22 photos
Twisting against cliffs carved by tempestuous ocean waves, the Pacific Coast Highway is a dazzling drive. Carved by nature and intrepid men armed with dynamite, the PCH meanders through California’s natural vistas: endless forests of firs and redwoods, towns steeped in history, pounding surfs, vineyards.
It’s intoxicating.
On the heels of yesterday’s dive into the art of the road trip, we thought it fitting to share our photo essay from a recent journey of California’s iconic highway. Our drive: the popular 700-ish mile drive along Highway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco (we’ve saved the longer 2,500 mile drive of the West Coast-spanning California Highway 1 for another day), encompassing highlights like a drive through Malibu, past Point Mugu State Park, through the endless twists and turns of Big Sur, on to Carmel and past Santa Cruz.
Along the way, we learned a few things — not to underestimate fog, for one — about the fabled Pacific Coast Highway, which you can read in our foggy Photo Essay above. Grab the keys, pack your gear, and let’s head out for a drive.