch of bluffs and beach flanked on the inland side by a succession of small inns and upscale motels. The bluffs are laced with trails, and several staircases lead down to the beach.

A quick inland turn from the highway puts you on Main Street with its collection of fine-art galleries and boutiques interspersed with coffeehouses, wine-tasting rooms and restaurants. Cambria’s artsiness doesn’t feel touristy; there’s an authenticity to the galleries and a farm-to-table earnestness at eateries like Linn’s, which has been proffering fresh pies for more than 40 years. There’s a nice dash of quirkiness, too: a local affinity for faux-Tudor half-timbered architecture, and a nonpareil work of folk-art in the form of Nit Witt Ridge.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Harmony

The onetime dairy town of Harmony is now an artists’ haven that proudly proclaims itself the smallest town in California, population 18. You can watch artists at work in a couple of workshops, grab some homemade ice cream or taste wine at Harmony Cellars just up Harmony Valley Road from the little town. Just south of town and across the highway, some of Harmony’s old cattle range is now Harmony Headlands State Park, featuring a 4.5-mile lollipop loop trail out to a some rugged coastal bluffs.

Add to my favoritesJason Henry / Special to The Chronicle

As California coastal towns go, Cayucos is like flyover country — highway travelers tend to zip by on their way to Morro Bay or Hearst Castle. All the better for travelers who put on the brakes in this town, which distills so much into a small beachside footprint. Cayucos is truly on the beach — a broad sandy strand that stretches for miles, clear down to Morro Rock. The water is Central-Coast-cold but the surf is good and the beach is never crowded.

The heart of the town consists of a single street, Ocean Avenue, lined with mostly old-fashioned facades. Pretty much every other building houses an antique shop, one of which, called Remember When, hosts a bunch of vendors on three floors. In other words, if it’s not a beach day, there’s still plenty of cruising to do for collectibles and vintage goodies. Twice a year, the whole street is given over to the Cayucos Antique Street Faire. Don’t miss the historic, 950-foot Cayucos Pier, always worth a stroll to see what they’re catching, or to watch surfers and kiters cutting through the froth.

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“Three stacks and a rock” isn’t great as far as tourism catchphrases go, especially since Morro Bay has so much more going for it than its obvious landmarks.

The town’s trio of 450-foot, curiously beloved smokestacks and the 576-foot dome of Morro Rock may dominate the skyline, but what defines Morro Bay is its relationship to the sea. It has long been, and still feels like, a fishing village. Watching the tos and fros of its endemic fishing boats is part of its charm, and there’s no shortage of harborside places for dining on or purchasing catches of the day. Once you start strolling here, you’ll quickly observe that a 3-mile-long sandspit frames the oceanfront and protects the harbor. That makes Morro Bay Estuary perfect for sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Rentals and guided tours are available, and you’ll almost certainly be shadowed by curious pinnipeds or sea otters.

The town itself stretches up from the estuary to Highway 1, an easily walkable grid with all manner of shops, galleries and eateries. At the south end of town, Morro Bay State Park is home to one of the prettiest campgrounds on the coast, as well as a golf course that’s a fair facsimile of Pebble Beach, minus the hefty greens fees.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle

The same qualities that put San Luis Obispo on so many lists of best places to live and happiest places on Earth also make it one of the coolest cities to visit on Highway 1.

It’s a vibrant college town (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) with historical charm — Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is smack dab in the center — that’s walkable, bikeable and enjoys perpetual great weather. If you’re not sipping java at a Scout Coffee sidewalk table, you’re dining by candlelight next to San Luis Obispo Creek, which snakes through the downtown core.

It’s also the cynosure of a burgeoning wine region, distinct from Paso Robles to the north. SLO’s wineries are arrayed south of town in the Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley — gorgeous country worth a side journey. If that’s not possible, drop by Region, a tasting room in downtown SLO that represents 26 local wineries. SLO is a great home base for beaching — it’s 20 minutes to Pismo, Avila or Montaña de Oro. Plus there’s great hiking at the Irish Hills Preserve and the town’s signature summit, Bishop Peak.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Montaña de Oro State Park

Something of a bonus Big Sur, this stretch of SLO coast and mountain is well worth a side trip. Most visitors venture no farther than Spooner’s Cove, a tiny crescent of beach framed by rock formations and tide pools. But there’s also a campground, a dramatic hiking trail that traces the coast along wildflower-strewn bluffs, and a trail that reaches 1,347-foot Valencia Peak for a jaw-dropping view. There’s a bonus to the bonus, too: From the south end of Montaña de Oro, you can access another 3-plus miles of coast on PG&E’s Point Buchon Trail.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Avila Beach the town is the home of Avila Beach the beach, and that alone makes both Avilas worth a visit. The beach is small, but wonderfully protected by framing hills. It’s without question the nicest swimming beach in San Luis Obispo County.

The waterfront town, comprising just a few square blocks, has an old-fashioned feel, very pedestrian friendly, with the obligatory T-shirt shops, snack offerings, bike rentals, a few sit-down restaurants, a microbrewery and a top-notch coffeehouse, Kraken Coffee. The landmark town pier is currently getting a makeover, but there’s another pier north of town that’s the centerpiece of Port San Luis, Avila’s boating- and fishing-oriented neighbor, also ideal for kayaking and SUP. It’s the launching pad for a visit (hike, paddle or van tour) to the 1889 Point San Luis Lighthouse.

Also, Avila Valley is home to the Bob Jones Trail, a 3-mile path to the beach for hikers and bikers, as well as two mineral springs resorts. Avila Hot Springs is a modest day-use place with a huge, naturally headed soaking pool; Sycamore Mineral Springs is a lovely full-service spa and historic hotel tucked up against an oak-studded hillside.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Shell Beach

It’s within Pismo Beach city limits, but locals would never call this neighborhood anything other than Shell Beach. Its most eye-catching aspect from the highway is Dinosaur Caves Park, which has a kids’ playground par excellence and an extensive grassy area overlooking wave-worn headlands. The caves themselves can be explored via kayak — rentals and guides available at Central Coast Kayaks. And the bluffs can be further explored on foot alongside Ocean Boulevard, which is also great for gawking at some stunning residential architecture.

Add to my favoritesKaila Dettman / The Land Conservancy Of SLO County

Pismo Preserve

One of the top recent good-news stories of the California coast is Pismo Preserve — 900 acres of oak-studded hills spared from development several years ago and opened to the public in 2020. Wonderfully sculpted trails weave into the landscape, wander into dense oak groves, and serve up vistas of serene mountainscapes and the Edna Valley, plus coastline stretching from Port San Luis to Point Sal. Don’t be fooled by its proximity to the highway — after two bends of the trail, all you hear is birdsong and hawk cries. The 11-mile network of trails is open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers.

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Monarch Butterfly Grove

As you drive south from Pismo Beach proper and skirt Pismo State Beach’s North Beach Campground, you reach a eucalyptus grove that may or may not be showing more orange and black than green in its high branches. From October to February, this grove attracts overwintering monarch butterflies by the thousands. Or tens of thousands — the numbers of endangered monarchs has surged upward the last couple of seasons, after years of disheartening decline. The dense clusters of gently fluttering butterflies make for a stunning sight. A short trail provides peeking perspective, while a kiosk houses docents and souvenirs. Tip: The trail also cuts through sand dunes to a lovely, vehicle-free stretch of Pismo Beach.

Add to my favoritesNic Coury / Special to The Chronicle

AG, as the locals call it, is well worth a visit, particularly for its historic core, known as the Village.

The heart of the Village is Branch Street, which has wine-tasting rooms at both ends that proffer the bounty of the Arroyo Grande Valley as well as other California wines. The few blocks in between are lined by buildings that date to the early 20th century, housing boutiques, two great coffeehouses — Mule Bakery and Cafe Andrieni — a microbrewery and several sit-down restaurants with outdoor dining. Word to the wise: Don’t miss Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab.

AG’s most charming site is the Swinging Bridge across tree-lined Arroyo Grande Creek. The cable-suspended footbridge (whose forebear dates to 1875) links Branch Street to grassy Heritage Square Park, with its museums, one-room schoolhouse and bandstand, where a brass band might just be offering up some musical Americana.

Add to my favoritesKendrick Brinson / Special to The Chronicle

Pismo State Beach

The ramp and parking area at the foot of Grand Avenue in Grover Beach provide the most convenient access to the hard-packed sand of Pismo Beach. To drive on said sand, purchase a day-use pass and proceed on the state park’s vehicle ramp to drive south. Ask about tides and conditions if you’re in a 2WD passenger vehicle. A large parking lot and a short boardwalk get you onto the northern, vehicle-free stretch of Pismo Beach, where you can walk 1.25 miles to Pismo Pier and downtown Pismo Beach. Or you can venture no farther than the parking lot and just relax at Fin’s Seafood, which has outdoor seating protected by glass from the generally chilly wind.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Oceano Dunes

The state park ramp at the foot of Pier Avenue in Oceano is the gateway to Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, where ATVs and dune buggies can drive on Pismo Beach to access the thousands of acres of sand dunes open to off-road-vehicle use. Shops along Pier Avenue rent buggies and ATVs and provide safety equipment, directions and instruction to get you started. The Oceano Dunes Visitor Center near the ramp is also a great resource for all sorts of dune info, including an exhibit about the Dunites, a utopian sect that lived in the dunes in the 1920s and ’30s. The SVRA is also open to beach and dune camping, for which you’ll need four-wheel drive.

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Oso Flaco Lake

A freshwater lake in the middle of extensive sand dunes sounds preposterous, but that’s exactly what Oso Flaco is. A short, flat trail leads through willow thickets to a boardwalk that spans the lake, making a walk here a gentle experience. Beyond the lake, the boardwalk leads through the Oceano Dunes to a short trail that opens onto the beach. Technically Oso Flaco is in the Oceano Dunes SVRA, but the dunes and beach are off-limits to vehicles here, making this a serene alternative to the OHV hubbub just to the north. Oso Flaco also has decent bass and bluegill fishing, and it’s a favorite site for birders.

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The old farm and rail town of Guadalupe seems frozen in time. Its two-story buildings are more than a century old, while fading advertisements on their brick facades hark back to some vague mid-century era. If it seems like family-run Mexican restaurants fill most of those old buildings today, well, that’s practically true, and you can’t go wrong pausing for a meal in any of them.

Guadalupe also makes much of its proximity to the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, and even if you don’t venture to that isolated stretch of beach and dunes to the west, be sure to stop at the Dunes Center in the heart of town. There you’ll learn not only about the natural history of the dunes but also about a fascinating historical footnote known as the Lost City of DeMille. It was in the nearby dunes that Cecil B. DeMille filmed his 1923 silent epic “The Ten Commandments” — and afterward ordered his “City of the Pharaoh” set to be buried in the sand. Some of it has been excavated, and artifacts are on display in the Dunes Center. Viewing a large chunk of papier-mache sphinx seems somehow a quintessential California experience.

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Hitching Post

There’s pretty much one reason to make the five-minute detour off Highway 1 to tiny Casmalia, and that’s to chow down at the Hitching Post, one of the Central Coast’s most venerated barbecue destinations. The family-run roadhouse has been slow-cooking aged beef over local red oak wood since 1944 in a building that’s more than a century old. (Yes, there are a few other menu options, including ribs, chicken and seafood.) The wine list naturally favors local vintages. The restaurant’s wine and barbecue culture were featured in the 2003 film “Sideways,” though the actual filming took place at the Hitching Post 2, 34 miles away in Buellton.

Add to my favoritesErick Madrid / Special to The Chronicle

Why Lompoc bills itself as the City of Art and Flowers is fairly apparent as you drive through and around town. Seemingly every downtown building is a giant canvas for local muralists, and if your timing is good, you’ll see broad fields brightly spangled with cultivated flowers arrayed nearby. The fields are constantly rotated, but your best bet is to explore just west of town. The flowers, which are grown for seed, are generally blaring their colors from April through September.

As for the murals, there are dozens — you can’t miss them, but they’re worth an appreciative stroll. Some depict local history, some honor nearby Vandenberg Space Force Base, and others are just plain whimsical.

Lompoc’s Santa Rita Hills are the westernmost aspect of Santa Barbara wine country, and wine tasting here couldn’t be more convenient. The Lompoc Wine Ghetto houses a cluster of urban wineries and tasting rooms in an old industrial complex just a block off Highway 1.

Lompoc is also a perfectly situated jumping-off spot for two side trips — west to Jalama Beach for camping, surfing and beach strolling — and east to La Purisima Mission State Historic Park. The 1820s mission is one of the prettiest and most extensively restored missions in the state.

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Jalama Beach County Park

Whether you’re making the twisting, 14-mile drive off Highway 1 to get there, navigating the big west-facing surf or walking your pooch along the isolated, windswept shoreline, Jalama has all the hallmarks of a “find.” Even though there’s a campground with seven simple cabins, a general store and a grill that serves “world-famous Jalama Burgers” (they merit the reputation), Jalama has a throwback, almost counterculture feel, as if you were huddled up against the wind in the middle of nowhere. It’s a favorite with surfers, kiters and radical stand-up paddlers, which means spectating is also one of Jalama’s many pleasures.

Add to my favoritesGeorge Rose / Getty Images

Santa Barbara Coast

If you’re driving south, a few miles after Highway 1 rejoins U.S. 101, you emerge from a long stretch of rugged hill country to a view of the Santa Barbara Channel, an expansive vista broken only by the Channel Islands (and maybe the odd oil derrick).

Three state parks along this pre-Santa Barbara stretch of coast are home to three of the state’s most coveted beachside campgrounds, and each has day-use parking for beachgoers. First up is often-windy Gaviota State Beach, in the shadow of a tall Southern Pacific rail trestle. Nine miles down the highway, Refugio State Beach features a palm-lined cove for a bit of tropical ambience. Three miles later is El Capitan State Beach, which boasts tree-shaded campsites by the beach.

Add to my favoritesLiz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Nestled between the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains and the south-facing beaches of Santa Barbara Channel, Santa Barbara almost seems too good to be true. It’s a city that honors its glorious setting and heritage with a prevailing adherence to Mediterranean and Spanish Revival architecture, and every vista in every direction seems just perfect.

Not that Santa Barbara takes itself entirely seriously. For Highway 1 travelers, one of its signature attractions is the five-square-block district known as the Funk Zone. The onetime grimy, semi-industrial site is a concentrated collection of eateries, coffeehouses, wine-tasting rooms, shops and galleries, right at the foot of the city’s main drag, State Street.

A short stroll from there are the beach, Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor — a pleasant combo of working fishing harbor and how-the-other-half-lives yacht slips. Rent a stand-up paddle board or kayak to nose around, or a bike to easily venture a bit farther on the oceanfront Cabrillo Bike Path.

There’s a whole inland world of Santa Barbara as well — lovely State Street, the Santa Barbara Mission and in the mountain foothills, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, devoted exclusively to California native plants.

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Bell Arts Factory

In a sprawling old mattress factory, a boho crowd of artists created the Bell Arts Factory, a community arts center that houses 30 studios, galleries and workspaces, plus workshops, yoga classes and more. It’s like stepping into San Francisco’s Mission District, but before the third-wave coffee shops and condos claimed all the warehouse space.

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Ventura is, by popular acclamation, the last remaining working-class beach town in Southern California – as unpretentious and laid back as Beverly Hills is puffed up and plastic. The geography of the coastline here insulates this town of 100,000 from the sprawl of the Southland, and Ventura is one of the last stops on the highway before the gravitational pull of L.A sets in – a last breath of fresh air before the smog.

The city recently closed off five blocks of Main Street to cars in response to COVID, creating a pedestrian promenade lined with restaurants and cafes. Hit nearby Lure Fish House for tasty bivalves or Finney’s Craft House for a damn good burger. Downtown is home to a growing number of breweries, including regional standout Topa Topa, named for the city’s purple-hued mountain range. If, after your pint, those mountains are calling, you can follow them inland down a lovely (and flat) bike path to the bohemian town of Ojai.

If it’s seawater you crave, Ventura and its harbor are also the gateway to the Channel Islands, SoCal’s fabulously diverse offshore “American Galapagos.”

Add to my favoritesBrian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Santa Monica Mountains

If you need your chakras cleansed, you could do worse than Topanga Canyon. The town — not much more than a collection of charming wooden shops — is something of an old hippie commune and was once home to Neil Young, Jim Morrison and the Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson. After charging your crystals, Topanga State Park has some of L.A. County’s best hikes. From craggy Eagle Rock you can see clear to Catalina Island.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Neptune’s Net

Neptune’s Net is perhaps the most famous of the seafood shacks that line this stretch of highway, a delightful outdoor stop that attracts bikers and beachcombers and everyone in between. (Go for the fried shrimp taco.) But there are more: Malibu Seafood, farther south, makes a mean fish and chips; Broad Street Oyster Co., serves a lobster roll that would make a Mainer proud.

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Leo Carrillo State Park camping

There are precious few campsites in SoCal that come with an ocean view — even fewer near an excellent surf break. Leo Carrillo State Park backs up against the Santa Monica Mountains, which is chock full of hiking trails, and has a mile and a half of pristine beach at the northernmost edge of Los Angeles County. Book early.

Add to my favoritesLawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Will Rogers State Beach

The sands of Will Rogers State Beach were featured in the Keanu Reeves action flick “Point Break” and, even more famously, the ’90s television show “Baywatch.” The beach is excellent. With miles of sand, it’s lively but not crowded, with beach volleyball galore.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Surfrider Beach

Steps from the highway is Surfrider Beach, the most famous surf spot on earth. It may also be the most crowded wave on earth, but it’s still a pilgrimage any surfer has to make. If surfing’s not your thing, Malibu’s pier is perfect for a stroll, and the fancy farm-to-table restaurant there, Malibu Farm, is lovely.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Few beach towns are so etched into our psyche as Malibu, playground of the rich and famous, incubator of mainland surf culture.

