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From: £2395
All you need to do is sit back, relax and let the stunning coastal scenery unfold in front of you on this California Cool fly-drive.
Price per person includes:
Prices are based on off-season travel. This holiday can be tailor-made, call the team of USA experts at Bon Voyage to discuss your ideal California Coast fly-drive holiday.
Surely you’ve worked up an appetite now and no better place for alfresco dining then Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. A pedestrian area full of shops and restaurants – another great place to relax and become one with the beach community. If you are travelling on a Saturday or Sunday, treat yourself to brunch at Shutters on the Beach. Delicious food, outstanding scenery and maybe a movie star or two. Speaking of movie stars, another 15 miles down the road is Malibu, famous for movie star residents and great surfing beaches.
Distance: 75 miles
Leave behind the surfer mentality for somewhere a bit more refined and sophisticated - Santa Barbara. With the Santa Ynez Mountains in one direction and the Pacific Ocean in the other it is hard to imagine a prettier city. Spanish colonial architecture, tasteful boutiques and more seafood than you can ever eat top it off. This is where celebrities come when they want to leave their fame behind.Distance: 105 miles
Approximately 1 hour north of Santa Barbara is the Danish village of Solvang one of California's most charming cities. Further north, nestled in lush hills stretching for miles along California's Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley's fertile land has a long, rich history - this is John Steinbeck country. Guadalupe, a retro 50’s border town, will transport you to another time. Further north, San Luis Obispo is the midway point between LA and San Fran and the ideal stop for the night.Distance: 105 miles
San Simeon and Hearst Castle was once home to William Randolph Hearst, the American newspaper magnate of the late 1800’s. His 165-room Moorish castle is an architectural fantasy of unbridled excess. After Hearst died, family fortunes declined and they gave Hearst Castle to the state. Today. the Park Service preserves Hearst Castle as a State Historical Monument and you can enjoy a glimpse into the Hearst's opulent lifestyle.
North of San Simeon you’ll find Piedras Blancas famous for its protected colonies of elephant seals who claim the secluded beach as their own. Now for the main event – 70 miles of the most breathtaking stretch of Highway anywhere in the world. Spot blue and humpback whales in the summer or grey whales in winter and drive over Bixby Creek Bridge, important historically because it introduced automobile travel to Big Sur, connecting the remote coastal towns to each other. It is now time to park the car. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is yours to explore. Hike among the redwoods and look for one of the few waterfalls that plunge directly into the ocean.
Distance: 75 miles
The Monterey Peninsula is best done at a leisurely pace with your first stop being Carmel. Famous for electing Clint Eastwood as mayor, this town can best be described as chocolate box sweet. Clint Eastwood still lives in Carmel and runs the Mission Ranch. The restaurant offers a Sunday brunch that is fabulous or you can enjoy the piano bar nightly. The peninsula drive, also referred to as the 17 mile drive, takes you past the private residential area of Pebble Beach and on to Monterey. An hour further brings you to Santa Cruz a real Californian mix of surfers, hippies, artists and new-age freaks. The bustling downtown is a great place to hang out and be one with the California beach vibe.Distance: 80 miles
It’s not over yet and this bit of Highway is every bit as gorgeous as Big Sur. Rolling hills, country towns, windswept beaches and giant trees make for a landscape you won’t see often.It's time to head back to the UK, unless we can persuade you to stay longer?
This holiday is perfect for adding on Hawaii or continuing along the California coast into Oregon and Washington State.
A Bon Voyage holiday is tailored to your exact wishes, so please call or email us to discuss your California dream holiday.