| The classic 380-mile Pacific Ocean coastal drive, along | | | | The Big Sur Road and Monterey From here, the road |
| scenic Highway 101, between Los Angeles and San | | | | winds along the coastline, with breathtaking views of |
| Francisco, takes you through Carmel and Santa | | | | the surf below on the left, and the Big Sur Mountains |
| Barbara, and along a dramatic Big Sur coastline. You | | | | rising to 5,000 feet on the right. Take your time, as |
| can stop along the way to see many attractions - | | | | the road has many blind corners. Around Carmel, you |
| highlights include the Monterey Bay Aquarium and | | | | can visit some of California's old Spanish missions. At |
| William Randolph Hearst's hilltop castle. Begin your | | | | Monterey, spend some time at the Monterey Bay |
| journey with a tour around Los Angeles' affluent | | | | Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the United States, |
| Rodeo Drive to see how the movie stars live, then | | | | and one of the best in the world. It's packed with |
| after a dose of glamour and glitz head for hip Venice | | | | marine exhibits, displaying more than 550 different |
| Beach for a spot of people watching. Continue on to | | | | species. The Outer Bay exhibit features the marine |
| Santa Barbara, where you can tour the city's | | | | species found in the waters of the eastern Pacific. |
| spectacularly beautiful Wine Country, go for a hiking | | | | The final leg of your classic drive takes you through |
| or biking tour, visit the many beautiful gardens or | | | | Santa Cruz, where a long-established surfing culture |
| relax on the beach. Moving north you pass through | | | | inspired movies (such as Gidget) and the music of |
| the predominantly Danish town of Solvang, where | | | | artists like The Beach Boys. Surfing fans might like to |
| draft horses pull an authentic Danish streetcar | | | | stop at the Surfing Museum and visit the beach to |
| through the town. You may be ready for a stopover | | | | see if the surf's up. Arriving in San Francisco, one of |
| by the time you reach St Luis Obispo, which has a | | | | the most visited cities in the US, with its famous |
| delightful downtown area known as Mission Plaza, set | | | | bridge and steep hills, is always a buzz. You should do |
| alongside a creek, with the beautifully restored | | | | all the touristy things like ride a cable car, visit bustling |
| mission nearby. If you'd like to experience | | | | Chinatown, and walk along Fisherman's Wharf, where |
| over-the-top kitsch, stay at the 109-room Madonna | | | | any number of restaurants might tempt you. Try to |
| Inn at with its thematically decorated rooms. Next | | | | take the ferry trip to Alcatraz, for a glimpse of the |
| day you could drive to Prismo Beach, bordered by | | | | old penal system, and you'll understand why no |
| the Oceano Sand Dunes, where you can actually | | | | prisoners escaped this harsh, isolated institution. A |
| drive your vehicle onto the beach. Just up the road | | | | walk around the huge Golden Gate Park is an |
| at Simeon you'll find the Hearst Castle with its 165 | | | | arboreal and floral delight and the perfect ending to |
| rooms. Don't miss the Billiard Room or the Celestial | | | | your classic drive. |
| Suite indoors, or the magnificent surrounding formal | | | | Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for |
| gardens, modelled after gardens in Spain and Italy. | | | | many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. |