The Pacific Coast Highway opened this stretch of coastline to Angelenos in the 1930s. Surfers came first, recognizing one of the world’s best point breaks when they saw it; “Gidget,” the 1958 surf classic, put the town squarely on the beach party map. Then the celebs moved in, building coastal mansions and the homes that line Highway 1 all the way into L.A.

There’s plenty to do in this sandy Xanadu. The Santa Monica Mountains offer great hiking and biking. Surfrider is the most famous beach, but the best one is probably Zuma, with its ample parking, soft sand and lifeguards. If you’re looking for something more secluded, park at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, stop in for a drink or bite, then take in idyllic Paradise Cove. El Matador beach, nestled between two headlands, can feel surprisingly intimate for a beach in a county with 10 million people.

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Within Los Angeles, there is a divide: Westside versus Eastside. Neighborhoods on the Eastside are hipper, more diverse, maybe more exciting. But Santa Monica, standard bearer of the West, looks the way Los Angeles does in your dreams. There are beautiful people eating outdoors, there are palm trees, and it is 74 degrees all year long.

The town of Santa Monica has distinct zones and it’s surprisingly walkable for L.A. County. Above Highway 1 there’s Palisades Park, a long green expanse that follows the sea and is perfect for strolling or jogging. Then, moving east, there’s the bustling shopping area of Third Street, which is one of the nicer outdoor malls you’ll come across. Head up to leafy Montana Avenue if you’d like to shop at smaller businesses and gawk at the houses Hollywood producers live in.

Ocean Park, Santa Monica’s southernmost neighborhood, is a good place for dinner, with everything from legs and thighs at the Caribbean-style Cha Cha Chicken to a full duck à la presse at Pasjoli. When evening falls, Father’s Office is rightly known as one of the better bars in the country.

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Santa Monica Pier

With its 85-foot-high Ferris wheel jutting out into the Pacific, Santa Monica Pier is the closest thing in SoCal to a mirror image of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Is it touristy? Yes. A bit downtrodden? Sure. But the rickety roller coaster comes with a great view and, there’s funnel cake here, too. Once the novelty wears off, Santa Monica’s famous Third Street Promenade mall is a five-minute walk away.

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Point Dume

Pull off the road near Paradise Cove and walk a perfect beach before you hit civilization in L.A. Point Dume is about a mile and half north, a promontory lording it over several idyllic rocky coves. Climb the very sketchy steps to the top of the bluff and scan the horizon for passing whales and dolphins.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Venice is a place of wild contrasts: a hippie stronghold where houses sell for an average of $2.1 million, the birthplace of the counterculture skate scene and the spiritual home of bodybuilding, and now the heart of L.A.’s tech scene.

The city crams a lot into 3 square miles, and, luckily for you, much of it can be seen on foot. Along the sea, you have the Venice Boardwalk, home to Muscle Beach (the outdoor gym Arnold made famous), a world-class skate park and thousands of the self-defined weirdos who make California great. Walk a few blocks inland and you hit Abbot Kinney Boulevard, an enticing post-hipster shopping street that specializes in flat whites and sunglasses few can afford. And follow your nose a few more blocks east to Lincoln Avenue, where you can find some of the best al pastor tacos on L.A.’s Westside, griddled up on sidewalk carts before your eyes.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Venice Canals

Inspired by one of the world’s most cherished historic cities, the canals here are absolutely nothing like their Italian counterparts. But a walk down these tacky urban waterways — which afford excellent opportunities to peer directly into $7 million homes — is so L.A., even the most loyal NorCal native can’t help but enjoy it.

Add to my favoritesGeorge Rose / Getty Images

LAX In-N-Out

There are 221 In-N-Outs in California and at least 74 in L.A. alone. And yet, the little one beside Los Angeles International Airport, just off the highway, may be the best outpost in the country as well as being a local landmark. Watch wary Californians tuck into their first double-doubles in weeks to the sound of screaming jumbo jets and enjoy.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Dockweiler State Beach

For a city built along the beach, L.A. is short on places for that paramount summer evening activity: the beach bonfire. Dockweiler State Beach is your best bet for grilling dogs and toasting s’mores on a warm night. It gets crowded, so arrive early. Also, be warned: The police enforce the beach’s no-alcohol policy. Hit El Segundo Brewing, a short drive away, instead of risking a citation.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Manhattan Beach Pier

Manhattan Beach, a nice beach town toward the southern end of the Santa Monica Bay, is an ideal stopover for when the kids start making noise in the backseat. At the end of the town’s quaint pier is a 1920s-era aquarium. Gawk at the small sharks and eels, then head back downtown for a cone at Manhattan Beach Creamery, an old-school ice cream shop.

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King Harbor

King Harbor, in Redondo Beach, is a working harbor right next to some of the most expensive real estate in the country — a place where gruff fishermen rub elbows with confused tourists. Rent a kayak or sailboat and make your way toward the surprisingly rugged Palos Verdes peninsula. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head down to Quality Seafood, the largest family-owned fresh fish market on the West Coast. Order something alive and watch the white-aproned workers gut it and cook it for you over a fire. Fresh Santa Barbara urchin, cracked right before your eyes, is magic.

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It’s about 10 years too late to break the news about Long Beach’s “revitalization.” The city, home to the country’s largest port and the birthplace of Snoop Dogg, long conjured imagery of longshoremen and gangster rap.

Today, Long Beach is a delightfully diverse, lively city. Fourth Street is the spot for chewy artisanal sourdough pizza, old record shops and vintage clothing. Head toward the water and stop by the mammoth Aquarium of the Pacific, or get brunch on the Queen Mary, a 1936 ocean liner moored by the dock, which just reopened after years of COVID closure. Belmont Shore is a cute beach town hidden within this industrial city, and nearby Rosie’s Dog Beach has more dogs going nuts in the shore break than you can shake a stick at.

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Huntington Beach International Surf Museum

After a long and contentious trademark battle with Santa Cruz, Huntington Beach won the right to call itself “Surf City, USA.” Outside of Hawaii, Huntington has as much surf history as anywhere, and the town’s International Surfing Museum is a charming way to while away an hour or two. It features funky old boards and stoke lore galore. If you’ve never surfed, the beach here is a nice spot to learn when the waves are small.

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Wealthy, laid-back and sunny, Newport Beach is the theme song of the “OC” teen soap in physical form. The interesting parts of town are mostly spread across a peninsula and a couple of islands.

Your first stop is the newly redeveloped Lido Marina Village, which is filled with hip shops and waterfront alfresco dining, and connected to charming Lido Island, a pleasant spot to stroll. Next, cleanse your palate at the Balboa Fun Zone, an old-school arcade and amusement park that somehow hasn’t been converted into condos.

Then, if your feet are tired, rent an electric Duffy boat and cruise around the placid harbor at 5 mph with a bottle of wine.

Add to my favoritesAllen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Crystal Cove State Park

With over 3 miles of spectacular beach and acres of parkland, Crystal Cove State Park is one of the last undeveloped stretches of coastline in Southern California. (Excluding Camp Pendleton’s acres of perfect beach, 40 miles south, that is.) There are tide pools, waves good for body boarding, and a beach cafe and bar. Also, State Parks rents out refurbished old cottages just above the sands. There aren’t too many places like this in the state.

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Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve

Off the coast of Laguna Beach, a series of state marine reserves protect 6 miles of rocky reefs and sprawling kelp forests that are home to octopuses, seals, dolphins and more. Rent a kayak in Laguna and there’s a strong chance you’ll see some of these sea creatures. Brave the chilly waters with scuba or snorkel from the aptly named Diver’s Cove and you’ll be in for a rare treat.

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Carlsbad Flower Fields

From March to May, the hills of northern San Diego County come alive for a brief floral show that rivals any in the country. Part working ranch, part tourist attraction, the Carlsbad Flower Fields feature 50 acres of ranunculus, a technicolor display that’ll inspire gardeners and Instagram influencers alike. Also included: a sweet pea maze, u-pick berries and rows of red, white and blue petunias that make up a 300-foot-long American flag. Buy a bouquet on your way out.

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Encinitas pulls together the best parts of northern San Diego County in one place. Several beach towns make up this city of 100,000, but wherever you stroll, it’s all sandals and jean shorts, yoga and spearfishing, fish tacos and kombucha. North of town, Leucadia is eclectic and funky; to the south, Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a beach town within a beach town, home to Swami’s, one of the state’s best surf breaks. If you want to wake up with the sea breeze, save on a hotel and book a campsite at San Elijo State Beach. Cliffside spots are just $35 and overlook the Pacific.

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Del Mar Racetrack

Built in 1936 and replete with Spanish revival architecture, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club recalls an era when a day at the racetrack was a red-letter event. But after years of declining attendance, this track was in a funk, frequented only by people actually interested in horse racing. In the past decade, though, Del Mar Racetrack has brought back the glamour. There’s an opening-day hat contest, a focus on social media and fashion, and, of course, good old-fashioned betting.

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Balboa Park

Every city worth its salt has a big park, but few rival San Diego’s. Larger than Golden Gate Park, Balboa Park is not only a green haven in the middle of the city, it’s an art lover’s paradise. Its jewel is the Spanish Village Art Center, a collection of 85-year-old Spanish Revival-style buildings — think white plaster and red tile roofs — that are home to hundreds of art studios and shops. Walk five minutes in any direction and you’ll find a museum to enjoy, too. There are 17 total in the park, and the Timken Museum of Art, with its 17th century masterpieces, is free.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

San Diego has been dismissed as a mini L.A. — uncontrolled sprawl in the guise of a city, but without Hollywood, the Getty or Beverly Hills. But San Diegans don’t care. They know they live in paradise.

La Jolla, with its renowned playhouse, is completely charming. North Park and South Park, just above downtown, are walkable, lively neighborhoods with cafes, vintage shops and great gay bars. Petco Park is every bit as nice a ballpark as Oracle and a lot warmer for a summer night game.

The city is a bastion of Mexican food. Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista serves Tijuana-style tacos that’ll make you re-evaluate every other taco you’ve had. But be careful not to fall prey to the cult of authenticity: They put french fries in their burritos here and smother whole plates of them in nacho toppings, too.

You should paddleboard in the bay, bike the length of the coast, hike up Grant Hill for the view and stop by Waterfront Park for a picnic among the late French American artist Niki de Saint Phalle’s weird, wild sculptures. Then, yes, you should go check out the San Diego Zoo, the most visited and perhaps best zoo in the country.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Coronado Island

Perched in the middle of San Diego’s busy bay is the resort island of Coronado. The Hotel del Coronado, which opened in the 1880s, is the centerpiece — and the rumored inspiration for the Eagles’ song — but you don’t have to check in to enjoy the island. Rent a bike and see the whole coast. Or make like a SEAL — the Navy’s elite forces train on the island — and swim in the warm sea. There’s a busy dog beach, a public golf course with views that would normally cost $25,000 in membership fees, and a charming downtown, too.

Add to my favoritesLenny Ignelzi / AP Images

Tijuana Estuary

The Tijuana Estuary, a riparian oasis trapped between two mega-cities, is your last stop before Mexico. Here, in the largest wetlands in SoCal, right on the international border, you feel miles from the city. There are gentle hikes, ample tracks for horseback riding and excellent birding. The highway ends here, but if you’ve got a passport, Tijuana is just minutes away.

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Credits

Editing and reporting by Gregory Thomas. Reporting by Alissa Greenberg, Leilani Marie Labong, Jill K. Robinson, Robert Earle Howells and David Ferry. Visuals by Clara Mokri. Photo editing by Emily Jan. Editing by Deb Wandell. Design and development by David Deloso / Hearst DevHub and Danielle Rindler / Hearst DevHub. Project management by Brittany Schell / Hearst DevHub. Copy editing by Andrea Behr.

The post Six itineraries alongside California’s iconic coast appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

By Gregory Thomas, Alissa Greenberg, Leilani Marie Labong, Jill K. Robinson, Robert Earle Howells and David Ferry

Oct. 12, 2022 | Updated: Oct. 12, 2022 5:33 p.m.

California’s coastal highway is a national treasure. This wondrous, 1,000-mile driving route weaves through long stretches of rugged, natural scenery the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else on Earth, punctuated by historic towns and, of course, the state’s cultural capitals.

This is the ultimate guide to the unrivaled experience that is Highway 1.

We have parsed the route into 6 unique regions, each with its own character and flavor, and spotlighted 153 must-see stops, landmarks and towns along the way. Here you’ll find a mix of the coast’s greatest hits, boutique stopovers and under-the-radar experiences to help you plan your perfect coastal getaway.

Select a region below to see recommended destinations for each segment of coast, from the Oregon border south to San Diego. Then use the interactive map to create a personalized list of your favorite places, viewable in the “My favorites” section.

Jump to itinerary: – Select -Crescent City to MendocinoMendocino County to MarinSan Francisco to MontereyBig SurCambria to Santa BarbaraVentura to San DiegoMy favoritesJump to map

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Look through all our recommended places to create your perfect itinerary!

Select an item from the list below to see its location on the map

California Department of Parks and Recreation

Pelican State Beach

This jewel of a beach is just a couple of minutes south of the Oregon border and often overlooked due to minimal signage. Pull into the tiny parking lot, then tromp through the thick vegetation onto a beautifully desolate beach strewn with driftwood. The bleached, broad logs make great seats for picnicking and appreciating the view — white breakers, gray-green water, conifers and evergreens visible up the coast.

Add to my favoritesEducation Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Howland Hill Road

A highlight of Redwood State and National Parks is the gloriously scenic drive down Howland Hill Road, a 6-mile dirt track that plunges straight into the giant ferns and huge trees of the Late Cretaceous period. The road dips and twists through the trees, sometimes dwindling to a single lane and pulling the forest close around it. Note: Although the road is maintained remarkably well and often passable even without four-wheel drive, trailers aren’t allowed.

Add to my favoritesJoanna Di Tommaso / Special to The Chronicle

Grove of Titans Trail

The newly opened Grove of Titans Trail (1.7 miles) lives up to its name. Completed in early 2022, it takes hikers through stands of stately redwoods and down through a creek valley slung with moss. The Titans themselves are walls of vegetation the size of apartment buildings. For a longer jaunt, walk the impressive Boy Scout Tree Trail (5.3 miles). For a shorter option, stroll through Stout Grove (0.5 miles), where afternoon sunlight filters through the canopy of what many consider the state’s most beautiful redwood grove.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park is shorthand for the full patchwork of state parks and tribally managed public lands in this region. Look for the resident elk herd, often found at the well-named Elk Meadow or along Davison Road. And you’ll almost certainly want to make time for a side trip to famous Fern Canyon, the green and lush gorge featured in “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1 mile). Check for road closures, bring water-resistant shoes, and reserve parking during the summer season.

Add to my favoritesCavan Images / Getty Images

At least geographically, Crescent City is a good starting point for exploring the Jurassic wonders of Howland Hill Road and other highlights of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The south side of town offers a line of affordable and mostly pleasant motels, along with several diner-style restaurants that fit the community’s homey vibe. Otherwise, there’s not much to downtown Crescent City: a post office, a few stores, a brewery and Tsunami Lanes.

If you have extra time outside your redwood forays, be sure to check out charming Battery Point Lighthouse and its neighboring tide pools. For other pretty seaside spots, dodge sea lions on the long Lighthouse Jetty that stretches into the harbor or head to the B Street Pier to watch sea birds and see locals fishing and catching crabs.

Add to my favoritesEducation Images / Universal Images Group Via Getty Images

Battery Point Lighthouse

Built in classic Cape Cod style and first lit in 1856, the tiny, picturesque beacon sits on a rocky outcropping under a solitary tree on the outskirts of town. It is maintained by a cadre of volunteers who wait years for their turn staying in and caring for the historic building and giving tours. The lighthouse is open most days, but you’re free to venture across the wet sand to visit the outside whenever low tide allows. The beach is also prime tide pooling territory, but keep an eye on the sea or a tide chart, or risk wading back to your car.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Tidepooling at False Klamath Cove

The best spots at False Klamath Cove are found close to Lagoon Creek Picnic Area, where you can park and follow a short trail to the beach, scrambling over mussel-and-seaweed-covered rocks to hunt for russet sea stars, DayGlo sea anemones and spiny urchins. But this isn’t your only tide pooling option. To work tide pooling into your itinerary elsewhere, try Luffenholtz Beach Park and College Cove at the northern end of Trinidad Beach if you’re headed farther south, or hunt for treasures up north below Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Trees of Mystery

As you drive past Crescent City, you can’t miss the Trees of Mystery. After all, not many stretches of highway feature a giant, waving Paul Bunyan and his equally imposing blue ox. Inside, kitschy delights await: a set of hand-carved murals based on Paul Bunyan fables; a zigzagging path through the eponymous trees; a gondola ride through redwood treetops, and a skywalk that offers a unique chance to see these awe-inspiring trees from up in the canopy.

