Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
My wife and I met in San Diego back in 2007 and although we lived there for 4 years, we never drove the California coast before we moved home to New York. Friends, family – basically everyone we’ve ever spoken to – has told us to do the drive. After nearly 3 years back in New York, we headed back to check the item off our bucket list.
Our flight was scheduled to leave Newark Airport at 7pm. For those that live in Manhattan, this is pretty valuable information, so listen up. A cab to Newark Airport is roughly $70. Accounting for rush hour traffic, you’d need to leave around 4pm. As a much more efficient and cheaper alternative, take NJ Transit – it cost $12.50 per person and took 1 hour, door to door. You’ll have to transfer once but it’s well worth it.
We arrived in San Diego around 10pm and after a small wait for the airport shuttle, we were off to pick up our rental car. At the time of booking, FOX Rental car wanted an additional $1,000 for a convertible for 5 days.
As much as we wanted one, I decided a convertible in January wasn’t worth that kind of money. But as luck would have it, the lady at the ticket counter was having a good day (she was adopting a baby girl) and decided to offer us a convertible for $10/day – HELL YES. This turned out to be a blessing b/c if you’re going to make this trip, GET A CONVERTIBLE, it’s well worth it (even in January).
Our first two days we spent in San Diego visiting friends, reminiscing about the past, and eating the foods we crave daily yet can’t get anywhere but in southern california.
Pacific Beach was home to us for 2 and a half years – it’s very easy to see why so many people migrate to San Diego.
Sometimes to get the shot you need to get into some strange places – can you spot me?
But the resulting shot is well worth it.
Riding beach cruisers along the boardwalk was probably our favorite thing to do – a MUST HAVE if you haven’t done it!
Our ride for the trip. Again, it’s well worth the money for a convertible. Even in the colder months, the weather was around 65 and sunny. To counter the wind, we blasted our feet with heat.
Chronic Smoothies – yum.
After PB, we headed north.
Homage to Thelma & Louise.
First stop, La Jolla. I used to surf Windnsea a bunch. It’s a local break that gets pretty aggressive, but if you can handle it, it’s one of the better breaks in San Diego.
The local judges.
My favorite meal in San Diego is by far the Acai Bowl at Swami’s Cafe in Encinitas. Before you leave, this is a MUST.
Goodbye San Diego. Next Stop, Santa Barbara.
We spent the night in San Luis Obispo. Here’s another tip for all you budget travelers – use Priceline to book your hotels. By not booking in advance, we saved as much as 60% on hotel accommodations. Here’s what you do – around 5pm, load up the Priceline app on your iPhone. Select the location you’d like to stay in and then hit “NAME YOUR OWN PRICE.” Priceline will tell you what the lowest price was paid within a few hours. That’s a good starting point. Most of the time, that price is still higher than what you’ll end up paying. Reason is, at 5pm, most hotels figure they’ve sold the rooms they’re going to sell for the day – now it’s time to start discounting rooms to get whatever they can. They’d rather have someone in there than have it sit empty. I usually go for the highest star hotel they offer and then offer around $50 less than the last price paid. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The thing to note about priceline is, once you submit your bid, you’re locked in and you HAVE to stay there (if the hotel accepts your offer). Anyway, we saved a good amount of money when doing this.
The hotel front desk person saw I was carrying cameras and we started chatting. He told me about a local spot that most tourists don’t know about. He gave me general directions and then it was on us to find it. We took this windy road about 20 miles to a parking spot in the middle of nowhere. Since it was raining slightly, no one was around – just Jackie and I. We hiked through this small trail about 15 minutes and when we arrived on the other side it was an awesome sight. Cliffs, ocean, animals.
After taking in the breathtaking scenery, we were back on the road to our next destination: Morrow Bay. The town was quaint with not much to do. We decided to grab a bite to eat at the Coastal Cafe – and my GOD was it good. Jackie got some lobster bisque in a bread bowl (which you can see she enjoyed very much), while I went for some spicy veggie sandwich (to die for) – I wish I remembered the name of the sandwich, oh well.
The next part of the trip was probably our favorite. It was filled with those picturesque views of the California cliffs meeting the Pacific Ocean. This is really where the convertible came in handy. The wind in our hair, the sun on our faces, and the beautiful California coast…doesn’t get much better than that.
We stopped again, this time to grab a drink and some appetizers at Orsen Wells’ old home (that’s now a restaurant). Amazing views again.
These cows have the life.
Our next stopover was Monterey where we had dinner and then went to the Aquarium the next day.
Our final stop in our journey was San Francisco. Since we spent most of the previous day stopping and taking photos, we packed the cameras away and just enjoyed the ride. Our goal was to make it to SF by sunset so we could see the Golden Gate bridge under the setting sun.
That night we went to dinner at Gary Danko’s – apparently THE best restaurant in San Francisco. We’re not big on ‘hype’ but we figured ‘when in Rome’ and booked a table. Almost $300 later, we rolled out of there with our bellies full and our ego’s stroked. Gary Danko’s lives up to every expectation. The service is bar none and the food was fantastic.
Our next and final day in California was spent exploring the Red Wood trees in the Miur Woods National Park. Really hard to take bad photos in this natural beauty.
Overall this was one of our favorite trips we’ve ever taken. Anyone looking for a relatively cheap vacation in our own country, this should be your next one!
OMG! Amazing…so glad you & your lovely wife could enjoy such an adventure. Thx for sharing.
Thank you Kristin!
In researching for the PC Highway trip, my friend and I ran across your site and thank you for sharing your story! There are definite takeaways that we will include 🙂
In researching for the PC Highway trip, my friend and I ran across your site and thank you for sharing your story! There are definite takeaways that we will include 🙂
My boyfriend and I are driving the Pacific Coast Highway from SD to SF in July, and when I started researching the route, your blog post came up in my search results. We are renting a convertible, and I am getting some great travel tips from your blog. Thanks for sharing your adventure, recommendations, and beautiful photos!
