Trifter

Views and Vistas

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Along many stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway you are driving right above the coastline which offers fantastic views and vistas. While some of the sites in this article do cost money the Pacific Cost Highway itself is free to drive. Parts of the highway were begun in 1919 with the issue of state bonds to pay for it. Over the years other sections were added and I believe you could make the entire drive by 1951 though some portions were not paved at that time.

Channel Islands National Park

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In 1980 five islands off the coast of California – San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara islands, were made into Channel Islands National Park. Except for tourists they are not inhabited by humans. There is a visitor center along the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Barbara and from there you can catch boats that go out to the Islands.

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When I went our boat anchored in one of the natural harbors at Anacapa Island and when we looked over the side we could see kelp beds stretching all the way from the bottom in the crystal clear water. We were shocked when the captian told us that those kelp beds were over 40 feet long. They looked about 10 feet long from the boat. The Islands are beautiful sights to see and our boat rides in and out of the Islands were great fun as dolphins kept us contstanly entertained as they swam alongside and all around the boat, frequently leaping out of the water.

Hearst Castle

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This palatial estate built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst lies a long the Pacific Coast Highway in San Simeon. Hearst started building the estate in 1919 and never really stopped adding on until 1947 when ill health forced him to move from the estate. Contained on the grounds are the main house along with guest houses containing 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms and numerous indoor and outdoor pools.

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Also on the grounds were an airfield, tennis courts, a movie theater, gardens and even the world’s largest private zoo. I was shocked when I went here the first time and saw a zebra on the grounds. Hearst Castle is open to the public and has many different tours you can take including a nighttime dinner tour. When Hearst lived here many famous celebrities would come and visit him including Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill.

Big Sur

This is a large area on the Pacific Coast Highway where you are driving mainly well above the coastline and it offers many fantastic views like the first picture in this article. If you are adventurous you can also hike down to the many isolated beaches offered along the coastline here.

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17-Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula

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Just off the Pacific Coast Highway is the famous 17 mile drive on the Monterey Peninsula. I have to admit I was disappointed when I walked up to the famous Lone Cypress tree and saw that it was rooted to the ground with man made cables but I guess you don’t want a huge tourist attraction ever washing away. I biked the 17 mile loop with a friend and we were amazed at the tranquility and beauty we saw. The loop is a toll road but well worth the price.

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These are just a few of the many sites you can visit along the Pacific Coast Highway. Too me the best part of the Highway is just getting on the road and viewing the fantastic scenery on display all around this great scenic highway.

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