California's Highway One Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

California's Highway One Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

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Highway One, California
Highway One, California (Robert Holmes/courtesy, CalTour)
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California's Highway One Parks and Outdoors Travel Tips

By Ann Marie Brown
  • 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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3 Questions | 4 Answers
  • 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?
    Read 1 answer or Answer this question

Hotels

St. Orres

36601 Hwy. 1
Gualala, CA 95445

Distance: 48.9 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Treebones Resort

71895 Hwy. 1
Big Sur, CA 93920

Distance: 154.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

The Inn Above Tide

30 El Portal
Sausalito, CA 94965 Map

Distance: 39.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
All California's Highway One Hotels »
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Attractions

Alcatraz Island

expert favorite attraction
Pier 41, near Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, California

Distance: 43.9 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

Visible from Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz Island (also known as the Rock) has seen a... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
4_0
4_0

Ano Nuevo State Reserve

expert favorite attraction
San Mateo County


Distance: 86.9 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Ano Nuevo State Reserve is an undeveloped area where visitors can view elephant seals, sea lions,... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
5_0
4_0

Angel Island State Park

expert favorite attraction
(one mile south of the Tiburon Peninsula)
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco, California 94133

Distance: 44.4 mi. (from destination center)
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
All California's Highway One Attractions »

Airports

Major Airports near California's Highway One

Distance (mi.)
Oakland International Airport 55.6 map
San Francisco International Airport 56.0 map
Sacramento International Airport 74.1 map

Other Smaller Airports near California's Highway One

Distance (mi.)
Modesto Municipal Airport 115.3 map
Carmel/Monterey Peninsula Airport 133.0 map
Merced Municipal Airport 148.4 map

Flight Deals to California's Highway One

Originating From
Seattle (SEA) to Oakland (OAK) $126
Long Beach (LGB) to Oakland (OAK) $126
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Oakland (OAK) $177
Washington, DC (WAS) to Oakland (OAK) $246
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Oakland (OAK) $290

Feature Articles

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Trip Ideas

California's Highway One Parks and Outdoors Travel Guides

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