AAA Traveler - Summer 2014 - 29

THE SCENIC ROUTE

CALIFORNIA'S PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY (ALSO CALLED HIGHWAY 1) IS ONE OF
AMERICA'S MOST ICONIC DRIVES. AND FOR GOOD REASON. IT'S GOT EVERYTHING-
DRAMATIC CLIFFS, CHARMING SURF TOWNS AND MILES UPON MILES OF SPECTACULAR
COASTLINE, ALL ALONG A ROUGHLY 215-MILE STRETCH FROM SAN FRANCISCO, SOUTH
TO SAN SIMEON. THOUGH THE ROUTE IS A FOUR-AND-A-HALF-HOUR DRIVE,
YOU'LL WANT TO MAKE PLENTY OF STOPS EN ROUTE.
MONTEREY: Jutting out into the Pacific Ocean on

the southern edge of Monterey Bay, this historic
seaport served as a muse for one-time resident John
Steinbeck. The celebrated author captured the spirit
of its once dilapidated waterfront in his 1945 novel
Cannery Row. These same former fisheries now house
hotels, shops and restaurants, and Monterey Bay
Aquarium is also at Cannery Row. There you can get
up close and personal with exotic jellyfish, see a diver
hand-feed sharks in a living kelp forest and watch sea
otters kick back in their natural habitat. Chow down
on the day's fresh catch at the unassuming though
always bustling Monterey Fish House near Del Monte
Beach. Then set out on scenic 17-Mile Drive from
nearby Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach, lined by rocky
shores, pristine golf courses and photo ops at practically every turn.

ILLUSTRATION: STUART HOLMES

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA: Monterey's more whimsi-

cal neighbor has retained its artist-colony roots,
making it one of the most beloved towns along
California's central coast. Spend an afternoon perusing its art galleries (a good one to try is the Carmel
Art Association, which showcases the paintings and
sculptures of more than 100 local artists) and taking
in its numerous storybook cottages. Built in the 1920s
by untrained architect Hugh Comstock, the houses

look as if he plucked them straight from a fairy tale.
Sample Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs at one of
the downtown village's many tasting rooms, or take a
bottle to savor at Carmel Beach, a stunning whitesand stretch where sunsets are a communal event.
BIG SUR: Massive cliffs, towering redwood trees and

awe-inspiring ocean views are signs that you've entered Big Sur, a sparsely populated community that
offers some of the best scenery-and hiking-along
the entire coastal highway. The road here twists and
turns and crosses a handful of bridges that include the
elegantly arching Bixby Creek Bridge, which stretches
714 feet along a 260-foot-deep gorge. Stop for an
Ambrosia Burger on the deck of Nepenthe, a
cliff-hugging eatery that overlooks the Pacific.
SAN SIMEON: Spectacularly lavish and over-the-top,

Hearst Castle is a must-see. Famed California architect Julia Morgan built the hilltop, 165-room estate
for newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst in
the early 20th century, and visitors can tour everything from its grand social rooms to its lush outdoor
gardens. Four miles north of the castle is nature's own
stunner-Piedras Blancas, a beach that's home to
17,000 elephant seals, easily seen from a boardwalk
just off the highway.

Set your sights on sweeping Pacific Coast views! Call 1-800-750-5386 or visit your AAA office
to speak with a AAA Travel Specialist and put the wheels in motion for your next road trip.

TRAVELER SUMMER 2014

AAA Traveler - Summer 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Summer 2014