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    Taking a 5-Day Road Trip Along the California Coast

    When you say you're going to visit California on vacation, people immediately assume your intention is to visit amusement parks. While that may be true for many, the Pacific Coast Highway lures a lot of roadtrippers to the beautiful west coast.  Did you know that you can drive the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), or California State Route 1, from one end of the beautiful state to the other?

    It’s around 1,800 miles of gorgeous views and languishing curves, usually with greenery on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. If you started at one end of the state and made the drive all the way to the other end, you’d get an excellent view of the state, from big city to small town. Much of it is two-lane highway, and while the speed limit may be higher, there are areas where you will need to slow down, particular in the Big Sur area…and trust us when we say, you will want to take it leisurely. Depending on how fast you drive, and how much down time you plan, you can do it in around 35 hours. Preferably, if you enjoy the drive,  you could make it a 5-day adventure.

    • DAY 1- If you start in Southern California, you can land at the San Diego airport and pick up your rental car at the airport. You could spend a few days in the San Diego area alone, if you have the time, but when you get on the road, be sure to put La Jolla Cove on your itinerary. Give yourself an hour – two, if you’re hungry, because the restaurants and cafes there have ocean views – to say hello to the sea lions. Parking can be tight, so keep change on hand for a meter, and walk to the edge of the cliffs to listen to the sea life up close and personal. (But stay back and don’t encroach on their territory.) The sea lions dance and play in the surf, so you can walk on the sand, then head up the steps to look out over the shoreline. Kids love to hear the animals so it’s a great stop for the whole family!

    • DAY 2 - As you drive north, you’ll pass by Miramar Air Corps Station, where you may get an impromptu air show as they train. Camp Pendleton is also not far north. Once you get to the Orange County border, you’ll start to see more homes built into the cliffs, more restaurants and boutiques to explore than you’ll have time for, and Balboa Island, where for a few dollars, you can your car on a short ferry ride to explore the small island. (You can also drive around via streets, but that’s not nearly as fun as the ferry.)
    • DAY 5 - Get back on the road and continue towards Napa Valley, a.k.a. Wine Country. If you’re a wine lover, you’ll have your pick of wineries to visit; get a rental car with plenty of space in the trunk to store your bottles until you have them shipped at the airport, or better yet, ask the winery to handle that for you! Most will due it for a nominal fee. California has a large agricultural area and roadside markets will give you some of the best fruits and vegetables you’ve ever eaten. There are numerous places to stop and hike or just take photos.  Whale watching, surfing, boar rides around harbors, there will be more opportunities than you’ll be able to partake in. 
    • DAY 3 - The Los Angeles skyline will loom and you’ll see the Santa Monica Pier way ahead of time. Its iconic ferris wheel looms large, especially at night, and the culture along Venice Beach is worth the stop. Between Los Angeles County and central California, you’ll see a lot of greenery, amazing sights, steep cliffs, and more on your way to Northern California.

    • DAY 4 - Once you get into the San Francisco area, you’ll probably want to add a day or two to explore so you’ll have time to make that drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and take a ferry to Alcatraz for a view of the bay, making it interesting for everyone. Eat at the wharf, head into the aquarium or just stroll along Cannery Row to fill your shopping and eating needs.

     

    Depending on which airport you fly out of, returning your rental car will be bittersweet. (Keep in mind, there are typically drop fees if you return your rental car at a different location than where you pick it up. If you’re lucky, you can drive back to your airport of origination – there is a different ride straight down through the state which will be an entirely different experience.

    Stay tuned for a future blog post on that drive!) Just make sure you enjoy your West Coast trip and book with Fox for low rates on any rental car you need!