| Last time, we cruised along the Northern California | | | | By now, you're in the thick of Southern California, |
| Coastline; now it's time to rev up your Road Trip | | | | a region where sunglasses, shorts, and flip-flops |
| Planner and zip along the southern coastline to | | | | are the main attire. Another well-to-do city is |
| complete your own California Cruisin' Dream Trip. | | | | Newport Beach, worthy of inclusion in your road |
| We left off in one of my favorite areas, Big Sur. | | | | trip planner. A delightful surprise on my last trip |
| Simply put -- and the main reason to include this | | | | south was the Dana Point Harbor, one of the |
| in your road trip planning -- Big Sur offers stunning | | | | prettiest harbors I've come across in my |
| views. It's that stretch of highway where land | | | | journeys. Nearby, you'll find San Juan Capistrano, |
| meets sea in a jaw-dropping way because the | | | | another great cultural stop, this time with a |
| Santa Lucia Mountains rise like colossal sentries | | | | Spanish twist, as you stroll the grounds of the |
| from the Pacific Ocean. | | | | California icon, Mission San Juan Capistrano. |
| I recommend staying on Highway 1 for an | | | | If you want to taste the salt air & be completely |
| unforgettable coastal road trip. This way, your | | | | surrounded by water, then add to your road trip |
| Road Trip Planner will include highlights like hiking at | | | | planner a stop near Newport Beach and hop a |
| Limekiln State Park, and treasure hunting at Jade | | | | ferry to Santa Catalina Island & explore the |
| Beach, one of the few places in the world where | | | | appealing city of Avalon. This is a popular cruise |
| you can find quality Jade strewn about like | | | | stop destination so you can enjoy glass-bottom |
| pebbles. | | | | boat rides, take a trolley car up to some lush |
| Settle into your road trip with a scenic drive along | | | | gardens, or enjoy snorkeling to the left of the |
| the Cabrillo Highway till it turns into the San Luis | | | | pier (on the pier, facing land). |
| Obispo North Coast Highway. Soon you'll find San | | | | Now it's San Diego time, the biggest southern city |
| Simeon, home of the opulent Hearst Castle. | | | | before you hit the Mexican border! There you'll |
| Hearst Castle is the palatial estate built by | | | | find a thriving city with distinct areas like Little |
| newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. It's | | | | Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Balboa Park. |
| one of the largest of historic house museums in | | | | Include in your road trip plans a fun side trip by |
| the U.S. and well worth the ticket price for the | | | | driving to an island, compliments of the San |
| informative tour. | | | | Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge. You'll easily spot the |
| From here, suggested places to add to your road | | | | famous Hotel Del Coronado, a sprawling white and |
| trip planner are Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, and | | | | red-roofed resort, which housed Presidents, |
| Pismo Beach (a popular ATV camping spot | | | | movie stars & tycoons in its illustrious past. From |
| because of all the sand dunes). | | | | there, scoot along the Silver Stand Highway just |
| Now here's where I'll recommend cutting over to | | | | for the sheer enjoyment of cruising a highway |
| Highway 101 to discover a California city with a | | | | flanked by water on both sides. For even more |
| decidedly Danish twist, Solvang. I found it utterly | | | | fun, enjoy a sunset gondola ride and pretend |
| charming, with stores offering delicate lace and | | | | you're in Venice, Italy! From there, you're less |
| handmade quilts, Danish cuisine in quaint | | | | than 5 miles from the Mexico border with San |
| restaurants, and a European flavor to the buildings | | | | Ysidro being the southernmost community. |
| lining the main streets. Of course, you'll see the | | | | So there you have it. Between this blog and |
| ocean again once you head into Santa Barbara, a | | | | Cruisin' The California Coastline Road Trip - Part I, |
| quintessential California coastal city. | | | | you've now hugged the California coastline from |
| Below Oxnard, you'll find the sexy city of Malibu, | | | | stern to bow, complete with side-trips only the |
| full of opulent homes on the lolling hills and beautiful | | | | locals know about. To do this road trip justice, I'd |
| bodies on the beaches. Be sure to enjoy the | | | | recommend at least two weeks. But however |
| Santa Monica Pier as you continue south. It's a fun | | | | you fill your Road Trip Planner, you're guaranteed |
| place to spend the evening. But you'll definitely | | | | awesome photos, spectacular sunsets, and a lot |
| daylight to people-watch the myriad of characters | | | | of cool cruisin! |
| found at Venice Beach. | | | | |