California's Highway One Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Many Highway 1 tourists are in such a hurry to get from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo that they bypass the isolated stretch of road between Gaviota and Pismo Beach. Here lies Jalama Beach, a great spot for surfing, windsurfing, kite flying, and camping—but perhaps most famous for the Jalama burgers made at the beach grill.
When driving Highway 1, it's nearly a requirement to stop at Hearst Castle to tour the lavish palace of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. But a more natural attraction lies just a few miles up the coast, where every winter more than 10,000 elephant seals show up on the beaches at Piedras Blancas.
Sure, it's corny, but that doesn't stop more than one million people each year from driving their car through Leggett's massive carved-out redwood, the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree. This private park also has hiking trails and picnic areas.
Between the Sonoma Coast and Mendocino lie the majestic Point Arena headlands. Its historic lighthouse, at 115 feet tall, is one of the highest in California. Visitors can climb narrow steps to the top, or stay overnight at one of the lighthouse keepers' cottages.
You have to pay a fee to cruise the 17-Mile-Drive in Pacific Grove, but it's worth it for the chance to ogle Pebble Beach's world-famous golf course, the palatial homes of the rich and famous, and nearly non-stop views of the Monterey coast framed by windswept cypress trees.

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My wife and I are driving from San Francisco to Portland OR from Friday until Monday. Any suggestions on where to stay along the way?
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Hi, we are trying to plan our 25th anniv. we only have 7 days max and of course, we're on a budget. We want to do Napa, Sonoma and Hwy 1 from San Fran to Santa Barabara or should we head N on Hwy 1 from San Fran. Really want to make the most of this trip. Help! Any suggestions? Thank you!!!
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Time for the trip? We are planning 2 weeks in October of 2009. We would like to start in San Diego and end in San Frnacisco.Would we have enought time to travel Highway One and also get in Yosemite National Park? What would the best route be?
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