My boyfriend and I are driving the Pacific Coast Highway from SD to SF in July, and when I started researching the route, your blog post came up in my search results. We are renting a convertible, and I am getting some great travel tips from your blog. Thanks for sharing your adventure, recommendations, and beautiful photos!
Hi Liz – do you still need this info – sorry it has taken us this long to get back to you!
Are you kidding me with the intense inspiration and resounding soulful sighs of enjoyment?
Are you kidding me with the intense inspiration and resounding soulful sighs of enjoyment?
Incredible photos. I’m from the UK and am travelling SF to SD and your blog was fantastically helpful!
My husband and I are in the process of planning this vacation for next year. Your photos are amazing. I feel like I just got back from the trip! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for these incredible pictures. I was thinking whether or not my boyfriend and I should take route 1. for some time now. I have done this drive before when I was young, but my young memory bank couldn’t hold enough of those seet memories to convince me. After look at this today I am 100% we will take the pacific coast highway. Thank you for your inspiration, only God knows what importance this will have.
p.s. don’t ever stop taking pictures!
And I live in New England…why?
Such beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing. Wish we can take the same trip you took. We only have the weekend to get away. We have two beautiful grand daughters to get back to. Their parents are deployed to Afghanistan.
Found your roll here Googling our proposed Fall SF to San Diego trip. Gorgeous photos! You don’t happen to remember what that bluff site was called that you hiked to when you stayed in San Louis Obispo do you? Thanks!
So happy this page came up in my google search results. Beautiful pics and helpful hints for my planned trip in spring 2014!
thanks for referrals …..Super photos!
Very Very cool images. My wife and i live in San Diego (have for 11 years) and are itching to take a road trip. I appreciate the pics and info.
Awesome photo vacation post. My wife and I are leaving tomorrow morning on this road trip to SF.Thank you for sharing the pictures and tips.
Love all your pictures
Wow – just breath….taking. My husband and I are driving the coast in May. Took notes and so excited! I found this at lunch so gotta get back to work. Dreaming and counting down!!
Thank you doing this trip by chance !!
Great photos and very inspirational – this trip being taken in April this year xx
Glad my husband and I already booked a convertible for our PCH San Fran- San Diego trip this coming fall. Seems pretty necessary from all of your photographs. Can’t wait to see all of the beautiful views in person, you’ve captured them so well.
Beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing. Looking to do this trip in June:)
Great pictures, amazing trip! I did the pacific coast highway two months ago and so far its been the best roadtrip of my life 🙂 xxhttp://debsbug.blogspot.gr/
Great photos, my wife and I are planning a trip from San Diego to San Fran next spring
What an awesome blog:) amazing photos! Just wondering where that one cliff spot yall took photos at in San Luis Obispo! Would love to go there:)
Read this blog almost a year ago…loved it! Just found it again googling coastal roadtrips in California, making this a reality in January! Thank you for all the tips!
Fantastic, making the trip in mid April. Really great, thanks for the post
Hi Michael. How long was your trip.? I have five days and would like to start in San diego
Thanks. Heading out to San Diego end of June and want to explore. Sounds great
My family and I are taking this trip end of June. I am very thankful to have found this because your tips will be very helpful. Your photos are amazing…. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, I love the pictures. I’m planning in do the same trip in the beginning of June, hopefully I enjoy. I’m from Massachusetts.
Awesome photos. Do you remember the name of your $10 a day car lady? Ha.
Hi your blog is great. I just want to know if there is space in the trunk for two big suitscases of the convertible? Thanks!
Thanks so much for this. Your blog is great. I am planning a trip for my hubby and me in September and may steal some of your great spots. Especially, Ramiros and the restaurant in San Francisco. My hubby loves to eat.
I am a amateur photog and I must give you props. Your photos are awesome.
Hi Michael, My husband and I are doing this trip in reverse starting in San Francisco in late October. Hope the weather will be fine then. We’re from Australia and want to take a bit of time and stop the night in some places along the way. Any suggestions for us?
Hi Vicki,
I would take your time and be open to stopping wherever your trip takes you. That’s what we did. We did not make hotel reservations until the day of – we used Priceline to name our hotel cost and then got one at a considerable discount. Rather than be on a strict timeline to make sure we got to a hotel that we had already booked, we figured this was much better since we could stop and go for however long we wanted. The drive is so beautiful that I think this is the best advice I can give!
Hi Michael,
Great pics! We are planning to do the same trip in reverse on the first week of January2017. We have 15 days, I’m little be concern about the weather , we are from Sparta-NJ the cold it’s not a problem for us , my concern is the highway1, can you give me some inputs. We are staying in San Francisco for4 nights.
Thank you, Ju
Found your site whilst looking for things to do in SF and the road trip from San Diego……..amazing pictures and great information – glad I found it.
glad you like it!
My husband and I are planing this trip in August, only in reverse, for our 30th anniversary. I found your blog while researching and am so inspired by your pictures. I am beyond excited now! Thanks for sharing your experience. We definitely have some additional sites to see now.
Your photos are gorgeous! Thanks so much for posting your trip.My husband and I will be makes ng that trip at the end of summer. I appreciate the tips.
So stoked I stumbled upon this! My husband and I are planning a week long trip there in a few weeks! I wondered if you think making the trek from SD to SF in a week is enough time or if we should change our flights to a shorter distance?
Hi Mariah, 1 week is more than enough time. It depends on how long you want to be at each stop and how many stops you plan on making. The distance itself is not very far but there are some nice places to stop along the way. My wife and I didn’t take a full week but you could space it out if you wanted.