Life is a highway
kayaking are popular activities, too. Four miles to the south is the one-square-mile village of Carmel by the Sea, lined with cobblestone streets and fairytale cottages. A colony for artists and other creatives, Carmel fiercely protects its independent spirit like no other California town. It has more than 100 art galleries and several tasting rooms featuring Carmel Valley wines. Continue south for 25 miles and you’ll reach Big Sur, a dramatic, mountainous region filled with redwood forests where the Santa Lucia Mountains plunge into the Pacific Ocean. The isolated stretch of road is considered one of the most stunning—and cliff-hugging—sections of highway in the country. Sightseeing from the highway is the main attraction, but visitors can also hike, camp and enjoy several small beaches. Popular attractions include Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Point Sur Lightstation, a 19th century lighthouse. Worthy detour: 17 Mile Drive, a coastal loop 11 minutes from Monterey along the Monterey Peninsula that goes through the Del Monte Forest and Pebble
Beach with cypress trees, rocky outcrops, luxury mansions and championship golf courses. San Francisco to Yosemite National Park
BY SALLY J. CLASEN
WITH PLANNED STOPS, unexpected detours, and a connection to the places and the people you meet along the way, a road trip is unlike any other vacation you’ll ever take. And because of its changing landscape and diverse attractions, there’s no better place than California to hit the open road. So, rev up the car (or van, motorcycle or RV), blast the playlist and take a stunning road trip only the Golden State can offer.
California is home to nine national parks so if you want to tackle your list, head to
Yosemite, the most famous of them all. The park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of rugged landscapes with pine forests, soaring granite peaks, raw wilderness, breathtaking waterfalls and serene vistas. Launch your adventure from San Francisco, a four- hour drive (177 miles) to Yosemite. The most direct route from San Francisco is Interstate 80 east to Interstate 580 east to Highway 120 east, which leads directly to the Big Oak Flat Entrance on the western side of Yosemite. You’ll meander through fruit and almond orchards; sleepy, but welcoming agricultural towns such as Oakdale, the Cowboy Capital of the World; and Groveland, a gold- mining town filled with shopping, hotels, restaurants, live outdoor music and the oldest operating saloon in the state, Iron Door Saloon. Along the path, you’ll also
Pacific Coast Highway: Monterey, Carmel by the Sea, and Big Sur A drive along the California coastline via
California, about 655 miles total. If you’re short on time, one of the more scenic portions of the PCH includes a drive through Monterey, Carmel by the Sea and Big Sur. Historic Monterey was once California’s capital under the Spanish, Mexican, and American flag. Today, visitors are drawn to the town’s Colonial architecture, famous Cannery Row, a shopping and restaurant district once the center of the sardine industry, Old Fisherman’s Wharf, uber-fresh seafood and its shining star, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, located on the ocean’s edge. Whale watching and
the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) or State Route 1 is a bucket-list trip. And for good reason: It’s filled with everything from vibey beach towns, jaw-dropping sea cliffs, twisty bends and uniquely California attractions, both natural and man-made. The ultimate road trip would be to traverse the entire route, which starts in Orange County and runs all the way up to Mendocino County in northern
24
25
calbanktrust.com/ inyourcorner
IN YOUR CORNER ISSUE 14 | 2023
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker