Brash Celeste - Lonely Planet Pacific Coast Highways Road Trips

WELCOME TO PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAYS

Starry-eyed newbies head to the Golden State to find fame and fortune, but you can do better. Come for the landscapes, stay for the farm-fresh and global fusion food, and glimpse the future in the making on Americas creative coast.

The trips in this book will take you along the breezy, wildlife-rich Pacific coast highways, from the towering redwoods of Northern California, the open roads of Big Sur, through to the famed Southern Californian beaches of Orange and San Diego Counties. Take time out to explore the vineyards of Santa Barbara County, the chilled out beach cities of Monterey and Santa Cruz, and the big city lights of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

From backcountry lanes to beachside highways, weve got something for you.

Bixby Bridge (), Big Sur
JAMES BLANK / GETTY IMAGES

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAYS HIGHLIGHTS

Get another perspective on this world-famous, 20th-century engineering feat by driving across it.

SYLVAIN GRANDADAM / GETTY IMAGES

Nothing compares to the awe youll feel while walking underneath these ancient trees.

BRAD WENNER / GETTY IMAGES

Enjoy your ultimate beach vacation on the warm sands of Orange and San Diego Counties.

SEAN SCANLON / GETTY IMAGES

CITY GUIDE

Victorian architecture, San Francisco
MATTHEW CROWLEY / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

Ride the clanging cable cars up unbelievably steep hills, snake down Lombard Sts famous hairpin turns, cruise through Golden Gate Park and drive across the arching Golden Gate Bridge. Then go get lost in the creatively offbeat neighborhoods of Californias capital of weird.

Avoid driving downtown. Cable cars are slow and scenic (single rides $6). MUNI streetcar and bus are faster but infrequent after 9pm (fares $2). BART (tickets from $1.75) run high-speed Bay Area trains. Taxis cost $2.75 per mile; meters start at $3.50.

Street parking is scarce and meter readers ruthless. Meters take coins, sometimes credit cards; central pay stations accept coins or cards. Overnight hotel parking averages $35 to $50; downtown parking garages start at $2.50 per hour or $25 per day.

The Ferry Building, Mission District and South of Market (SoMa) are foodie faves. Dont miss the citys outdoor farmers markets either. Head to North Beach for Italian, Chinatown for dim sum, the Mission District for Mexican, and the Sunset or Richmond for pan-Asian.

The Marina is near the family-friendly waterfront and Fishermans Wharf. Downtown and Union Square are more expensive, but conveniently located for walking. Avoid the rough-edged Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods.

San Francisco Travel (www.sanfrancisco.travel) Destination info, events calendar and accommodations bookings.

SF Station (www.sfstation.com) Nightlife, restaurants, shopping and the arts.

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/san-francisco) Travel tips and travelers forums.

Road Trip through San Francisco:
Destinations coverage:

Los Angeles skyline
DENIS JR. TANGNEY / LONELY PLANET IMAGES

Loony LA, land of starstruck dreams and Hollywood Tinseltown magic. You may think you know what to expect: celebrity worship, Botoxed beach blondes, endless traffic and earthquakes. But its also Californias most ethnically diverse city, with new immigrants arriving daily, evolving the boundary-breaking global arts, music and food scenes.

Angelenos drive everywhere. Freeway traffic jams are endless, but worst during morning and afternoon rush hours. Metro operates buses and subway and light-rail trains (fares $1.75), with limited night and weekend services. DASH minibuses (single-ride 50) zip around downtown; Santa Monicas Big Blue Bus (fares from $1) connects West LA. Taxis cost $2.80 per mile; meters start at $2.85.

Street parking is tough. Meters take coins, sometimes credit cards; central pay stations accept coins or cards. Valet parking is ubiquitous, typically $5 to $10 plus tip. Overnight hotel parking averages $25 to $40.

Food trucks are a local obsession. Downtown cooks up a worldly mix, with Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Thai Town, Koreatown and Latin-flavored East LA nearby. Trend-setting eateries inhabit Hollywood, Mid-City, Santa Monica and Venice.

For beach life, escape to Santa Monica or Venice. Long Beach is convenient to Disneyland and Orange County. Party people adore Hollywood; culture vultures, Downtown LA.