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Radar Station B-71

For a short but eventful side trip, take a left on route D7 south of Klamath, right before you cross the river on Highway 101. A one-way 9-mile loop along Coastal Drive and Klamath Beach Road offers picnic-worthy views along the coast and the mouth of the river; a couple of interesting historical plaques about the flood that ruined the up-and-coming town of Klamath in 1964; and a stop at Radar Station B-71, a World War-II era intelligence outpost disguised as a farmhouse. A few minutes after that, the road will deposit you on a cliff overlooking the river, a scenic spot for a snack before you start your drive again.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway

This alternate route through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park offers a variety of lovely walks, including Moormon-Pond Trail (0.8 miles), a meander up a moss-covered redwood canyon, and Revelation Loop Trail, a similar-length route through one of the most genetically diverse old-growth redwood forests around. Most redwood forests are populated with clones, but many of Prairie Creek’s redwoods grew from seed. Try to notice the differences here — curly bark, lighter, darker — as well as the prairies that mark this place as one of the forest gardens maintained for centuries by Yurok and other Indigenous communities.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

EdeBee’s Snack Shack

Travelers passing through take note: Food options are minimal along the chunk of 101 that runs between Orick and Crescent City, so you’ll want to plan your meals carefully. EdeBee’s Snack Shack makes for a quick, fun and tasty stop. The elk burger, pulled pork sandwich and milk shakes are perennial favorites. Farther north, the Log Cabin Diner serves down-home fare in Klamath during the high season but closes in winter. And a little way up the road, the drive-in snack bar A Good Place to Eat (also known as Woodland Villa) is, well, you know.

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Traditional canoeing in Yurok County

The Yurok tribe believe canoes are beings worthy of honor and treat them as such: A traditional Yurok canoe has a nose, heart, kidneys and a name. The Klamath River was once a bustling byway filled with these watercraft, but when it bucked its banks in 1964, a huge portion of the tribe’s canoes were washed out to sea. You’ll learn this story and more on a two- or four-hour canoe tour leaving from Klamath, a peaceful journey full of misty redwoods, waterbirds and Yurok storytelling. If you’d like to learn more, you can also visit the newly opened Stone Lagoon visitor center and Yurok Country Visitor Center.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Sue-Meg State Park

Formerly known as Patrick’s Point, this state park was renamed in 2021 at the request of the Yurok tribe. Though it covers little more than 1 square mile, the park packs a lot in a small area, offering summertime camping, beautiful cliff walks overlooking turquoise bays, beaches filled with agates and anemones, and rich Yurok history. Once you’re finished with the longer Rim Trail (2 miles) or have gone to Wedding Rock (0.2 miles), stop at Sumêg Village, a re-creation of a traditional Yurok compound.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Popular for its stunning beaches, plentiful and beautiful walks and upscale restaurants and fish market, Trinidad is also a prime jumping-off point for Sue-Meg State Park and the Avenue of the Giants. The town has a classed-up fishing village feel that’s half California surfer, half Oregon bohemian. If you’re eager to hike, follow the path that curls around Trinidad Head, or one of a number of scenic options in Sue-Meg. If local history is more your speed, the small-but-mighty Trinidad Museum offers exhibits on Indigenous basketry, the Gold Rush and the rise of the region’s fishing and logging industries.

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Trinidad Bay

With its tony-restaurants-meets-fishing-village feel, Trinidad town has plenty to offer. But the top draw here is Trinidad Bay, which offers an exquisite set of cliff-top lookout points and sandy beaches backed by dramatic sea stacks, extending south from Trinidad Head through the sandy expanse of Moonstone Beach. The views along Scenic Drive south of town are uniformly stunning, with each nook boasting its own vibe. Stop to watch folks slacklining from incredible heights at Baker Beach, catch the sunset from Houda Point or let your dog run free along Moonstone Beach.

Add to my favoritesMatt Gush / Special to The Chronicle

Life in Arcata revolves around the charming Plaza at the center of town and the Cal Poly Humboldt campus to the north. This coastal town is a mix of old school (Jacoby’s Storehouse, a 19th century department-store now filled with boutiques and the Gold Rush history of Phillips House Museum) and college-town vibes (record stores, a remarkable variety of pizza purveyors, and the region’s only 24-hour diner). Along with the standard restaurants and bars, you can also find quirkier fare, such as Hatchet House Arcata, where you can try your hand at ax throwing, and Cafe Mokka, a vintage coffeehouse with newspapers from around the world and Finnish-style saunas that you can rent by the hour.

Add to my favoritesAmy Kumler / Eureka Lodging Alliance

Eureka has quieted down since it heyday as the capital of the West Coast lumber industry. Still, the city’s Old Town has blossomed in recent years. With a new coat of paint (and over 100 murals), plus bars and restaurants lined up along the water, it’s a lively stopping point. Keep your eyes peeled for the characteristic Victorian architecture scattered around town, particularly the why-is-that-so-familiar-level famous Carson Mansion (now a private club). Then immerse yourself in the majesty and power of the trees you’ve come to Northern California to enjoy, at Sequoia Park Zoo’s Redwood Skywalk, which brings visitors up into the canopy to see the forest from a fresh perspective.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

It’s only a slight exaggeration to say that Ferndale is the storybook Victorian town of your dreams. Just a few minutes off Highway 101, the absurdly picturesque Main Street is lined with brightly painted confections, making it a great stop for a stroll or dinner on your way north or south. Admire the native flowers and elaborate Victorian kids’ playhouse at Hadley Garden, then walk to the center of town, where you’ll find gift shops, art galleries, antique stores and bakeries. Although Palace Saloon is erroneously labeled the westernmost bar in the U.S. — that honor belongs to the Yellow Rose in Petrolia — it’s still historic and charming. For an off-the-beaten-path experience, consider tagging along with local musician Margaret Kellerman on an Art Hike, combining history, exploration and sketching. And don’t leave town without using what are without a doubt California’s cutest public bathrooms.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

At more than 50,000 acres, Humboldt Redwoods State Park is California’s third largest, featuring myriad groves of old-growth trees along a variety of hiking trails and the legendary Avenue of the Giants. Besides the requisite drive along that famed route, a walk is the best way to experience the park. Marvel at the heft of the fallen Dyerville Giant at the end of Founders Grove trail (0.6 miles), crane your neck at the immensity of the trees at Stephens Grove Trail (0.8 miles), or wonder at the bright green carpet of redwood sorrel at Grieg-French-Bell Grove (1 mile).

Add to my favoritesHUM Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Confusion Hill

Confusion Hill dates from 1949, meaning this is retro roadside kitsch at its best. The central attraction here is the Gravity House (think Santa Cruz Mystery Spot), but Confusion Hill also offers a half-hour small-gauge train ride through an appealing mountain forest. Keep an eye out for the “chipalope,” a diminutive chipmunk with antelope antlers that’s the attraction’s fabled mascot. The area is chock full of kitschy fun, from the tasty grub at the Peg House, with its “Never Don’t Stop” motto, to the chain-saw carvings and cryptid paraphernalia for sale at nearby Legend of Bigfoot.

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Grandfather Tree

Since you’re here to see the redwoods, lean into it and really see them. The enormous, ancient Grandfather Tree is some 1,800 years old, with a 24-foot diameter and its own gift shop. Have a snack at the Living Chimney Tree Grill and walk down into the remnants of the tree that gives the spot its name, a huge hollowed-out trunk. Or pop into the One Log dispensary and ask for the code to see the One Log House, a 1946-era tiny house built from a 2,100-year-old redwood.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Avenue of the Giants

This 32-mile stretch of highway has been around since the days when stagecoaches brought throngs from San Francisco to see the giant trees many thought were a hoax. Since 1960, you’ve had the option to cut around this drive to stay on Highway 101, but why would you? It’s just a few minutes longer from end to end than the highway — and many times more beautiful. Pull off at one of the many trailheads along the route and explore the forest.

Add to my favoritesGregory Thomas / The Chronicle

Nothing in Shelter Cove is a straight line, from the shimmer in the air over Black Sand Beach to the roads that wind precipitously from Route 101 down to this remote fishing village. The town is a scattering of quirky houses and cabins huddled under the cliff against what is often a wind-whipped ocean. To take in the views, stop at one of the waterside picnic areas along Lower Pacific Drive, makiing time as well to visit Cape Mendocino Lighthouse. Pause for a beer at Mario’s Marina and watch the occasional plane land at the airstrip across the street. This small downtown area hosts Arts at Heart, a local artist collective where you can pick up souvenirs, along with the Shelter Cove RV Campground and Deli, which serves killer fish and chips. A quick drive is Black Sand Beach, which marks the southern end of the 25-mile Lost Coast Trail, a beloved hiking route through a wild slice of coast.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Chandelier Drive Thru Tree

It’s not a proper Northern California road trip until you’ve driven through a hollowed-out redwood. Happily, you have multiple opportunities to do so. For a classic, simpler experience, drive through the Chandelier Tree in Leggett, or try the Klamath Tour-Thru Tree, 150 miles north in Klamath. For a more elaborate experience, hit the Shrine Drive Thru Tree in Myers Flat.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Glass Beach

There was a time when Glass Beach was covered with so much ocean-smoothed glass that there was almost no visible sand. That bounty was thanks to what locals called the Dumps, an accumulation of the town’s junk at the water’s edge until 1967, when authorities closed the site. Time, tourism and the power of the waves have all taken their toll, which means that if you’re out to see the pebble-size shards of yesteryear, you’re likely out of luck. The waves still crash dramatically here, and the sand that’s pushed and pulled with the tides is still bursting with multicolored gems — they’re just much smaller. For more sea glass content, head to nearby International Sea Glass Museum, which features many remarkable finds from Glass Beach.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Sandwiched between Mendocino and grittier towns along the Redwood Highway, Fort Bragg is a pleasant mix of “historic beach destination” and “no-nonsense Anytown, USA.” Vistas from Pudding Creek Trestle, Noyo Headlands and Pomo Bluffs Park showcase the rugged cliffs and sandy seashore of this part of the coast. Kayak the Noyo River if you’re feeling adventurous. Or visit world-famous Glass Beach, the town-dump-turned-sea-glass-treasure-trove. Ride through the redwoods on the 130-year-old Skunk Train to see a bit of the area’s history. Afterward, stop by the old Union Lumber Company store, which has been converted into a mini mall. Top off your visit with a meal at one of the restaurants in Fort Bragg’s compact, charming downtown.

Add to my favoritesYalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Skunk Train

The name Skunk Train comes from the distinctive stench of the fuel that powered the historic cars that have plied this railway for more than 130 years. This was the last train to deliver mail in the U.S. until 2003. Now the mix of historic cars and open-air platforms offers another fun opportunity for visitors to get out into the redwoods and learn a little local history. The open-air cars are pleasantly breezy, especially with redwoods rising all around and accompanied by a cocktail or bag of popcorn from the snack car. If your schedule doesn’t match up or you prefer more exercise with your train experience, try the line’s rail bikes. And for train enthusiasts or those with more time to spend, the Skunk Train can still take you all the way to Willits.

Add to my favoritesCavan Images / Getty Images

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse

Taller and more traditionally designed than its cousin in Shelter Cove, the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse sits on a spit of land between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. A spur off Route 1 winds past the white sand and clear blue water of Caspar Beach to the light station, a slice of greenery and rocky cliffs accessible via hiking trails or a walk along the road. The lighthouse also hosts a small museum full of local history and marine science.

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Russian Gulch State Park

Most people stop at Russian Gulch for the photo op — the park offers a spectacular view of the dramatic Fredrick W. Panhorst Bridge and plunging cliffs around — but it’s also a prime spot to picnic, stretch your legs and learn a little about the area’s local history. It’s named for the settlers that plied this coast in search of seal and otter furs starting in the early 1800s. The park offers easy access to hiking, including beautiful water views along Headlands Trail (0.75 miles). That walk includes a stop at the odd, oddly spectacular Devil’s Punchbowl, a 100-foot-wide, 60-foot-deep sinkhole that fills with ocean water at high tide and features an impressive waterfall during the wet season.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

With its pretty Victorian houses and cliffs plunging into the ocean, Mendocino is one of the most picturesque spots in Northern California. The town manages to squeeze several blocks of earthy-crunchy cafes, art galleries and wine bars onto a compact peninsula. Tucked among them is the bright red and green Temple of Kwan Tai.

Architecture and culture aside, the natural beauty surrounding Mendocino is the real highlight here. Start your morning on the cliffs of Mendocino Headlands State Park, take in the exotic flora at Mendocino Botanical Garden, then spend the afternoon by the beach at Big River or the lighthouse at Point Cabrillo.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Mendocino Headlands State Park

This park, a quick jaunt from town, features huge, slablike cliffs dropping dramatically into aquamarine pools below. It’s a lovely stop for a picnic and picture taking if you’re in a hurry, or for exploration by foot, canoe or kayak if you have more time. The Headlands Trail (4 miles) is one way to explore the area in depth.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Little River Blowhole

A short trail through the Little River Cemetery takes you to a odd geologic feature that started as a blowhole but has eroded into a punch bowl. At high tide, ocean waves funnel through a narrow rock tunnel and empty into the punch bowl’s sandy bottom. During nights when there’s a full moon illuminating the Gold Rush-era cemetery and a low tide at sea, drum circles will occasionally form in the depths of the punch bowl — percussionists rappell down with their instruments using a fixed rope at the site.

Add to my favoritesMichael Maloney / The Chronicle

Van Damme State Park pygmy forest

This so-called pygmy forest formed when trees are stunted by low-nutrient soil that sits on ancient former ocean floor. The result is a collection of natural bonsai, with half-inch tree trunks boasting decades of growth rings. The pygmy forests of California’s North Coast (found at Salt Point, Van Damme and Jughandle state parks) formed due to an “ecological staircase” made of giant terraces uplifted from the ocean floor over many millennia. The quarter-mile Pygmy Forest Discovery Trail at Van Damme sits just inside the park’s southern entrance, and its boardwalk wends through stands of miniature pines and cypresses that normally might tower more than a hundred feet. For a longer jaunt, try Jughandle, where you can play giant on the 2.5-mile Ecological Staircase Trail.

Add to my favoritesDavid Zentz / Getty Images

The hub of the late 19th century North Coast logging industry is now a booming creative community. The wares of this tiny coastal town’s disproportionately deep bench of artistic talent can be discovered at the Artist’s Collective Gallery, a shared exhibition space for 30 local artists. Elk’s gastronomic culture is also surprisingly robust. The Elk Store’s stacked-high deli sandwiches — particularly the banh mi with house-smoked pork belly — are standard provisions for beach picnics. The Restaurant at Harbor House Inn, where celebrated chef Matthew Kammerer serves a 12-course fixed-price dinner featuring purple sea urchin and four types of seaweed sourced from the property’s private ocean cove, is currently the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Mendocino County. For a dose of nature, have a seat on a driftwood log at Greenwood State Beach or watch the harbor seals at Navarro Beach.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands

In March 2014 former President Barack Obama declared these 1,700 undeveloped acres as the only onshore section of the California Coastal National Monument. A rich microcosm of wildlife, from humpback whales to peregrine falcons to the endangered Point Arena mountain beaver, thrive in the equally wide variety of habitats. A quintessential visit includes a stop at the historic Point Arena Lighthouse, a wander along the 5.7-mile out-and-back coastal trail and a photo opp teetering atop one of the sandstone spheres at Bowling Ball Beach.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

B. Bryan Preserve

Animal conservationists Frank and Judy Mello established the 110-acre B. Bryan Preserve in 2004, not just to restore populations of threatened species (including the greater kudu antelope and Rothschild’s giraffe), but also to spread the word about Africa’s natural wildlife habitats, declining due to an increase in poaching and intensified political unrest. Each motorized tour — self-guided is an option — culminates in hand-feeding carrots to the giraffes.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Not that this town wasn’t already on the map before March 2014, when President Barack Obama established 1,665 acres of its coastal prairie as the first onshore addition to the California Coastal National Monument, but such a presidential declaration can be a reputational boon and boost for the local economy. Of the varieties of hikeable terrain here, one landmark has been helping travelers get their bearings since 1870: The Point Arena Lighthouse (the tallest of its kind on the West Coast at 115 feet). Another vestige of the logging era is Point Arena Pier, which was rebuilt in the mid-1980s after a 1983 storm dismantled its forebear. Anglers have been known to hook cabezon, buffalo sculpin, sea perch and even octopuses from its railings. It’s also been a favorite place for locals to sit on the dock of the bay with a pie from the iconic Point Arena Pizza and watch the whales float by.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Bowling Ball Beach

Crucial to visiting this Point Arena beach is checking the tide tables. Peak low tide is the best time to see the dozens of globular sandstone concretions, shaped by millennia’s worth of whipping winds and crashing surf. From the north end of the parking lot, take a short hike through a meadow, which will lead to a rickety ladder — some scrambling over boulders will be in order. Then walk along the beach for a half mile to see these geologic wonders.

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Surf Market BBQ

For the last decade, this vintage gourmet grocer has been mounting a festive weekend barbecue to live music in its parking lot, drawing anyone who finds the aroma of smoke and charred meat irresistible. Over grills smoldering with white-hot mesquite charcoal, the market’s skilled pitmasters prepare baby back ribs, rotisserie chicken and tri-tip to their tenderest smoky-sweet potential. Since the barbecue experience is often judged by the available sides, Surf Market’s roasted sweet potatoes and corn on the cob are slathered with butter and then topped with chile crunch.

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Oz Farm cabins

Cabins on Oz Farm, a 17-acre, off-the-grid horticultural oasis powered by wind and solar, include yurts and a two-story octagonal shanty called the Tower that evokes a stove-top espresso maker. The most architecturally striking are the Domes, on the south bank of the Garcia River, which hark back to the counterculture structures handbuilt in the Mendocino backwoods. In the spirit of the surroundings, guests can order a CSA farm box and purchase bottles of estate-brewed hard cider made from over 50 varieties of European and heirloom apples grown on Oz Farm’s orchard.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

The rural Sonoma Coast seems like an odd place for a globally acclaimed utopia of modernism, but nevertheless one exists on a jagged coastal shelf that was once a late-19th century ranch. In 1963, visionary developer Al Boecke, landscape designer Lawrence Halprin and the San Francisco architecture studio MLTW broke ground on Sea Ranch, a residential community driven by nature, a philosophy inspired by area’s Indigenous Pomo nation.

Clad in local redwood, the exteriors of structures here develop the familiar weathered-gray patina of coastal trees and echo the color of the frequently soupy setting. Homes are arranged perpendicular to the coast for democratic access to ocean views, while others are intentionally tucked behind cypress hedgerows for protection from the elements. The hamlet’s 10-mile-long bluff-top trail offers opportunities to descend to black sand beaches and tide pools, plus close-ups of the groundbreaking architecture.

Add to my favoritesKathleen Duncan / The Chronicle

Coastal Bluff Trail at Sea Ranch

This 10-mile trail fronts Sea Ranch’s jagged coastal shelf and leads to a variety of outdoor experiences, not to mention endless close-ups of the modernist enclave’s iconic architecture. Be sure to stick to public-access paths. Head down to Black Point Beach, just a two-minute walk north from the newly renovated Sea Ranch Lodge for a perspective on the coastal terrace from the bottom of the bluff. Swimming is highly discouraged due to dangerous rip tides.

Add to my favoritesGeorge Rose / Getty Images

Meyers Grade Road from Jenner to Timber Cove

This higher-altitude detour is popular for motorists seeking a brief respite from the twists and turns of Highway 1. Along this approximately 11-mile route, you’ll find Fort Ross Winery. A reservations-required, 90-minute wine tasting at the estate — a modern mountain cabin surrounded by forests and meadows — is paired with small chef-prepared bites like risotto with leeks or beef sliders with peri-peri sauce, making the winery a pleasant pit stop for the peckish over-21 set. If the coast happens to be socked in, you’ll be above the fog line, which will feel like you’re floating, no wine required.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

You may not recognize Bodega Bay as the location for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 thriller “The Birds.” But take a closer look at the subdued, treeless landscape and old-school fishing harbor, and you’ll soon be able to imagine large flocks of fowl darkening the sky. The old Potter Schoolhouse (now a private home), was the site of a key bird attack in the film, and can be found a few miles inland in the town of Bodega. Not far from there is the Casino Bar & Grill, hardly a gambling hall as the name implies, but rather a favorite among locals for its homey tableau and sophisticated, farmers’-market-driven menu.

Beach camping is popular in Bodega Bay. Where the Bodega Dunes campground is more secluded — that is, by a pleasantly strollable mile — from the popular surfer haunt Bodega Dunes Beach, Doran Regional Park has a beachside campground for immediate toes-in-the-sand gratification. Doran’s Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail, a 1.2-mile loop around saltwater marsh, turns a morning constitutional into a birding excursion worthy of the town’s cinematic history. On any given day, you may see northern harrier raptors, Bewick’s wren, merlins and maybe even a bald eagle.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Bodega Head

Atop this granite promontory that protects the town of Bodega Bay from stormy ocean weather, the 1.7-mile Bodega Head Nature Trail loops through windswept meadows of California poppies, lupine and aster, plus large patches of ice plant. From November through April, when gray whales make their annual migration from the cold feeding grounds of Alaska to Baja’s warm calving lagoons, this bulbous landmass is a prime viewing spot along their 10,000-mile round-trip journey.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Oysters on Tomales Bay

A slurping excursion to Marshall, on the eastern shore of Tomales Bay is a favorite pastime of Bay Area residents. Slide into a picnic table at Hog Island Oyster Co., where a selection of freshly harvested oysters — from buttery Kumamoto to French Hog, a rare variety with coppery notes — is served raw with a side of Hogwash, the jalapeño-spiked house mignonette.

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Chicken Ranch Beach

In the gently lapping waters of this under-the-radar beach in Inverness, on the west shore of Tomales Bay, swimmers may be surprised to find no fowl in sight, but rather juvenile bat rays skimming the shallows and fist-size jellyfish farther from shore, making this beach a captivating aquarium setting for swimmers, paddleboarders and kayakers. See nearby Blue Waters Kayaking for rentals.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Heidrun Meadery

This wine producer, located on a pastoral 300-acre former dairy farm just outside of Point Reyes Station, puts a spin on Northern California’s winemaking heritage by fermenting honey with water to create sparkling mead. If you’re new to this grape-less style, a tasting flight is a good introduction to the “flower to flute” fizz.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

As the main commercial district for the Point Reyes National Seashore, this no-stoplight town’s culture quotient is higher than that of most rural outposts. The destination officially came to be in the 1870s when a train depot was built on a dairy pasture belonging to a ranching heiress. That frontier feeling endures, perhaps due to the main drag’s original late-1800s Italianate-style edifices. Point Reyes Station’s two gourmet grocers, Palace Market and Toby’s Feed Barn, are stacked with packable artisan provisions. As for a relaxing apres-adventure scene, knock back a cold one in the dark and musty Old Western Saloon, a mainstay since 1860.

Add to my favoritesTalia Herman / Special to The Chronicle

Point Reyes Lighthouse

This far-flung, westernmost point on the Point Reyes National Seashore also happens to be the foggiest — and second-windiest — spot along North America’s Pacific coast. After a 45-minute drive from the town of Point Reyes Station, the journey culminates in a 313-step descent to the historic lighthouse, which transmitted its inaugural beams a whopping 24 miles out to sea in 1870 thanks to its “first-order” Fresnel lens, restored for posterity in 2019.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle

By now, this little shoreline bohemia’s begrudging attitude toward outsiders just adds to its charm. For a place that takes its hidden-gem status perhaps too seriously, enchanting amenities seem tailor made to oblige respectful visitors: There’s a vintage inn (Grand Hotel) and a cool new vacation rental (Ocean Parkway House). There are quaint eateries (Coast Cafe) and drinkeries (Smiley’s Saloon, rumored to be the oldest continually operating watering hole on the West Coast). Surf schools (Bolinas Surf or Tamalpais Surf Club) capitalize on Bolinas Beach’s beginner-friendly waves. And art and history are under one roof at the Bolinas Museum. The shoreline of the Bolinas Lagoon, once lined with hotels, is now a 1,100-acre protected tidal estuary, part of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, where harbor seals, large waders like herons and egrets, and birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, take refuge.

Add to my favoritesDon Feria / Special to The Chronicle

Visitors arriving to Stinson Beach have either cruised in on a roller-coaster section of Highway 1, hiked in via challenging footpaths in the labyrinthine Mount Tamalpais trail system, or completed the famous Dipsea Race, which has led racers 7.5 rugged miles from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach since 1905. You’d think such arduous travel would discourage tourism in this normally sleepy coastal town, but it seems only to make it more alluring.

This former World War II observation post turns into a slice of beachy Americana on weekends and especially on patriotic holidays, when barbecue picnics fill the grassy 51-acre beach park. Colorful umbrellas dot the town’s eponymous attraction, a 3-mile-long crescent of white sand beach; surfers and skimboarders vie for easygoing waves and frothy shore break, respectively; and the overall mood among Stinson Beach visitors is flag-wavingly festive.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Agate Beach

Predominantly pink thanks to a proliferation of coralline algae, the tide pools at this large shale reef on the southern tip of the Point Reyes peninsula can be easily accessed through Agate Beach in Bolinas. Just like all discovery missions to the intertidal zones along the California coast, it’s best to visit Duxbury, a state marine conservation area, during an ebb cycle (consult the NOAA tide table).

Add to my favoritesGabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

Dipsea Trail

This quintessential Marin County trail dates to 1905, when two friends — members of San Francisco’s Olympic Club — made a wager: Who would finish first in a strenuous footrace over 7.5 miles of rugged Mount Tamalpais terrain, starting at the Mill Valley train depot (Cascade Drive, Cascade Way and Molino Avenue in Mill Valley) and ending at the Dipsea Inn, a hotel in the coastal town of Willow Camp (now known as Stinson Beach). But you don’t have to participate in the race to enjoy the trail. If you finish in Stinson Beach, consider a dip in the sea to celebrate.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

In picturesque Sausalito, houses either cling to hillsides or, famously, float on the bay. Taking a self-guided tour of Sausalito’s iconic floating homes is a classic way to pick up the local vibe, whether by land or by sea. From Sea Trek on Richardson Bay, rent a kayak and paddle 15 minutes due north.

While downtown Sausalito is a borderline tourist trap, strolling the promenade is practically obligatory. At Copita Tequileria y Comida, the juicy lamb quesabírria is a gamey, gourmet take on a trendy dish, and more than 100 tequilas and mezcals are available. Head to Fish, at the Marina Plaza Harbor, for piled-high albacore tuna melts, grilled local octopus stew and crab rolls to celebrate peak-winter Dungeness season.

Sausalito is also home to major forces of art and design. The Headlands Center for the Arts, in historic Fort Barry, offers immersive experiences — open houses, workshops, nature walks, exhibitions and community meals — for visitors to engage with artists in residence. And a tour of the original Heath Ceramics factory on Gate 5 Road is full of historic and artistic insight into the award-winning mid-century brand.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Golden Gate Bridge

This globally recognized marvel of engineering, constructed in the 1930s, attracts scores of travelers the world over. Pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users can travel the 1.7-mile span via a walkway on its eastern edge, and linger below the 746-foot towers and cables. With two trailheads on Lincoln Boulevard, the Batteries to Bluffs Trail above Marshall’s Beach and Baker Beach features an elevated view of the Pacific Ocean horizon, as well as the Presidio’s western shoreline.

Add to my favoritesGabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

Rodeo Beach

Arriving at this semi-sheltered cove beach toward the end of a loop around Fort Cronkhite (take the Miwok up to Wolf Ridge, then descend on the Coastal Trail) includes a detour through military history. Hill 88, about two-thirds of the way around the loop, once housed Cold War-era Nike missile bunkers and a radar station. Once you reach the beach, you’ll immediately notice its unique sand geology — different iron levels in undersea chert form the multicolored pebbles. Rodeo Lagoon is a brackish habitat for river otters, American goldfinch and the endangered tidewater goby, a small fish that lives its entire life in this shallow body of water.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Hike the Marin Headlands

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Land’s End

At the northwestern corner of San Francisco, Lands End contains hiking trails, a memorial to the USS San Francisco, the West Fort Miley batteries, and the ruins of Sutro Baths. Mile Rock Beach can be found from the Lands End Coastal Trail, and is a ruggedly beautiful place to enjoy the sunset. The Lands End Lookout Visitor Center was added in 2012, and has indoor exhibits and videos on the natural and cultural history of Lands End, Sutro Baths, and Sutro Heights.

Add to my favoritesStephen Lam / The Chronicle

Between the city and the Great Highway, which runs along Ocean Beach, Sunset and Richmond district residents embrace the neighborhoods’ reputation for fog with a wink, knowing it’s often sunnier than visitors expect.

Start your journey by having brunch at Outerlands, known for its driftwood décor and delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. Or, visit Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant to discover why the margaritas have a global following. While Playland, the storied seaside amusement park, is long gone — those in search of outdoor fun have a wide swath of Golden Gate Park to enjoy, from watching the bison paddock’s shaggy residents to lounging near six of the park’s 10 lakes.

Shoppers in search of material items that have a strong sense of this area’s vibe should drop in at Mollusk Surf Shop or General Store in the Sunset.

Add to my favoritesCarlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Ocean Beach

This 3.5-mile beach forms San Francisco’s western border, and at one time, it was separated from the rest of the city by a vast sand-dune wilderness. Between 1850 and 1926, 20 ships were wrecked on the beach. Ocean Beach and the Great Highway marks the western edge of Golden Gate Park, and those looking for more history can step into the Beach Chalet to view WPA-era murals with scenes from the everyday life of San Francisco and Golden Gate Park.

Add to my favoritesCarlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Sharp Park Beach

Extending along Pacifica’s waterfront near the Pacifica Municipal Pier and south to Mori Point, this black-sand beach gets its distinctive color from the iron oxide magnetite. The L-shaped pier is one of the most popular fishing locations along the coast, and anglers often pull in catches if salmon, striped bass, surfperch, and jacksmelt. Located on a promontory, 110-acre Mori Point was once a haven for settlers, travelers, and bootleggers, and today is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Add to my favoritesSmith Collection / Gado / Getty Images

It takes only a 20-minute drive to feel as if you’ve been transported a world away from San Francisco. Highway 1 cuts straight through Pacifica, between the Southern Coast Ranges and the Pacific Ocean, and those tempted to blaze a trail south have missed out on this city’s coastal vibe.

Public lands surrounding Pacifica are part of one of the world’s largest urban national parks, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and you can look out to the edge of the horizon from Milagra Ridge and Sweeney Ridge or stop for an oceanside moment at Mori Point.

Since the Tom Lantos Tunnels between Pacifica and Montara were opened in 2013, the old roadway through Devil’s Slide has been converted into a 1.3-mile multi-use trail where hikers, runners, and bicyclists can pause to enjoy gazing at the coastal waters without having to worry about keeping an eye on the road.

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Linda Mar Beach

The southernmost of Pacifica’s large beaches, Linda Mar Beach is also known as Pacifica State Beach. The wide cove and crescent beach are beloved by many who come for the surf, hiking trails, and chilling out on the sand. Nearby merchants include the Nor Cal Surf Shop, and a beachfront Taco Bell that some believe is the most beautiful of the fast-food chain’s locations. To the south, the Devil’s Slide Trail is a 1.3-mile paved foot-and-bike trail that was converted from a roadway to part of the California Coastal Trail.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is one of the most spectacular, accessible, and protected tidepool sites along the Northern California coast. To get the most out of a visit, come during a low tide; the lowest low tides tend to occur around the time of the full moon and new moon. Winding across the Moss Beach bluffs is the California Coastal Trail, part of an effort to connect more than 1,200 miles of trails along the state’s coastline. Nearby, the historic Point Montara Lighthouse is an 1875 fog signal station and lighthouse that’s been repurposed into a hostel.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Pillar Point Harbor

A haven for both commercial and sport boaters, Pillar Point Harbor is also an ideal spot for those who love the ocean. It’s home to Mavericks, the big-wave surf break that shows up in winter months, and lures avid surfers to either test their mettle against the huge waves, or the more forgiving swell at Surfers Beach at the harbor’s south jetty. Enjoy the view from the beach or handful of harbor restaurants, or venture out on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard at Half Moon Bay Kayak Company.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

With a population of approximately 12,583, the city of Half Moon Bay may be the largest of its coastside neighbors, but it’s still a small town. The region is an agricultural center for farmers, Pillar Point Harbor is an active commercial and sport fishing harbor, and Half Moon Bay is a day-trip haven for Bay Area residents.

Historic Main Street is home to boutique shops, art galleries, cafés and restaurants—many in renovated 19th-century buildings. Sandy beaches line the coast, ideal for beachcombing, long walks, and spying migrating California gray whales.

Big-wave surf spot Mavericks lures skilled surfers eager to ride 60-foot-high waves in winter, but smaller waves also abound, as well as opportunities for stand-up paddling, kayaking, sailing, and fishing. Visit in fall to see fields packed with bright-orange pumpkins just in time for the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival.

Add to my favoritesPeter Prato / Special to The Chronicle

Half Moon Bay State Beach

Half Moon Bay State Beach is comprised of four beaches: Francis Beach, Venice Beach, Dunes Beach, and Roosevelt Beach. The combined 4-mile stretch of wide, sandy beach has day-use parking at each of the four beaches — the most popular of which is Francis. Get sustenance at The Barn, a casual restaurant with locally sourced ingredients, or Dad’s Luncheonette, where reinvented roadside classics are served from an historic train caboose.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Heading south from Half Moon Bay gets you into Slow Coast territory — that 50-mile stretch of coastal land that stretches to Santa Cruz dotted with you-pick farms, produce stands, redwood forests and pocket beaches. Tucked 2 miles inland from the coast, the small town of Pescadero retains its old-school vibe as part of the coast’s farming and ranching community.

Slow down and wander the relaxed main drag, which has a variety of shops, markets, restaurants, and cafés where you can find locally made furniture, wine, olallieberry pies, artichoke bread, and grilled fish tacos. At the edge of town, spy farm animals from pigs to dairy goats. Road bicyclists love riding the lesser-used ribbon of Stage Road that runs from downtown Pescadero to San Gregorio, or even following Pescadero Creek Road into the hills to Loma Mar and La Honda.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Standing 115 feet high at the edge of a rocky outcropping, Pigeon Point Light Station is one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States. Located just outside the town of Pescadero, it’s a great excuse to get close to the ocean without sitting in the sand. Drop in, explore the grounds and snap photos. There’s also a hostel here where you can book a rental house, an ideal coastal escape.

Add to my favoritesLaura Morton / Special to The Chronicle

As California’s oldest resort town, Capitola began as a destination for stressed-out people to escape to the coast.

When you look at the brightly painted cottages along Capitola’s sandy beach, you may understand why. Capitola City Beach has sweeping views of Monterey Bay, a long wooden fishing wharf, and sailboats along with smaller craft like kayaks and paddleboards scattered beyond the surf. Surfers delight in the consistently good waves here, and lessons are plentiful.

The city itself is quite small (just 1.6 square miles) and very much of Capitola looks the same as it did in its early days, but the community offers plenty of modern-day appeal. The Village, the city’s shopping and dining district is packed with big style and flavor. Swing by on Labor Day to catch the Capitola Begonia Festival, which has been around since 1952 and features a parade with begonia-laden rafts floating down Soquel Creek.

Add to my favoritesLiPo Ching / Special to The ChroniclePatrick Tehan / Special to The Chronicle

Seacliff State Beach

A mile-long expanse of sand connects this beach (popular for camping, walking, fishing, and picnicking) with New Brighton State Beach, where wooded bluffs provide expansive views of Monterey Bay. Seacliff is known for its fishing pier that extends out to a concrete tanker, the SS Palo Alto, constructed during World War I. While the ship is closed to the public, it attracts an immense variety of birds and marine life. Nearby, Marianne’s Ice Cream is a great stop for a beach treat.

