The legendary Pacific Coast Highway was first started in the 1930s and remains a marvel of engineering, hugging more than 600 miles of California’s rugged and beautiful coastlines. The road is one of the most scenic in the world and is meant to be traversed slowly – giving you ample time to take in the scenery of mountains, towering trees, expansive beaches and endless sky.
Whether you drive north from Los Angeles to San Francisco, or south to LA, taking a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway gives you a flavour of all that California has to offer from pioneer outposts, farm-fresh foods and roadside kitsch, to surfing villages, outstanding wines and Hollywood glitz and glamour. Fly into Los Angeles for the start of your drive and enjoy the city before hiring a car – preferably a convertible – and hitting the road.
Hollywood
The Golden Gate Bridge might be Northern California’s most recognisable landmarks, but in the state’s south, it’s the 45ft-tall whitewashed metal sign affixed to the Hollywood Hills.
Hollywood is all about the movie stars and high-end lifestyles, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theatre and the chance to see the iconic Hollywood sign up close.
As well as the nightlife, and late-night bars, there are live shows to catch at the Hollywood Bowl and trails in the Hollywood hills and Griffith Park.
Newport Beach
South of Hollywood, the coastal city of Newport Beach is all about the beaches, surfing and luxurious lifestyle. Here you can surf in the morning, explore the newly reinvented and highly sculptural Orange County Museum of Art and dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant in the evening.
Alfresco restaurants are dotted around Newport Harbour, where electric Duffy boats sit alongside multi-billion dollar yachts, and locals drink rosé while wearing flip-flops at the laidback, beach bars. The Pacific Coast Highway cuts through the city, making it a good stopover on a trip along the Californian coast.
Stay at The Resort at Pelican Hill, a five-star Italian-inspired hotel with Pacific Ocean views. With Tuscan-inspired architecture, cypress trees and lavender, Pelican Hill extends out over 504 acres of manicured gardens and boasts a luxurious spa, the iconic, circular saline Coliseum Pool, flanked by Roman-style columns, and two golf courses designed by US golf course designer Tom Fazio.
Santa Monica
A 25-minute drive from Hollywood and Universal Studios, Santa Monica brims with beach town soul. The salty swells, wheel-weaving boardwalk and bohemian bars serving craft cocktails never disappoint. You can slow the pace with sand between your toes, or speed it up and cycle for miles on the bike path along the shore.
The Regent Santa Monica Beach opens this summer on a prized stretch of sand bringing with it a restaurant from heralded chef Michael Mina, a cafe and boutique from actress Ayesha Curry, a 10,000-square-foot Guerlain Wellness Spa, an oceanfront pool deck and beach butler service.
SLO CAL
Nestled between the bohemian San Francisco to the north, and glitzy LA to the south, San Luis Obispo County - or Slo Cal as it’s known – boasts golden sand beaches, rolling hills, vineyards and wildlife, plus 80 miles of coastline.
Tourists have been flocking to the Slo Cal city of Paso Robles for centuries, lured first by its hot springs and more recently by its fine wines. Come for tours of the 250 tasting rooms, or the fine wine trail that winds through vineyards to the early 20th century Hearst Castle, a decadent and meticulously preserved hilltop estate.
Santa Barbara
In Central California, the quaint town of Santa Barbara old-world charm and luxury. Visitors will want to explore the Spanish colonial architecture of Santa Barbara’s downtown area or hire a bike and cycle between 30 different wineries on the town’s urban wine trail.
Head north of Santa Barbara to explore the mountainous landscape of Los Padres National Forest, home to mule deer, raccoons, coyotes and birdlife among the pine trees.
San Jose
San Jose, at the heart of Silicon Valley, is a good base for visiting Californian wineries and two of the world's most prestigious universities, Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley, where private guided tours can be arranged for groups.
Technology enthusiasts can also visit the Google Visitor Experience in nearby Mountain View, while those looking for a luxury stay can check into five-star Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, set across 16 acres with beautiful views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, a luxury spa and fine dining.
For a taste of the local beer scene, Gordon Biersch Brewing Company in Japantown offers private brewery tours by appointment. Its popular Thursday evening Night Market, held during the summer, is also worth a visit for its live music and food trucks.
San Francisco
In San Francisco, it’s easy to spend three or four days taking in the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf – with its sea lion colony at Pier 39, the marooned former prison of Alcatraz and the streets of Chinatown.
Take a ride up and down the city’s steep streets in the iconic open-sided cable cars and hire a bike and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge followed by lunch in one of the waterfront restaurants of the Mediterranean-style Sausalito, known for its luxury accommodation, acclaimed chefs at farm-to-table restaurants and art galleries. Go fancy at the Fairmont San Francisco or frills-free with The Cartwright or The Handlery. Of course, this being San Francisco, there are plenty of eye-catching hotels, too – try Hotel Emblem or Hotel Zephyr to mingle with a funkier crowd.
Napa Valley
And if you’re in San Francisco, then you won’t want to miss out on a trip to Napa County – home to hundreds of hillside vineyards in the Napa Valley wine region.
Park the car, flick the ‘slow travel’ switch and take the Napa Valley Wine Train to explore an immersive epicurean journey through one of the world’s most celebrated wine-growing regions.
There’s a variety of journeys to experience, from the day-time ride passing iconic vineyards – such as Charles Krug, Opus One and Beaulieu Vineyard’s Georges de Latour Private Reserve – or a romantic twilight dinner, that winds through the wineries.
Words: Louise Longman
Originally published: Connections Luxury Magazine, September 2024.