| Highlight Destinations |
(bold indicates common overnight locations):
- Los Angeles
- Malibu
- Santa Barbara
- Solvang
- San Luis Obispo/Pismo Beach
- San Simeon/Cambria
- Big Sur
- Monterey Peninsula
- Yosemite National Park
- San Francisco
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| Some Noteworthy Attractions |
Between Los Angeles and Monterey: Hearst Castle, the Danish town of Solvang, the missions at Santa Barbara, Solvang, Lompoc and Carmel, the elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas, the Big Sur coast...
Between Los Angeles and Monterey: Hearst Castle, the Danish town of Solvang, the missions at Santa Barbara, Solvang, Lompoc and Carmel, the elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas, the Big Sur coast...
On the Monterey Peninsula: 17-mile Drive, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, the Monterey Bay Aquarium...
In Yosemite: the Mariposa and Tuolumne Groves of Giant Sequoias, Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, the Ahwahnee Lodge, Tuolumne Meadows, "the High Country"...
In and Around San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Alcatraz...
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| How does this route rate for... |
| Places to be |
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Cities |
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Small Towns |
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Mountains |
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Deserts |
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Beaches |
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Lakes |
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Rivers |
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Wilderness |
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Resort Destinations |
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| Things to see |
| Scenery |
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Coastal |
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Mountainous |
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Desert |
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Chaparel |
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| of West Coast Interest |
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Lighthouses |
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Missions |
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Gold Mining |
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Vineyards and Wineries |
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| Culture |
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Museums |
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Art Galleries |
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Botanical Gardens |
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Architecture |
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| Nature |
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Giant Sequoias |
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Giant Coastal Redwoods |
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Granite Peaks and Other Alpine Settings |
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Desert Flora (Cactus, Joshua Trees, Wildflowers) |
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Waterfalls |
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Volcanos |
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| Land Animals |
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Deer |
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Black Bear |
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Bobcats, Mountain Lions |
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Racoons, Skunks, Fox, Coyotes... |
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River Otters, Beaver... |
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Elk |
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Squirrels, chipmunks... |
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| Marine Wildlife |
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Sea Otters |
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Elephant Seals |
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Whales |
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Dolphins and Porpoise |
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Seals and Sea Lions |
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| Birds |
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Aquatic Fowl |
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Eagles |
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Hawks, Falcons |
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Ducks, Geese... |
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| Things to do |
| Outdoor Leisure Sports |
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Fishing |
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Golf |
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Bicycle Touring |
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Sea Kayaking |
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Sailing |
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Camping |
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Horseback Riding |
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| More Adventurous Sports |
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Hiking/Backpacking |
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Scuba / Snorkeling |
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ATV / Dune Buggy / Offroading |
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River Sports - Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting |
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Surfing, Kite Surfing, Wind Surfing, Jet Skiing |
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Water Skiing |
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| Thrill Sports |
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Mountain Biking |
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Rock Climbing |
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Hang Gliding/Paragliding |
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| Winter Sports |
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Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding |
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Cross-country Skiing |
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Snowmobiling |
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| Specialty Tours and Activities |
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Train Tours |
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Jet Boat River Touring |
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Local Nature Cruises and Harbor Tours |
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Gold Panning |
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Parasailing |
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Hot Air Balloon Tours |
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Flightseeing Tours |
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Local Cruises (dinner, dance, sightseeing) |
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| Entertainment |
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Shows, Theatre, Music |
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Dining |
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Nightlife |
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Sporting Venues (Baseball, Football, Basketball, Racing, Rodeo...) |
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| Overviews of Regions Visited |
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| Times and Distances |
Amount of time to plan this route (including time in San Francisco and Los Angeles):
Between 5 days and 2 weeks |
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Rough driving distance (not including local driving):
about 750 miles |
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Drive times between common stopping points (estimated drive times do not include stops):
- Between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara via Malibu: 1:45
- Between Santa Barbara and Solvang: 0:45
- Between Solvang and San Luis Obispo: 1:00
- Between San Luis Obispo and San Simeon: 1:00
- Between San Simeon and Monterey via Big Sur: 2:30
- Between Monterey and Yosemite: 4:00
- Between Yosemite and San Francisco: 3:45
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