Add to my favoritesLaura Morton / Special to The Chronicle

Capitola Beach

Right in the heart of Capitola Village where multi-hued buildings line the sand, Capitola Beach is an intimate beach beloved by surfers and beachgoers alike. With plentiful restaurants and shops in the village, there are plenty of options to combine beach time with other pursuits. The 855-foot-long Capitola Wharf sticks out into Soquel Cove, and is often an uncrowded place to fish and enjoy the views. Birds flock to the lagoon that’s formed by Soquel Creek just behind the beach.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Santa Cruz’s most identifiable landmark is a classic West Coast tourist attraction. The 115-year-old boardwalk’s wonderfully garish assortment of theme park rides and carnival games includes the wooden Giant Dipper, the fourth- or fifth-oldest roller coaster in the country. The boardwalk is great family fun during the day and features on-the-sand live music shows on summer evenings. It has also graced the silver screen as the setting for all kinds of Hollywood movies.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Natural Bridges State Park

Named for naturally occurring arches that were carved by the ocean, Natural Bridges State Park has only one remaining natural arch that’s one of the most photographed beach icons in the state. The beach is right on the western edge of urban Santa Cruz and is a popular family park with excellent tide pools at low tide. It’s also home to a eucalyptus grove that has been designated a Natural Preserve for migrating monarch butterflies, which overwinter in this location from mid-October to mid-February.

Add to my favoritesJessica Christian / The Chronicle

Elkhorn Slough

The remainder of an ancient river valley, the main channel of Elkhorn Slough winds 7 miles inland, feeding 2,500 acres of rich marsh and tidal flats. Countless fish, sea lions, and sea otters, as well as pelicans, herons, and egrets call the slough home. Explore by kayak, or on miles of well-maintained trails. Don’t miss spending time in tiny Moss Landing, a fishing village with art studios, antique shops, and seafood restaurants like Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery.

Add to my favoritesHelynn Ospina / Special to The Chronicle

In the middle of the half-moon sweep of Monterey Bay, the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town of Moss Landing is the gateway to the Monterey Canyon, one of the deepest submarine canyons on the West Coast of the United States.

It’s where you can get away to the old-school vibe of California fishing towns that move at nature’s pace. Spot wildlife at Moss Landing State Beach, an important stop along the Pacific Flyway for seabirds and shorebirds, and in Elkhorn Slough, a 7-mile-long tidal slough where you can hike on trails or get a close-up view on a guided kayak tour.

Taste the freshest seafood straight off the boat at local restaurants, such as Phil’s Fish Market and The Whole Enchilada. Literary fans can check out the rare book and reference collection at the Shakespeare Society of America’s New Shakespeare Sanctuary. Or, watch people driving by on Highway 1, knowing they’re missing out.

Add to my favoritesNoah Berger / Special to The Chronicle

Fort Ord Dunes State Park

A former military processing and training center, Fort Ord was decommissioned in 1994 and transferred to California State Parks in 2009. Enjoy the miles of trails on foot or bike, or skip straight to the beach to look for migrating whales. Stop at nearby spots in Sand City and Seaside for an after-adventure thirst quencher at Post No Bills, Counterpoint Coffee, or Other Brother Beer Co.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / The Chronicle

Asilomar State Beach

The 1-mile Asilomar Coast Trail, adjacent to the flat, sandy strip of Asilomar State Beach, meanders among rocky coves where harbor seals and sea otters often seek refuge. Near the trail, the Point Pinos Lighthouse is the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the West Coast, and was also a social hub in early Pacific Grove. A short walk inland is the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary, one of the largest overwintering sites in the country where migrating monarch butterflies spend their time from November to February.

Add to my favoritesBrian Feulner / Special to The Chronilce

Monterey Bay Aquarium

With a mission focused on inspiring conservation of the ocean, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has more than 200 exhibits and 80,000 plants and animals that give visitors a look into the world at and below the surface and its impact on the Earth. Its location on Cannery Row connects it to the area’s fishing and canning industrial-era past, and the evolution of an extractive to a sustainable mindset. Grab a bite at Hula’s Island Grill, which is a member of the aquarium’s Seafood Watch program highlighting environmentally friendly products.

Add to my favoritesLaura Morton / Special to The Chronicle

Monterey has been home to native Rumsien Ohlone communities, has served as the capital of Alta California under Spanish and Mexican rule, and is where the state of California was born with the signing of the state’s first constitution in 1849. Since then, the Monterey region has branched out and grown up, but also retains much of its rich history.

Monterey and its neighbors — small-town Pacific Grove and fashionable artist retreat Carmel-by-the-Sea — have beautiful beaches, performing and fine arts venues, outdoor pursuits, stylish shops, epicurean delights, and an inland region known for wine and agriculture. Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey is steps from the city’s adobes and gardens from the Spanish and Mexican era, and Cannery Row has morphed from a fishing center to a bustling spot with shops, ocean-view restaurants, and a world-class aquarium. Even relaxing on Monterey’s oceanside bluffs may bring the chance of spotting a migrating whale.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / The Chronicle

Old Monterey

When the crowds at Cannery Row become overwhelming, venture to downtown Monterey for a more laid-back atmosphere. The walkable corridor around Alvarado Street features tasting rooms from local wineries, renowned craft breweries and excellent cuisine.

Add to my favoritesLiPi Ching / Special to The Chronicle

Stillwater Cove

Kayakers and paddleboarders love the natural beauty of Stillwater Cove when it’s calm and glassy. The protected inlet between Pescadero Rocks and Arrowhead Point in Pebble Beach also happens to be the backdrop between the 7th and 17th holes of Pebble Beach Golf Links. There’s a fee ($11.25) per vehicle for the famed 17 Mile Drive, but for some, the spectacular landscape is more than reward enough.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Carmel Beach

Right at the foot of Ocean Avenue, Carmel Beach is beloved by many for good surf, evening sunsets, and the long stretch of sand for walking alone or with your best canine pal. There are no bad days when you can witness extreme dog joy here. The beach is an excellent home base for a day trip in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and forays into the village can view local art at the Carmel Art Association Gallery and choose from a wealth of restaurants (such as La Bicyclette and Toro Sushi) for a delicious meal.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / The Chronicle

Garland Ranch Regional Park

Visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea shouldn’t overlook the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, packed with vineyards and hiking trails. The 4,462-acre Garland Ranch Regional Park is a popular spot for hikers (and is also dog friendly), with a wide range of trails — from the East Ridge Trail and Snivley’s Ridge Trail with views of the valley and Ventana Wilderness to the easier Buckeye Nature Trail. Drop in at Folktale Winery & Vineyards for some of the region’s wine and Café Rustica for some California-style comfort food.

Add to my favoritesNic Coury / Special to The Chronicle

Garrapata Beach

Driving south along Highway 1 from Carmel toward Big Sur, Garrapata is one of the first beaches you’ll hit, and it’s a doozy. Spread across a broad cove and flanked by sharp rock outcroppings, it’s a gorgeous slice of NorCal’s rugged shoreline. The surf here absolutely slams, which makes swimming a no-no but creates a transportative auditory sensation — like a cleansing sound bath. Bring a book and a towel and post up beneath the bluffs.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Bixby Creek Bridge

This unmistakable concrete bridge, buttressed by a massive arch that rises 280 feet above the sandy beach below, has been tagged in more than 125,000 Instagram photos. For that alone, it surely ranks as one of Highway 1’s most iconic landmarks. You can’t walk on the span, but you can marvel at it from a small parking lot at its north end. Break out your selfie stick and snap some pics.

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Point Sur Lighthouse

The centerpiece of this state historic park is a lighthouse perched on a chunky volcanic-rock outcropping that juts into the Pacific at Big Sur’s northern edge. The former naval facility here once tracked Soviet submarines. Today, you have to book a docent-led tour to visit, and it’s well worth it to hear the stories of top-secret missions and Cold War military strategy.

Add to my favoritesEric Luse / The Chronicle

Andrew Molera Beach

Kodiak Greenwood / Special to The Chronicle

Sykes Hot Springs

Buried deep in the mountains behind Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is Sykes Hot Springs, an old hippie hangout along the Big Sur River where the water is warm and clothing is optional. To get there, park at the Big Sur Station and hike 10 miles due east of Highway 1 along the Pine Ridge Trail. This is a wilderness zone, and you’ll pass several other glorious backcountry campgrounds along the way. Note: Sykes was once notoriously over-loved, with poop and litter all along the trail out there, so please be especially respectful of the environment here.

Add to my favoritesKodiak Greenwood / Special to The Chronicle

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Clara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Pfeiffer Beach

What a cool spot. The main sandy area at Pfeiffer Beach happens to be a front-row seat to some dramatic sea stacks, one of which features Keyhole Arch, a cavernous tunnel that is one of Big Sur’s most recognizable features. When the sun drops low in the sky, it blasts the arch with spectacular, photogenic shafts of light. Note: The small parking lot here fills up quickly and early, so plan accordingly.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Nepenthe

This historic Big Sur institution marries fine dining with casual vibes and an unbeatable view of the undulating shoreline south for tens of miles. Nepenthe is a rustic lodge-like restaurant with intimate lighting, wraparound windows, a nice wide patio, and quality surf-and-turf menu options. While you wait for an open table, sidle up next to the patio fire pit with a margarita and meet some new friends.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Henry Miller Memorial Library

Clara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Partington Cove

On a bend of Highway 1 north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is Partington Cove. Park on the shoulder and stroll down the steps west of the roadway to a rocky protuberance above the rollicking, foaming ocean. Or head east up Partington Creek on a tough uphill trail that passes through redwood stands before opening into panoramic views of the ocean from on high. The historic, falling-apart Tin House residence, said to have been built as a hideaway by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is up here too, and worth a quick sightseeing detour.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

McWay Falls

You’ve more than likely seen photos of McWay Falls celebrated in travel magazines or floating around the internet. People just love the sight of this natural oddity: It’s a solid stream of water that plunges from a rock outcropping directly into the sandy beach 80 feet below. You can’t access it, and it’s only visible from a narrow viewing platform just off Highway 1 inside Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. But if you’re in Big Sur, stop by for a minute to see what all the fuss is about.

Add to my favoritesKodiak Greenwood / Special to The Chronicle

Esalen Institute

A bastion of Big Sur’s hippie roots, the sprawling retreat center clings to the cliffs on a remote swath of the highway, seemingly unencumbered by the wider world around it. This is a place where weekend clients come to center their spirits and explore the limits of human potential. While it’s generally not open to walk-in visitors, before the pandemic you could visit between 1 and 3 a.m. to take advantage of their thermal baths for a small fee. Hopefully they bring them back soon!

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Jade Cove

This craggy cove has a reputation for generating authentic jade stones that casual visitors can harvest easily along the beach. But that’s not exactly accurate: The place has been well picked over, and removing rocks above the mean high tide is illegal. Still, it’s a gorgeous spot to sit in and marvel at the powerful Pacific. A short hike across a flat meadow gets you to the bluffs. Getting into the coves (there are more than one) is a little trickier and involves a steep descent.

Add to my favoritesVentana Wilderness Alliance

Salmon Creek Trailhead

Here is a remote nook with hard hiking and great rewards. A short 0.3-mile walk through the canyon gets you to the 120-foot cascade of Salmon Creek Falls, but intrepid backpackers use this as a jumping-off point into the Silver Peak Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest. The Buckeye Trail between Salmon Creek and Soda Springs Trailhead offers exceptional views of the southern end of Big Sur. Note: Campfires are illegal here most of the year. Check the Ventana Wilderness Alliance website for updates.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Hearst Castle

At the southern end of Big Sur, above San Simeon, is this historic estate, a monument to Gatsby-era opulence that has made for a fun tourist attraction since 1954. Apart from the 115-room manor, there are gardens and viewing pools, all available to explore. A fun aspect of Hearst is how visitors are all but encouraged to linger: bring a book and some lunch and find a scenic spot to hang out. Tour reservations are strongly recommended.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Elephant seals at Piedras Blancas

The beach at Piedras Blancas is awash in wriggling, sausage-like elephant seals several times throughout the year. They come to molt, mingle and deliver fresh pups. Expect lots of barking and snorting, with the occasional mano-a-mano duel between aggro males. It’s a regular soap opera out there. While the beach is off-limits to visitors, there are viewing areas above that are free and open daily.

Add to my favoritesJason Henry / The Chronicle

Moonstone Beach

Whether you opt for the boardwalk that runs the length of Moonstone Beach on the bluffs above or stroll on the sand below, it’s easy to understand why this single mile is one of the most beloved stretches of coast in California. The views out to sea and up and down the coast are wonderful. There are tide pools to explore, driftwood to admire and at the south end, all manner of gulls, cormorants and egrets to watch in the mouth of Santa Rosa Creek. A string of popular motels line the inland side of Moonstone Beach Drive. For a slightly wilder oceanside walk, head a mile south to Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, where 8 miles of trails spread across coastal bluffs and into Monterey pine forests.

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Nitt Witt Ridge

When you’ve had your fill of Hearst Castle’s studied opulence, go gawk at Nitt Witt Ridge. The late Art “Captain Nitt Witt” Beal spent decades creating his own multi-tiered hillside castle out of flotsam, jetsam, sea-polished stones and whatever else he came across — toilet lids, washer drums, advertising signs, abalone shells and beer cans by the hundreds. The result is a remarkable work of folk art that is a California Historical Landmark. The place recently sold, and tours have been discontinued; check with the Cambria Chamber of Commerce for the latest information. Or just drive by.

Add to my favoritesPatrick Tehan / Special to The Chronicle

Cambria’s two aspects, coastal and arty, are different worlds that are both worth exploring.

Its coastal strand, Moonstone Beach, is a mile-long stretch of bluffs and beach flanked on the inland side by a succession of small inns and upscale motels. The bluffs are laced with trails, and several staircases lead down to the beach.

A quick inland turn from the highway puts you on Main Street with its collection of fine-art galleries and boutiques interspersed with coffeehouses, wine-tasting rooms and restaurants. Cambria’s artsiness doesn’t feel touristy; there’s an authenticity to the galleries and a farm-to-table earnestness at eateries like Linn’s, which has been proffering fresh pies for more than 40 years. There’s a nice dash of quirkiness, too: a local affinity for faux-Tudor half-timbered architecture, and a nonpareil work of folk-art in the form of Nit Witt Ridge.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Harmony

The onetime dairy town of Harmony is now an artists’ haven that proudly proclaims itself the smallest town in California, population 18. You can watch artists at work in a couple of workshops, grab some homemade ice cream or taste wine at Harmony Cellars just up Harmony Valley Road from the little town. Just south of town and across the highway, some of Harmony’s old cattle range is now Harmony Headlands State Park, featuring a 4.5-mile lollipop loop trail out to a some rugged coastal bluffs.

Add to my favoritesJason Henry / Special to The Chronicle

As California coastal towns go, Cayucos is like flyover country — highway travelers tend to zip by on their way to Morro Bay or Hearst Castle. All the better for travelers who put on the brakes in this town, which distills so much into a small beachside footprint. Cayucos is truly on the beach — a broad sandy strand that stretches for miles, clear down to Morro Rock. The water is Central-Coast-cold but the surf is good and the beach is never crowded.

The heart of the town consists of a single street, Ocean Avenue, lined with mostly old-fashioned facades. Pretty much every other building houses an antique shop, one of which, called Remember When, hosts a bunch of vendors on three floors. In other words, if it’s not a beach day, there’s still plenty of cruising to do for collectibles and vintage goodies. Twice a year, the whole street is given over to the Cayucos Antique Street Faire. Don’t miss the historic, 950-foot Cayucos Pier, always worth a stroll to see what they’re catching, or to watch surfers and kiters cutting through the froth.

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“Three stacks and a rock” isn’t great as far as tourism catchphrases go, especially since Morro Bay has so much more going for it than its obvious landmarks.

The town’s trio of 450-foot, curiously beloved smokestacks and the 576-foot dome of Morro Rock may dominate the skyline, but what defines Morro Bay is its relationship to the sea. It has long been, and still feels like, a fishing village. Watching the tos and fros of its endemic fishing boats is part of its charm, and there’s no shortage of harborside places for dining on or purchasing catches of the day. Once you start strolling here, you’ll quickly observe that a 3-mile-long sandspit frames the oceanfront and protects the harbor. That makes Morro Bay Estuary perfect for sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Rentals and guided tours are available, and you’ll almost certainly be shadowed by curious pinnipeds or sea otters.

The town itself stretches up from the estuary to Highway 1, an easily walkable grid with all manner of shops, galleries and eateries. At the south end of town, Morro Bay State Park is home to one of the prettiest campgrounds on the coast, as well as a golf course that’s a fair facsimile of Pebble Beach, minus the hefty greens fees.

Add to my favoritesMason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle

The same qualities that put San Luis Obispo on so many lists of best places to live and happiest places on Earth also make it one of the coolest cities to visit on Highway 1.

It’s a vibrant college town (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) with historical charm — Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is smack dab in the center — that’s walkable, bikeable and enjoys perpetual great weather. If you’re not sipping java at a Scout Coffee sidewalk table, you’re dining by candlelight next to San Luis Obispo Creek, which snakes through the downtown core.

