While driving up Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, is considered an iconic drive, maybe second to Route 66. Renting a car, using Budget Rental Car Coupons
, driving through the many twists and curves of two-lane freeway is intense and exhilarating. While there is a cornucopia of spots to stop and further explore, these are my favorites:
Muir Woods:
Named after naturalist John Muir, the grove of redwood trees
makes you feel like a teeny ant. Even though it was a cloudless, sunny day, the inside of the forest was cold, dark and other-worldly. And then I remembered this was the Ewok forest in Return of the Jedi!
This is such a great spot. Hard to believe it was less than an hour from San Francisco. This is such a peaceful and organic spot, everyone should get out of the city and hike a couple of hours to enjoy the intense scenery.
Bodega Bay
This is where the Russian River meets the Pacific. This is also where Alfred Hitchcock filmed the Birds
. There is something remote and and eerie about this area.
When we hiked round the bay, despite a lot of traffic, we were totally alone. The scenery is pretty spectacular and hanging out and just looking into the Pacific is a must for anyone driving up this far. This is a great place to relax and just contemplate the all that we saw from LA up to this point.
This is where suddenly you have made sense of it all. I was one of many who has taken this drive, but I think the meaning of this journey is going to be different to everyone. There was a feeling that you passed a sort of initiation that will always stay with you.
Then we drove over to the Russian River Pub
and had the BEST Spicy BBQ Burger I have ever eaten. Sometimes, a good meal after a good think is what it is all about. And don’t forget a great local craft beer.