It’s also the cynosure of a burgeoning wine region, distinct from Paso Robles to the north. SLO’s wineries are arrayed south of town in the Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley — gorgeous country worth a side journey. If that’s not possible, drop by Region, a tasting room in downtown SLO that represents 26 local wineries. SLO is a great home base for beaching — it’s 20 minutes to Pismo, Avila or Montaña de Oro. Plus there’s great hiking at the Irish Hills Preserve and the town’s signature summit, Bishop Peak.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Montaña de Oro State Park

Something of a bonus Big Sur, this stretch of SLO coast and mountain is well worth a side trip. Most visitors venture no farther than Spooner’s Cove, a tiny crescent of beach framed by rock formations and tide pools. But there’s also a campground, a dramatic hiking trail that traces the coast along wildflower-strewn bluffs, and a trail that reaches 1,347-foot Valencia Peak for a jaw-dropping view. There’s a bonus to the bonus, too: From the south end of Montaña de Oro, you can access another 3-plus miles of coast on PG&E’s Point Buchon Trail.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Avila Beach the town is the home of Avila Beach the beach, and that alone makes both Avilas worth a visit. The beach is small, but wonderfully protected by framing hills. It’s without question the nicest swimming beach in San Luis Obispo County.

The waterfront town, comprising just a few square blocks, has an old-fashioned feel, very pedestrian friendly, with the obligatory T-shirt shops, snack offerings, bike rentals, a few sit-down restaurants, a microbrewery and a top-notch coffeehouse, Kraken Coffee. The landmark town pier is currently getting a makeover, but there’s another pier north of town that’s the centerpiece of Port San Luis, Avila’s boating- and fishing-oriented neighbor, also ideal for kayaking and SUP. It’s the launching pad for a visit (hike, paddle or van tour) to the 1889 Point San Luis Lighthouse.

Also, Avila Valley is home to the Bob Jones Trail, a 3-mile path to the beach for hikers and bikers, as well as two mineral springs resorts. Avila Hot Springs is a modest day-use place with a huge, naturally headed soaking pool; Sycamore Mineral Springs is a lovely full-service spa and historic hotel tucked up against an oak-studded hillside.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Shell Beach

It’s within Pismo Beach city limits, but locals would never call this neighborhood anything other than Shell Beach. Its most eye-catching aspect from the highway is Dinosaur Caves Park, which has a kids’ playground par excellence and an extensive grassy area overlooking wave-worn headlands. The caves themselves can be explored via kayak — rentals and guides available at Central Coast Kayaks. And the bluffs can be further explored on foot alongside Ocean Boulevard, which is also great for gawking at some stunning residential architecture.

Add to my favoritesKaila Dettman / The Land Conservancy Of SLO County

Pismo Preserve

One of the top recent good-news stories of the California coast is Pismo Preserve — 900 acres of oak-studded hills spared from development several years ago and opened to the public in 2020. Wonderfully sculpted trails weave into the landscape, wander into dense oak groves, and serve up vistas of serene mountainscapes and the Edna Valley, plus coastline stretching from Port San Luis to Point Sal. Don’t be fooled by its proximity to the highway — after two bends of the trail, all you hear is birdsong and hawk cries. The 11-mile network of trails is open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers.

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Monarch Butterfly Grove

As you drive south from Pismo Beach proper and skirt Pismo State Beach’s North Beach Campground, you reach a eucalyptus grove that may or may not be showing more orange and black than green in its high branches. From October to February, this grove attracts overwintering monarch butterflies by the thousands. Or tens of thousands — the numbers of endangered monarchs has surged upward the last couple of seasons, after years of disheartening decline. The dense clusters of gently fluttering butterflies make for a stunning sight. A short trail provides peeking perspective, while a kiosk houses docents and souvenirs. Tip: The trail also cuts through sand dunes to a lovely, vehicle-free stretch of Pismo Beach.

Add to my favoritesNic Coury / Special to The Chronicle

AG, as the locals call it, is well worth a visit, particularly for its historic core, known as the Village.

The heart of the Village is Branch Street, which has wine-tasting rooms at both ends that proffer the bounty of the Arroyo Grande Valley as well as other California wines. The few blocks in between are lined by buildings that date to the early 20th century, housing boutiques, two great coffeehouses — Mule Bakery and Cafe Andrieni — a microbrewery and several sit-down restaurants with outdoor dining. Word to the wise: Don’t miss Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab.

AG’s most charming site is the Swinging Bridge across tree-lined Arroyo Grande Creek. The cable-suspended footbridge (whose forebear dates to 1875) links Branch Street to grassy Heritage Square Park, with its museums, one-room schoolhouse and bandstand, where a brass band might just be offering up some musical Americana.

Add to my favoritesKendrick Brinson / Special to The Chronicle

Pismo State Beach

The ramp and parking area at the foot of Grand Avenue in Grover Beach provide the most convenient access to the hard-packed sand of Pismo Beach. To drive on said sand, purchase a day-use pass and proceed on the state park’s vehicle ramp to drive south. Ask about tides and conditions if you’re in a 2WD passenger vehicle. A large parking lot and a short boardwalk get you onto the northern, vehicle-free stretch of Pismo Beach, where you can walk 1.25 miles to Pismo Pier and downtown Pismo Beach. Or you can venture no farther than the parking lot and just relax at Fin’s Seafood, which has outdoor seating protected by glass from the generally chilly wind.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Oceana Dunes

The state park ramp at the foot of Pier Avenue in Oceano is the gateway to Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, where ATVs and dune buggies can drive on Pismo Beach to access the thousands of acres of sand dunes open to off-road-vehicle use. Shops along Pier Avenue rent buggies and ATVs and provide safety equipment, directions and instruction to get you started. The Oceano Dunes Visitor Center near the ramp is also a great resource for all sorts of dune info, including an exhibit about the Dunites, a utopian sect that lived in the dunes in the 1920s and ’30s. The SVRA is also open to beach and dune camping, for which you’ll need four-wheel drive.

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Oso Flaco Lake

A freshwater lake in the middle of extensive sand dunes sounds preposterous, but that’s exactly what Oso Flaco is. A short, flat trail leads through willow thickets to a boardwalk that spans the lake, making a walk here a gentle experience. Beyond the lake, the boardwalk leads through the Oceano Dunes to a short trail that opens onto the beach. Technically Oso Flaco is in the Oceano Dunes SVRA, but the dunes and beach are off-limits to vehicles here, making this a serene alternative to the OHV hubbub just to the north. Oso Flaco also has decent bass and bluegill fishing, and it’s a favorite site for birders.

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The old farm and rail town of Guadalupe seems frozen in time. Its two-story buildings are more than a century old, while fading advertisements on their brick facades hark back to some vague mid-century era. If it seems like family-run Mexican restaurants fill most of those old buildings today, well, that’s practically true, and you can’t go wrong pausing for a meal in any of them.

Guadalupe also makes much of its proximity to the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, and even if you don’t venture to that isolated stretch of beach and dunes to the west, be sure to stop at the Dunes Center in the heart of town. There you’ll learn not only about the natural history of the dunes but also about a fascinating historical footnote known as the Lost City of DeMille. It was in the nearby dunes that Cecil B. DeMille filmed his 1923 silent epic “The Ten Commandments” — and afterward ordered his “City of the Pharaoh” set to be buried in the sand. Some of it has been excavated, and artifacts are on display in the Dunes Center. Viewing a large chunk of papier-mache sphinx seems somehow a quintessential California experience.

Add to my favoritesGeorge Rose / Getty Images

Hitching Post

There’s pretty much one reason to make the five-minute detour off Highway 1 to tiny Casmalia, and that’s to chow down at the Hitching Post, one of the Central Coast’s most venerated barbecue destinations. The family-run roadhouse has been slow-cooking aged beef over local red oak wood since 1944 in a building that’s more than a century old. (Yes, there are a few other menu options, including ribs, chicken and seafood.) The wine list naturally favors local vintages. The restaurant’s wine and barbecue culture were featured in the 2003 film “Sideways,” though the actual filming took place at the Hitching Post 2, 34 miles away in Buellton.

Add to my favoritesErick Madrid / Special to The Chronicle

Why Lompoc bills itself as the City of Art and Flowers is fairly apparent as you drive through and around town. Seemingly every downtown building is a giant canvas for local muralists, and if your timing is good, you’ll see broad fields brightly spangled with cultivated flowers arrayed nearby. The fields are constantly rotated, but your best bet is to explore just west of town. The flowers, which are grown for seed, are generally blaring their colors from April through September.

As for the murals, there are dozens — you can’t miss them, but they’re worth an appreciative stroll. Some depict local history, some honor nearby Vandenberg Space Force Base, and others are just plain whimsical.

Lompoc’s Santa Rita Hills are the westernmost aspect of Santa Barbara wine country, and wine tasting here couldn’t be more convenient. The Lompoc Wine Ghetto houses a cluster of urban wineries and tasting rooms in an old industrial complex just a block off Highway 1.

Lompoc is also a perfectly situated jumping-off spot for two side trips — west to Jalama Beach for camping, surfing and beach strolling — and east to La Purisima Mission State Historic Park. The 1820s mission is one of the prettiest and most extensively restored missions in the state.

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Jalama Beach County Park

Whether you’re making the twisting, 14-mile drive off Highway 1 to get there, navigating the big west-facing surf or walking your pooch along the isolated, windswept shoreline, Jalama has all the hallmarks of a “find.” Even though there’s a campground with seven simple cabins, a general store and a grill that serves “world-famous Jalama Burgers” (they merit the reputation), Jalama has a throwback, almost counterculture feel, as if you were huddled up against the wind in the middle of nowhere. It’s a favorite with surfers, kiters and radical stand-up paddlers, which means spectating is also one of Jalama’s many pleasures.

Add to my favoritesGeorge Rose / Getty Images

Santa Barbara coast

If you’re driving south, a few miles after Highway 1 rejoins U.S. 101, you emerge from a long stretch of rugged hill country to a view of the Santa Barbara Channel, an expansive vista broken only by the Channel Islands (and maybe the odd oil derrick).

Three state parks along this pre-Santa Barbara stretch of coast are home to three of the state’s most coveted beachside campgrounds, and each has day-use parking for beachgoers. First up is often-windy Gaviota State Beach, in the shadow of a tall Southern Pacific rail trestle. Nine miles down the highway, Refugio State Beach features a palm-lined cove for a bit of tropical ambience. Three miles later is El Capitan State Beach, which boasts tree-shaded campsites by the beach.

Add to my favoritesLiz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Nestled between the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains and the south-facing beaches of Santa Barbara Channel, Santa Barbara almost seems too good to be true. It’s a city that honors its glorious setting and heritage with a prevailing adherence to Mediterranean and Spanish Revival architecture, and every vista in every direction seems just perfect.

Not that Santa Barbara takes itself entirely seriously. For Highway 1 travelers, one of its signature attractions is the five-square-block district known as the Funk Zone. The onetime grimy, semi-industrial site is a concentrated collection of eateries, coffeehouses, wine-tasting rooms, shops and galleries, right at the foot of the city’s main drag, State Street.

A short stroll from there are the beach, Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor — a pleasant combo of working fishing harbor and how-the-other-half-lives yacht slips. Rent a stand-up paddle board or kayak to nose around, or a bike to easily venture a bit farther on the oceanfront Cabrillo Bike Path.

There’s a whole inland world of Santa Barbara as well — lovely State Street, the Santa Barbara Mission and in the mountain foothills, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, devoted exclusively to California native plants.

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Bell Arts Factory

In a sprawling old mattress factory, a boho crowd of artists created the Bell Arts Factory, a community arts center that houses 30 studios, galleries and workspaces, plus workshops, yoga classes and more. It’s like stepping into San Francisco’s Mission District, but before the third-wave coffee shops and condos claimed all the warehouse space.

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Ventura is, by popular acclamation, the last remaining working-class beach town in Southern California – as unpretentious and laid back as Beverly Hills is puffed up and plastic. The geography of the coastline here insulates this town of 100,000 from the sprawl of the Southland, and Ventura is one of the last stops on the highway before the gravitational pull of L.A sets in – a last breath of fresh air before the smog.

The city recently closed off five blocks of Main Street to cars in response to COVID, creating a pedestrian promenade lined with restaurants and cafes. Hit nearby Lure Fish House for tasty bivalves or Finney’s Craft House for a damn good burger. Downtown is home to a growing number of breweries, including regional standout Topa Topa, named for the city’s purple-hued mountain range. If, after your pint, those mountains are calling, you can follow them inland down a lovely (and flat) bike path to the bohemian town of Ojai.

If it’s seawater you crave, Ventura and its harbor are also the gateway to the Channel Islands, SoCal’s fabulously diverse offshore “American Galapagos.”

Add to my favoritesBrian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Santa Monica Mountains

If you need your chakras cleansed, you could do worse than Topanga Canyon. The town — not much more than a collection of charming wooden shops — is something of an old hippie commune and was once home to Neil Young, Jim Morrison and the Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson. After charging your crystals, Topanga State Park has some of L.A. County’s best hikes. From craggy Eagle Rock you can see clear to Catalina Island.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Neptune’s Net

Neptune’s Net is perhaps the most famous of the seafood shacks that line this stretch of highway, a delightful outdoor stop that attracts bikers and beachcombers and everyone in between. (Go for the fried shrimp taco.) But there are more: Malibu Seafood, farther south, makes a mean fish and chips; Broad Street Oyster Co., serves a lobster roll that would make a Mainer proud.

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Leo Carrillo State Park camping

There are precious few campsites in SoCal that come with an ocean view — even fewer near an excellent surf break. Leo Carrillo State Park backs up against the Santa Monica Mountains, which is chock full of hiking trails, and has a mile and a half of pristine beach at the northernmost edge of Los Angeles County. Book early.

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Will Rogers State Beach

The sands of Will Rogers State Beach were featured in the Keanu Reeves action flick “Point Break” and, even more famously, the ’90s television show “Baywatch.” The beach is excellent. With miles of sand, it’s lively but not crowded, with beach volleyball galore.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Surfrider Beach

Steps from the highway is Surfrider Beach, the most famous surf spot on earth. It may also be the most crowded wave on earth, but it’s still a pilgrimage any surfer has to make. If surfing’s not your thing, Malibu’s pier is perfect for a stroll, and the fancy farm-to-table restaurant there, Malibu Farm, is lovely.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Few beach towns are so etched into our psyche as Malibu, playground of the rich and famous, incubator of mainland surf culture.

The Pacific Coast Highway opened this stretch of coastline to Angelenos in the 1930s. Surfers came first, recognizing one of the world’s best point breaks when they saw it; “Gigi,” the 1958 surf classic, put the town squarely on the beach party map. Then the celebs moved in, building coastal mansions and the homes that line Highway 1 all the way into L.A.

There’s plenty to do in this sandy Xanadu. The Santa Monica Mountains offer great hiking and biking. Surfrider is the most famous beach, but the best one is probably Zuma, with its ample parking, soft sand and lifeguards. If you’re looking for something more secluded, park at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, stop in for a drink or bite, then take in idyllic Paradise Cove. El Matador beach, nestled between two headlands, can feel surprisingly intimate for a beach in a county with 10 million people.

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Within Los Angeles, there is a divide: Westside versus Eastside. Neighborhoods on the Eastside are hipper, more diverse, maybe more exciting. But Santa Monica, standard bearer of the West, looks the way Los Angeles does in your dreams. There are beautiful people eating outdoors, there are palm trees, and it is 74 degrees all year long.

The town of Santa Monica has distinct zones and it’s surprisingly walkable for L.A. County. Above Highway 1 there’s Palisades Park, a long green expanse that follows the sea and is perfect for strolling or jogging. Then, moving east, there’s the bustling shopping area of Third Street, which is one of the nicer outdoor malls you’ll come across. Head up to leafy Montana Avenue if you’d like to shop at smaller businesses and gawk at the houses Hollywood producers live in.

Ocean Park, Santa Monica’s southernmost neighborhood, is a good place for dinner, with everything from legs and thighs at the Caribbean-style Cha Cha Chicken to a full duck à la presse at Pasjoli. When evening falls, Father’s Office is rightly known as one of the better bars in the country.

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Santa Monica Pier

With its 85-foot-high Ferris wheel jutting out into the Pacific, Santa Monica Pier is the closest thing in SoCal to a mirror image of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Is it touristy? Yes. A bit downtrodden? Sure. But the rickety roller coaster comes with a great view and, there’s funnel cake here, too. Once the novelty wears off, Santa Monica’s famous Third Street Promenade mall is a five-minute walk away.

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Point Dume

Pull off the road near Paradise Cove and walk a perfect beach before you hit civilization in L.A. Point Dume is about a mile and half north, a promontory lording it over several idyllic rocky coves. Climb the very sketchy steps to the top of the bluff and scan the horizon for passing whales and dolphins.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Venice is a place of wild contrasts: a hippie stronghold where houses sell for an average of $2.1 million, the birthplace of the counterculture skate scene and the spiritual home of bodybuilding, and now the heart of L.A.’s tech scene.

The city crams a lot into 3 square miles, and, luckily for you, much of it can be seen on foot. Along the sea, you have the Venice Boardwalk, home to Muscle Beach (the outdoor gym Arnold made famous), a world-class skate park and thousands of the self-defined weirdos who make California great. Walk a few blocks inland and you hit Abbot Kinney Boulevard, an enticing post-hipster shopping street that specializes in flat whites and sunglasses few can afford. And follow your nose a few more blocks east to Lincoln Avenue, where you can find some of the best al pastor tacos on L.A.’s Westside, griddled up on sidewalk carts before your eyes.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Venice Canals

Inspired by one of the world’s most cherished historic cities, the canals here are absolutely nothing like their Italian counterparts. But a walk down these tacky urban waterways — which afford excellent opportunities to peer directly into $7 million homes — is so L.A., even the most loyal NorCal native can’t help but enjoy it.

Add to my favoritesGeorge Rose / Getty Images

LAX In-N-Out

There are 221 In-N-Outs in California and at least 74 in L.A. alone. And yet, the little one beside Los Angeles International Airport, just off the highway, may be the best outpost in the country as well as being a local landmark. Watch wary Californians tuck into their first double-doubles in weeks to the sound of screaming jumbo jets and enjoy.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Dockweiler State Beach

For a city built along the beach, L.A. is short on places for that paramount summer evening activity: the beach bonfire. Dockweiler State Beach is your best bet for grilling dogs and toasting s’mores on a warm night. It gets crowded, so arrive early. Also, be warned: The police enforce the beach’s no-alcohol policy. Hit El Segundo Brewing, a short drive away, instead of risking a citation.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Manhattan Beach Pier

Manhattan Beach, a nice beach town toward the southern end of the Santa Monica Bay, is an ideal stopover for when the kids start making noise in the backseat. At the end of the town’s quaint pier is a 1920s-era aquarium. Gawk at the small sharks and eels, then head back downtown for a cone at Manhattan Beach Creamery, an old-school ice cream shop.

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King Harbor

King Harbor, in Redondo Beach, is a working harbor right next to some of the most expensive real estate in the country — a place where gruff fishermen rub elbows with confused tourists. Rent a kayak or sailboat and make your way toward the surprisingly rugged Palos Verdes peninsula. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head down to Quality Seafood, the largest family-owned fresh fish market on the West Coast. Order something alive and watch the white-aproned workers gut it and cook it for you over a fire. Fresh Santa Barbara urchin, cracked right before your eyes, is magic.

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It’s about 10 years too late to break the news about Long Beach’s “revitalization.” The city, home to the country’s largest port and the birthplace of Snoop Dogg, long conjured imagery of longshoremen and gangster rap.

Today, Long Beach is a delightfully diverse, lively city. Fourth Street is the spot for chewy artisanal sourdough pizza, old record shops and vintage clothing. Head toward the water and stop by the mammoth Aquarium of the Pacific, or get brunch on the Queen Mary, a 1936 ocean liner moored by the dock, which just reopened after years of COVID closure. Belmont Shore is a cute beach town hidden within this industrial city, and nearby Rosie’s Dog Beach has more dogs going nuts in the shore break than you can shake a stick at.

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Huntington Beach International Surf Museum

After a long and contentious trademark battle with Santa Cruz, Huntington Beach won the right to call itself “Surf City, USA.” Outside of Hawaii, Huntington has as much surf history as anywhere, and the town’s International Surfing Museum is a charming way to while away an hour or two. It features funky old boards and stoke lore galore. If you’ve never surfed, the beach here is a nice spot to learn when the waves are small.

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Wealthy, laid-back and sunny, Newport Beach is the theme song of the “OC” teen soap in physical form. The interesting parts of town are mostly spread across a peninsula and a couple of islands.

Your first stop is the newly redeveloped Lido Marina Village, which is filled with hip shops and waterfront alfresco dining, and connected to charming Lido Island, a pleasant spot to stroll. Next, cleanse your palate at the Balboa Fun Zone, an old-school arcade and amusement park that somehow hasn’t been converted into condos.

Then, if your feet are tired, rent an electric Duffy boat and cruise around the placid harbor at 5 mph with a bottle of wine.

Add to my favoritesAllen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Crystal Cove State Park

With over 3 miles of spectacular beach and acres of parkland, Crystal Cove State Park is one of the last undeveloped stretches of coastline in Southern California. (Excluding Camp Pendleton’s acres of perfect beach, 40 miles south, that is.) There are tide pools, waves good for body boarding, and a beach cafe and bar. Also, State Parks rents out refurbished old cottages just above the sands. There aren’t too many places like this in the state.

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Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve

Off the coast of Laguna Beach, a series of state marine reserves protect 6 miles of rocky reefs and sprawling kelp forests that are home to octopuses, seals, dolphins and more. Rent a kayak in Laguna and there’s a strong chance you’ll see some of these sea creatures. Brave the chilly waters with scuba or snorkel from the aptly named Diver’s Cove and you’ll be in for a rare treat.

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Carlsbad Flower Fields

From March to May, the hills of northern San Diego County come alive for a brief floral show that rivals any in the country. Part working ranch, part tourist attraction, the Carlsbad Flower Fields feature 50 acres of ranunculus, a technicolor display that’ll inspire gardeners and Instagram influencers alike. Also included: a sweet pea maze, u-pick berries and rows of red, white and blue petunias that make up a 300-foot-long American flag. Buy a bouquet on your way out.

Add to my favoritesGabe L’Heureux / Getty Images

Encinitas pulls together the best parts of northern San Diego County in one place. Several beach towns make up this city of 100,000, but wherever you stroll, it’s all sandals and jean shorts, yoga and spearfishing, fish tacos and kombucha. North of town, Leucadia is eclectic and funky; to the south, Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a beach town within a beach town, home to Swami’s, one of the state’s best surf breaks. If you want to wake up with the sea breeze, save on a hotel and book a campsite at San Elijo State Beach. Cliffside spots are just $35 and overlook the Pacific.

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Del Mar Racetrack

Built in 1936 and replete with Spanish revival architecture, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club recalls an era when a day at the racetrack was a red-letter event. But after years of declining attendance, this track was in a funk, frequented only by people actually interested in horse racing. In the past decade, though, Del Mar Racetrack has brought back the glamour. There’s an opening-day hat contest, a focus on social media and fashion, and, of course, good old-fashioned betting.

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Balboa Park

Every city worth its salt has a big park, but few rival San Diego’s. Larger than Golden Gate Park, Balboa Park is not only a green haven in the middle of the city, it’s an art lover’s paradise. Its jewel is the Spanish Village Art Center, a collection of 85-year-old Spanish Revival-style buildings — think white plaster and red tile roofs — that are home to hundreds of art studios and shops. Walk five minutes in any direction and you’ll find a museum to enjoy, too. There are 17 total in the park, and the Timken Museum of Art, with its 17th century masterpieces, is free.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

San Diego has been dismissed as a mini L.A. — uncontrolled sprawl in the guise of a city, but without Hollywood, the Getty or Beverly Hills. But San Diegans don’t care. They know they live in paradise.

La Jolla, with its renowned playhouse, is completely charming. North Park and South Park, just above downtown, are walkable, lively neighborhoods with cafes, vintage shops and great gay bars. Petco Park is every bit as nice a ballpark as Oracle and a lot warmer for a summer night game.

The city is a bastion of Mexican food. Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista serves Tijuana-style tacos that’ll make you re-evaluate every other taco you’ve had. But be careful not to fall prey to the cult of authenticity: They put french fries in their burritos here and smother whole plates of them in nacho toppings, too.

You should paddleboard in the bay, bike the length of the coast, hike up Grant Hill for the view and stop by Waterfront Park for a picnic among the late French American artist Niki de Saint Phalle’s weird, wild sculptures. Then, yes, you should go check out the San Diego Zoo, the most visited and perhaps best zoo in the country.

Add to my favoritesClara Mokri / Special to The Chronicle

Coronado Island

Perched in the middle of San Diego’s busy bay is the resort island of Coronado. The Hotel del Coronado, which opened in the 1880s, is the centerpiece — and the rumored inspiration for the Eagles’ song — but you don’t have to check in to enjoy the island. Rent a bike and see the whole coast. Or make like a SEAL — the Navy’s elite forces train on the island — and swim in the warm sea. There’s a busy dog beach, a public golf course with views that would normally cost $25,000 in membership fees, and a charming downtown, too.

Add to my favoritesLenny Ignelzi / AP Images

Tijuana Estuary

The Tijuana Estuary, a riparian oasis trapped between two mega-cities, is your last stop before Mexico. Here, in the largest wetlands in SoCal, right on the international border, you feel miles from the city. There are gentle hikes, ample tracks for horseback riding and excellent birding. The highway ends here, but if you’ve got a passport, Tijuana is just minutes away.

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Credits

Editing and reporting by Gregory Thomas. Reporting by Alissa Greenberg, Leilani Marie Labong, Jill K. Robinson, Robert Earle Howells and David Ferry. Visuals by Clara Mokri. Photo editing by Emily Jan. Editing by Deb Wandell. Design and development by David Deloso / Hearst DevHub and Danielle Rindler / Hearst DevHub. Project management by Brittany Schell / Hearst DevHub. Copy editing by Andrea Behr.

The post The final word highway journey alongside California’s iconic coast appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Gas prices at Schlafer’s Auto Body & Repair in the tiny town of Mendocino in Mendocino County on March 8. [Photo from Galen Bach cropped and contrasted]

The seaside town of Mendocino has a single gas station called Schlafer’s Auto Body & Repair. Yesterday, coastal resident Galen Bach took a picture of the gas pump and thought it worthy of posting on social media. For a regular price of gasoline, a customer of Schlafer’s would pay $8.45, which is just shy of double the national average of $4.25, and 42% more expensive than the average gallon of gas in California.

Patrick De Haan, the Head of GasBuddy.com’s Petroleum analysis team, told us that the price per gallon at Schlafer’s has “a very strong likelihood that this is the most expensive station in America.” De Haan reviewed GasBuddy’s records of current gas prices across the United States, and he told us, “I can’t find any more expensive at the present moment.”

Last summer Schlafer’s made national news for officially being considered the most expensive fuel in the country, at that point charging $6.73 for a gallon of gas. Owner Judith Schlafer told SF Gate’s Freda Moon after she learned their station was currently the most expensive in the country, “It has to be that way, or I’d be out of business.”

Galen Bach, according to him the “best chimney sweep ever”, told us he had to raise his service prices across the board on the coast. He is paying more for parts, gas, and the general cost of living. He remembered buying six bags of groceries recently at Mendocino’s Harvest Market and paying $455.

Currently, the North Coast of California has one of the most expensive gasoline markets, as per AAA’s County Gas Prices map.

The map provides a county-by-county breakdown of the average cost of a gallon of gas. Coming in the first place on the North Coast is Humboldt County at $5.70, second Del Norte at $5.64, third is Sonoma at $5.57, fourth is Trinity at $5.41, the fifth is Lake at $5.43, and coming in sixth for the cheapest gas currently on the North Coast is Mendocino County at $5.35. Worth noting, it looks like Mono County, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains has the state’s highest gas prices at $6.02.

It was just yesterday that California’s average gas price crept above $5 per gallon for the first time in history. DeHaan told the SFGATE yesterday that he could see California’s average gallon of gas costing $6 and a growing number of gas stations charging $8 or more.

This dramatic rise in gas prices is the result of a multitude of forces converging including the deliberate dialing back of domestic oil production in 2019, sanctions against Iran and Venezuela decreasing worldwide supply, the pandemic’s heightened demand for petroleum-based products such as medical plastics, the recent sanctions levied against Russia, and finally a number of taxes specific to the state of California.

Bach told us that when he posted the photograph of gas prices in Mendocino, a heated political debate erupted on his Facebook profile with many Trump voters blaming Biden for the gas prices.

Putting aside politics, the dramatic rise in gas prices has got this father of three thinking about money in a completely different light. With these prices, Bach said, “I have three kids I’m raising. It’s not easy at all.”

The post Mendocino Coast Fuel Station Is the ‘Most Costly in America’ Charging $8.45 Per Gallon – Redheaded Blackbelt appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

LAS VEGAS — Just about an hour before tipoff Saturday night at Orleans Arena, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi articulated, very concisely, what was on the line for BYU in the West Coast Conference quarterfinals against San Francisco.

Everybody already knew that it was a massive game. But when Lunardi speaks, everybody pays attention.

“A BYU win … against San Francisco should result in a record four bids for the WCC,” Lunardi tweeted, and he had the Cougars moving into “Last Four In” the Big Dance.

Unfortunately for no. 5 seeded BYU (22-10), it squandered an opportunity — a Golden opportunity — for a Quad 1 victory and a chance to bolster its resume and get on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

No. 4 San Francisco led almost the entire game and defeated the Cougars 75-63.

Afterward, Lunardi tweeted, “BYU slides out of the projected field with the loss against San Francisco.”

The Dons (24-8), meanwhile, may have clinched their spot in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m proud of my guys. This was a big game for a multitude of reasons. If you’d been listening to the media all week, they were trying to build this up as an elimination game. I didn’t feel that that was the case with our body of work. We left no doubt tonight,” said USF coach Todd Golden.

“We controlled the game after the first four minutes. These guys (Khalil Shabazz and Jamaree Bouyea) are the two best guards in the league. I’m really excited that this team is going to be dancing.”

Golden called it “one of the biggest wins in the last 35 years” in program history.

“It secures our (NCAA) Tournament bid,” he added.

As for BYU? Its NCAA Tournament hopes remain precarious at best. The Cougars could be headed for the National Invitation Tournament.

BYU had no answer for Shabazz and Bouyea. Shabazz poured in 22 points, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range, while Bouyea finished with 18 points and four assists.

What impact did Shabazz and Bouyea have on the outcome?

“Everything is run through them. A big impact,” said BYU guard Spencer Johnson. “They made shots and a lot of tough shots. They were good tonight.”

“They’re terrible players. They’re dangerous,” said coach Mark Pope. “They complement each other really well. They’re also a really disruptive force on the defensive end in different ways.”

BYU, meanwhile, shot just 38% from the field, including a miserable 3 of 20 from 3-point range.

Combined, Gideon George, Caleb Lohner and Trevin Knell hit only 2 of 18 from the floor.

The Cougar offense, which looked so sharp in Friday’s second-round win over LMU, sputtered most of the night against USF.

Alex Barcello ended up with 19 points but hit only 1 of 5 from 3-point territory. Fousseyni Traore recorded another double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds and Johnson added 11 points on 4 of 4 shooting.

“There were some things that we didn’t do as well tonight as we had the last two weeks, some point of attack things that were a little bit surprising that we didn’t manage as well as we had,” Pope said.

“We were 3 of 20 from the 3-point line. Part of that was because we’ve just got to find ways to find each other shots more consistently.”

The game was close throughout the first half as the Dons took a 27-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Early in the second half, the Cougars trailed 31-29, but then Barcello and Te’Jon Lucas picked up their third and fourth fouls, respectively.

The Dons seemed to get stronger as the game went on.

With 13 minutes left, BYU missed three 3s on one possession as Trevin Knell banged a shot off the side of the backboard, Lohner missed another one and then Lucas airballed a 3 that went out of bounds.

Moments later, USF went on an 11-0 run, capped by a Shabazz 3-pointer to grab a 15-point lead, 54-39.

With a little more than four minutes remaining, a floater by Barcello pulled to within eight points, 60-52.

But seconds later, Shabazz responded with another 3-pointer, pushing USF’s lead back to double-digits, 63-52.

“We gave up some easy buckets in transition and it kind of got them going,” Johnson said. “It was nothing huge. Some rebounds we didn’t come up with and didn’t bounce our way.”

In the closing seconds of the game, Bouyea took a pass after a steal and instead of running out the clock, he jammed a resounding dunk. His histrionics after the slam drew a technical foul.

As Golden said later, that was an exclamation point on a convincing win, one that meant a lot to USF’s program.

The victory also meant a lot to Don big man Volodymyr Markovetskyy, a Ukrainian whose father is defending his homeland in Ukraine against Russian forces.

Markovetskyy only scored three points but he made life tough for BYU inside Saturday night.

For the Cougars, it was a forgettable performance.

They made only 11 of 18 free throws in the second half and were outrebounded, 41-37.

Pope described the locker room after the disappointing loss.

“Incredibly competitive guys that put their whole heart and soul into this. Guys played with a great edge the last three weeks, trying to resurrect themselves after taking some hits,” he said.

“They did an unbelievable job fighting back. When you invest that much, it’s hard to lose. They understood the opportunity they had in front of them tonight and they put everything they had into it… It hurts.”

USF is good, Johnson said, but so is his team.

“Credit to them. They played really well. Playing against high-level teams is always a battle,” he said.

“They came out and hit some shots. It just didn’t go our way tonight, but I totally think we’re a tournament team. We have the guys and the resume. We’ll bounce back. We always do and we always want.”

Now the Cougars will wait, a full week, until Selection Sunday, to find out their postseason fate.

“We’re excited to keep playing,” Pope said. “It’s a special group. We’re hopeful.”

The post BYU basketball loses to San Francisco in West Coast Convention match appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The cruise ship will be sailing out of the port of san francisco to various sought after destinations including Mexico, Hawaiithe California Coast, Alaska and the Panama Canal on five- to 15-day cruises available for booking through 2023.

“Princess is proud to have our sixth MedallionClass ship back to provide sought-after cruise vacations,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “It’s inspiring to see guests enjoying real vacations again, and to watch our teammates deliver such meaningful and memorable Princess vacations.”

Ruby Princess offers nearly 900 balconies from which to view the world, an array of entertainment options including Movies Under the Stars and original musical productions, sumptuous dining options from Crown Grill to Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and exciting new top-deck dining venues including Slice Pizzeria and Coffee & Cones. Guests can also relax and renew with rejuvenating spa treatments, the tranquility of The Sanctuary, a top-deck retreat reserved just for adults and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Earlier this month another Princess cruise ship, Majestic Princess, arrived in san francisco for an overnight port call, marking the first cruise to bring guests to san francisco since the industry break. Long-time partners from the Port of san francisco welcomed the cruise line back, recognizing the financial impact to local businesses. Now, with Ruby Princess’ arrival as the city’s hometown cruise ship, small and family-owned waterfront establishments will continue to benefit.

“The Port of san francisco is proud to be the home port of Ruby Princess,” said Elaine ForbesExecutive Director of the Port of san francisco. “For over fifty years Princess Cruises has sailed from the Port of san francisco connecting our local merchants, Fisherman’s Wharf, PIER 39 and our iconic City to communities all-around the world.”

Princess MedallionClass vacations deliver the ultimate in effortless, personalized cruising. It begins with the Medallion, a quarter-sized, wearable device that enables everything from touch-free boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need, delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship.

In addition, guests can share their favorite cruise moments using MedallionNet, the best WiFi at sea, and also stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favorite movies and shows.

Princess Cruises sailings onboard Ruby Princess are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. All fully vaccinated guests must also produce a negative, medically observed COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within two days of their embarkation on all Princess sailings.

For the latest Princess COVID-19 health protocols, please visit https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/covid-19-guest-protocols/.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company’s website at http://www.princess.com/.

Editors’ note:
High-resolution photos of Ruby Princess in san francisco can be downloaded here.

About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the world’s leading international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 14 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year to 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, AlaskaPanama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealandthe South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as “Best Cruise Line for Itineraries.” In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the Medallion device, the vacation industry’s most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to an effortless personalized vacation guests giving more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).

In line with the latest advice from health officials about COVID-19, Princess Cruises is currently enhancing health and safety protocols with input from medical experts and government bodies and assessing how they may impact future itineraries. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed in marketing materials. Click on the following links to stay updated on current Cruise Updates and Health & Safety protocols.

SOURCE Princess Cruises

related links

www.princess.com

The post Hometown Cruise Ship Ruby Princess Debuts at Port of San Francisco for Collection of Cruises to California Coast, Mexico, Hawaii, Panama Canal & Alaska appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

This exciting move will bring a white glove decluttering service to South Florida residents and businesses, as well as a showroom where they can buy and sell high-quality, pre-loved goods

When entrepreneur and investor Luis Perez saw a gap in the marketplace for a high-tech, white glove haul service, he decided to create one—and in 2014, Remoov was launched. Using original algorithms to automate the appraisal and resale process of pre-owned items quickly and efficiently, Remoov helps homeowners and corporations declutter by picking up unwanted goods, selling what they can for the owner’s profit, donating what can be repurposed and responsibly disposing of remaining items. After a successful 2020, due in part to the work-from-home lifestyle spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, Remoov more than doubled its profits and is now going national—expanding to Miami from its headquarters in San Francisco.

With this expansion, South Florida residents will get multiple benefits, like a top-of-the-line decluttering service right at their fingertips, the ability to earn 50% of profits from their resold goods and tax benefits for donated items. Goods that can be resold will be done both online and through Remoov’s own showroom. Goods that have been earmarked for donation will be sent to different non-profit organizations in South Florida and clients thereby receive a tax compliant donation receipt. Items that cannot be sold or donated will be disposed of responsibly, in line with Remoov’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.

For consumers, using Remoov’s services is as simple as a three-step process. Customers start by taking photos of the items they want to get rid of, and either texting or uploading them to Remoov’s website with the item name, brand, original price and age. Within one business day, they’ll receive an estimate that includes the cost of the pickup—which is based solely on volume—and, after careful analysis by Remoov’s in-house appraisers, a list of which items can be resold and at what price . Finally, after accepting the estimate, customers will receive a link via text or email where they can schedule a date and time frame for pickup.

Remoov’s expansion to Miami will also come with a third location of its signature showroom, which is purpose-built so consumers can both buy secondhand goods and make money off their own. With the original showroom in San Francisco and a second now taking over a large warehouse in Doral, the company is credited with having the largest collection of quality, pre-owned items for every taste, style and budget. From well-known brands to rare finds, every item there is carefully inspected and valued by Remoov’s team of appraisers and sold at a significant reduction from its original price. Shoppers can pick up their purchases locally or have them delivered throughout the US

“When it came time to grow Remoov and move into a new market, South Florida was the obvious choice,” said Perez. “I am so excited to bring our bespoke service to Miami residents and look forward to making our purpose-built, unique showroom an indelible part of the local community.”

Following its popularity in the Bay Area, Remoov’s showroom is poised to be a hotspot for designers, realtors, commercial and residential buildings and living communities in South Florida that are staging or decorating new spaces. It’s also a top destination for anyone passionate about sustainability and finding rare luxury goods at an affordable price.

Remoov’s Miami office and showroom is located 7457 NW 55th St, Miami, FL 33166, tel: 3053175121. Hours of operation for the Remoov showroom will be MF, 9 am-5 pm, starting on February 14, 2022.

For more information about Remoov’s services, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Remoov

Remoov is a tech-based pickup service that sells, donates, and disposes of a home or office’s pre-owned or used goods. A product of the accelerator program at 500 Startups, the San Francisco-born service uses one-of-a-kind algorithms to determine an item’s value and sells them online or in its standalone showroom and marketplace. Remoov serves the San Francisco Bay, Phoenix, and Miami communities and plans for a national expansion by the end of 2022. For more information about Remoov, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Connect To Your Customers & Grow Your Business

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The post REMOOV, A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED, HIGH-TECH HAULING STARTUP,MAKES ITS EAST COAST U.S. DEBUT IN MIAMI appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

REMOOV, A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED, TECH-ENABLED DECLUTTERING AND RESELLING SERVICE, MAKES ITS EAST COAST US DEBUT IN MIAMI

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With this expansion, South Florida residents will get multiple benefits, like a top-of-the-line decluttering service right at their fingertips, the ability to earn 50% of profits from their resold goods and tax benefits for donated items. Goods that can be resold will be done both online and through Remoov’s own showroom. Goods that have been earmarked for donation will be sent to different non-profit organizations in South Florida and clients thereby receive a tax compliant donation receipt. Items that cannot be sold or donated will be disposed of responsibly, in line with Remoov’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.

For consumers, using Remoov’s services is as simple as a three-step process. Customers start by taking photos of the items they want to get rid of, and either texting or uploading them to Remoov’s website with the item name, brand, original price and age. Within one business day, they’ll receive an estimate that includes the cost of the pickup—which is based solely on volume—and, after careful analysis by Remoov’s in-house appraisers, a list of which items can be resold and at what price . Finally, after accepting the estimate, customers will receive a link via text or email where they can schedule a date and time frame for pickup.

Remoov’s expansion to Miami will also come with a third location of its signature showroom, which is purpose-built so consumers can both buy secondhand goods and make money off their own. With the original showroom in san francisco and a second now taking over a large warehouse in Miami Dade County, the company is credited with having the largest collection of quality, pre-owned items for every taste, style and budget. From well-known brands to rare finds, every item there is carefully inspected and valued by Remoov’s team of appraisers and sold at a significant reduction from its original price. Shoppers can pick up their purchases locally or have them delivered throughout the US

“When it came time to grow Remoov and move into a new market, South Florida was the obvious choice,” said Perez. “I am so excited to bring our bespoke service to Miami residents and look forward to making our purpose-built, unique showroom an indelible part of the local community.”

Following its popularity in the Bay AreaRemoov’s showroom is poised to be a hotspot for designers, realtors, commercial and residential buildings and living communities in South Florida that are staging or decorating new spaces. It’s also a top destination for anyone passionate about sustainability and finding rare luxury goods at an affordable price.

Remoov’s Miami office and showroom is located 7457 NW 55th St, Miami, FL 33166, tel: 3053175121. Hours of operation for the Remoov showroom will be MF, 9am-5pmstarting on February 142022.

For more information about Remoov’s services, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

High Res Images Available

About Remoov
Remoov is a tech-based pickup service that sells, donates, and disposes of a home or office’s pre-owned or used goods. A product of the accelerator program at 500 Startups, the san francisco-born service uses one-of-a-kind algorithms to determine an item’s value and sells them online or in its standalone showroom and marketplace. Remoov serves the San Francisco Bay, Phoenixand Miami communities and plans for a national expansion by the end of 2022. For more information about Remoov, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media contact:
DeepSleep Studio | [email protected] | (305) 720-2990

SOURCE Remoov

The post REMOOV, A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED, TECH-ENABLED DECLUTTERING AND RESELLING SERVICE, MAKES ITS EAST COAST U.S. DEBUT IN MIAMI appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

When entrepreneur and investor Luis Perez saw a gap in the marketplace for a high tech, white glove haul service, he decided to create one—and in 2014, Remoov was launched. Using original algorithms to Automate the appraisal and resale process of pre-owned items quickly and efficiently, Remoov helps homeowners and corporations declutter by picking up unwanted goods, selling what they can for the owner’s profit, donating what can be recycled and responsibly disposing of remaining items. After a successful 2020, due in part to the work from home lifestyle spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, Remoov more than doubled its profits and is now going national—expanding to Miami from its headquarters in San Francisco.

With this expansion, South Florida residents will get multiple benefits, like a top-of-the-line decluttering service right at their fingertips, the ability to earn 50% of profits from their resold goods and tax benefits for donated items. Goods that can be resold will be done both online and through Remoov’s own showroom. Goods that have been earmarked for donation will be sent to various non-profit organizations in South Florida and clients thereby receive a tax compliant donation receipt. Items that cannot be sold or donated will be disposed of responsibly, in line with Remoov’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.

For consumers, using Remoov’s services is as simple as a three-step process. Customers start by taking photos of the items they want to get rid of, and either texting or uploading them to Remoov’s website with the item name, brand, original price and age. Within one business day, they’ll receive an estimate that includes the cost of the pickup—which is based solely on volume—and, after careful analysis by Remoov’s in-house appraisers, a list of which items can be resold and at what price. Finally, after accepting the estimate, customers will receive a link via text or email where they can schedule a date and time frame for pickup.

Remoov’s expansion to Miami will also come with a third location of its signature showroom, which is purpose-built so consumers can both buy second-hand goods and make money off their own. With the original showroom in San Francisco and a second now taking over a large warehouse in Doral, the company is credited with having the largest collection of quality, pre-owned items for every taste, style and budget. From well-known brands to rare finds, every item there is carefully inspected and valued by Remoov’s team of appraisers and sold at a significant reduction from its original price. Shoppers can pick up their purchases locally or have them delivered throughout the US

“When it came time to grow Remoov and move into a new market, South Florida was the obvious choice,” said Perez. “I am so excited to bring our bespoke service to Miami residents and look forward to making our purpose-built, unique showroom an indelible part of the local community.”

Following its popularity in the Bay AreaRemoov’s showroom is poised to be a hotspot for designers, realtors, commercial other residential buildings and living communities in South Florida that are staging or decorating new spaces. It’s also a top destination for anyone passionate about sustainability and finding rare luxury goods at an affordable price.

Remoov’s Miami office and showroom is located 7457 NW 55th St, Miami, FL 33166, tel: 3053175121. Hours of operation for the Remoov showroom will be MF, 9 am-5 pm, starting on February 14, 2022.

About Remoov

Remoov is a tech-based pickup service that sells, donates, and disposes of a home or office’s pre-owned or used goods. For more information about Remoov, visit www.removit.com or follow @remoovit on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Connect To Your Customers & Grow Your Business

Click Here

The post REMOOV, A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED, HIGH-TECH HAULING STARTUP, MAKES ITS EAST COAST U.S. DEBUT IN MIAMI appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

State Sen. Mike McGuire recently gained a new title — majority leader — which takes him up a rung on the Capitol ladder to the second-highest-ranking position in the California Legislature’s upper house.

The Jan. 19 appointment by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins also marks the first time in 30 years that a North Coast representative has been named to the post — a milestone not lost on the 42-year-old Healdsburg resident who comes from a long time line of farmers.

In a recent interview with the Journal, McGuire said he believes he will “bring a unique view to this leadership position,” noting such key posts are often held by elected officials from urban areas.

“I’m one of the few democrats who represents a rural region of California, and I’m proud of it,” he said.

As majority leader, McGuire said he will be working with Atkins to set policy and budget priorities and his office now manages the entire Senate floor, scheduling “every policy vote, every budget vote,” and overseeing the movement of bills through the Senate process.

“I’m incredibly grateful to serve in this new role but I want to make it very clear: My top priority has been and will always be the North Coast. And we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” McGuire said .

McGuire, who served as assistant majority leader for the last three years, replaces Sen. Bob Hertzberg, who is termed out of office this year.

“Sen. Hertzberg leaves huge shoes to fill, of course, but knowing Sen. McGuire and his energy, he will work to fill them, shine them, put in new laces and resole them, all within two and a half minutes,” Atkins said in a release announcing the changes.

First elected to the state Senate in 2014, McGuire’s mercurial rise in politics began more than two decades earlier when at 19 he became the youngest person elected to the Healdsburg Unified School District board before becoming the city’s youngest mayor. After an inaugural term as a Sonoma County supervisor, he turned his sights to the state Senate, winning handily in 2014 before taking 76 percent of the vote to overwhelmingly win re-election in 2018.

Over the years, McGuire has authored a number of bills with North Coast connections, including the creation of the Great Redwood Trail that aims to transform abandoned railroad tracks into a meandering pathway connecting Humboldt Bay to its counterpart in San Francisco. His legislation to halt a bid to bring a “toxic coal train” down the now defunct tracks of the Eel River Valley — which could derail the trail project — just passed a Senate committee.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, McGuire co-authored a bill that would have required presidential candidates to release their tax returns in order to appear on the primary ballot in California. While it was signed by the governor on its second go-around, the California State Supreme Court later struck down the law.

Cal Poly Humboldt’s Political Science Department Chair Stephanie Burkhalter said McGuire’s appointment to majority leader represents “a vote of confidence” in his abilities by Atkins and his fellow Democrats in the Senate.

And, she said, it potentially sets him up to take over the state Senate’s top slot when Atkins is termed out of office in 2024, or if she steps down for other reasons. McGuire, who is up for re-election this year, is eligible to serve through 2026.

“It’s immensely important to the North Coast that our state senator is in such a prominent role in leadership in the Legislature; at a minimum, it means that our needs and perspectives are articulated and considered in every piece of legislation that the Senate considers on the floor,” Burkhalter told the Journal.

The sprawling Second District — stretching from Marin County to the Oregon border — faces some of the greatest challenges in California, McGuire said, but it’s also a resilient community.

“I’m going to fight for the state and I’m also going to have a laser focus on tackling some of those critical issues in rural California: childhood poverty, homelessness, wildfires, our climate crisis, affordable housing,” McGuire said.

On the local level, McGuire points to his office’s work to secure state funds toward those ends, including the creation of a mental health crisis center in Eureka and permanent housing units with wraparound services for those facing homelessness, as well as backing for the nursing programs at College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt.

McGuire said he was thrilled to see the state’s $433 million investment to transition Humboldt State University into Cal Poly Humboldt, the state’s third polytechnic campus and the only one in the northern reaches of California, calling last week’s official designation “historic.”

“It’s a game changer for the campus community, it’s a game changer for the regional economy and the entire North Coast,” he said.

Efforts are also underway to increase broadband access to the rural reaches of the state by extending fiber optic lines along highway right of ways, McGuire said, noting he believes the North Coast, which has more households without internet service than other parts of California, will be “happy with what they are going to see in the coming 12 months.”

On a statewide level, McGuire, who co-chairs the Senate Climate Action Working Group, said California needs to lead the nation in combating the climate crisis, adding that Atkins is advancing the “most aggressive policy and budget package the state has seen” on the subject.

“Our climate crisis must be at the top of the priorities list here in the state and throughout the nation,” he said.

And with wildfires becoming a year-round threat to Californians’ lives and livelihoods, with each new season eclipsing the past, the state needs to build upon last year’s historic investment in wildfire prevention, preparedness and response, McGuire said.

To that end, McGuire said, the state needs to address the CalFire firefighter shortage that left crews stretched desperately thin last year as blazes broke out across the state. Staffing at the agency “peaked in 1975, before I was born,” McGuire said. “We are in the era of megafire and we don’t have the personnel to keep up with the current demand.”

Since taking office, McGuire said that in addition to devastating wildfires and extreme droughts, he’s also seen his district weather floods and now the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Why I love where we live is even in our most darkest days, the North Coast is incredibly innovative — we never give up, we never give in and we’re all in this together,” McGuire said.

That outlook is one McGuire hopes can be translated to the state level as California prepares to tackle the next set of challenges ahead.

“I think it’s a unique opportunity for all of us to work together and my bottom line is I don’t care if someone is a Republican or a Democrat,” he said. “We’re Californians first and my focus is on ensuring the future of the North Coast and the Golden State is bright.”

Kimberly Wear is the digital editor at the Journal. Reach her at 442-1400, extension 323, or kim@northcoastjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimberly_wear.

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MORRO BAY, San Luis Obispo (AP) – A man who was killed in a shark attack in central California on Christmas Eve was visiting his family and had decided to boogie board, friends and family members said.

Tomas Butterfield, 42, of Sacramento, was killed Friday morning in Morro Bay, near Morro Bay State Beach, a California State Parks spokesman confirmed to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

Butterfield was traveling to the area for a family reunion at his mother’s house, Grant Butterfield, his uncle, told the newspaper.

Butterfield moved several times after his mother and father’s divorce and attended high school in Alaska, his uncle said.

“His mother would go on vacation somewhere, fall in love with the place and eventually move there. So there was a lot of movement, ”he said. “They landed in Ketchikan, Alaska.”

Tomas was unmarried and had recently worked for his father in a medical laboratory equipment repair company in Sacramento. He loved fishing, boogie boarding, and golf, said his uncle.

“Tomas was very calm and had a certain ironic sense of humor,” he said. “If you could get the full laugh out of him, you were a winner.”

Butterfield was dragged out of the waves after a surfer saw him face down in the water while a boogie board drifted nearby. He died on the scene.

The shark was likely a white man, said Eric Endersby, director of the port of Morro Bay.

Morro Bay is about 200 miles north of Los Angeles.

The post Sufferer Of Christmas Eve Shark Assault Off Central Coast Recognized, Was Visiting Household – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.