California Coast — Blog - Traveling Newlyweds

One of our favorite drives in the world is the coastal-hugging California Highway 1. (So much so, that we drove it on our honeymoon!) The scenery never ceases to amaze us - no matter the weather or the time of year. From the surf swells in Santa Barbara, to the cliffside hikes in Big Sur, to the majestic bridges entering Monterey County… it’s natural beauty at its finest.

Due to some massive landslides, Highway 1 was forced to close. For over a year and a half crews have been working day in and day out to get this scenic drive back to what it once was, and FINALLY the day is here!

Highway 1 is open, and it’s better than ever!!!

We jumped at the opportunity to explore our favorite highway once again, at the start of our road trip nearly three weeks ago - and Alli nearly cried with joy. Highway 1 in the summertime is postcard-worthy, and you better believe we stopped wherever we could to take it all in!

This trip up the highway was especially significant for us, as it’s the first time we’ve brought our fur-baby Sally along! (Dog lovers out there, you get it.) We had SO much fun taking her around our favorite stops on the drive, one highlight being the elephant seals. We’ve never seen our little bernedoodle so wide-eyed!

We’ve met people from all over the world that hear we’re from California, and immediately tell us that they’ve driven Highway 1 - most of them numerous times! It’s captivating and addictive, no matter what kind of traveler you are. You could pack a tent and camp at every stop, or stay in world-famous five star hotels, there’s literally something for everyone. And there’s never a bad time to do it either, the change in weather only adds to the dramatic coastline.

Planning a road trip of your own? One way to cut hotel costs (and add to the adventure!) is by renting an RV with RVshare. They're the largest, safest and most trusted RV rental marketplace with wide ranging inventory from affordable pop-ups to luxury motorcoaches. Whether it's just you and your significant other out on the open road, or you're planning a trip with your family - they have something for everyone! They even have pet friendly RV rentals too! RVshare also has 24/7 emergency roadside assistance on every booking, making it a very safe and trustworthy travel option. Head to RVshare.com to learn more!

If the Rascal Flats song is true, and “Life is a Highway”, we’d like to think of it as Highway 1. Beauty everywhere we turn, pure joy, and endless discoveries… Sounds like an epic life to us!

Below is a throwback to our first days of marriage... on Highway 1 on our honeymoon!

One of our favorite drives EVER is along the Highway 1 in California. The dramatic coastline spans from Southern Cali to Northern Cali, and every turn, twist, and bend offers a new picture-perfect view. It’s one of those drives you shouldn’t take when you’re in a hurry. Quite frankly, we recommend you do it with little-to-no plans! We recently went on a short weekend trip to Monterey County, and spent a day meandering up and down the 1 from Monterey to Big Sur. We probably stopped 20 times in a matter of hours - there was too much to see (and photograph)!!

Here’s a few of our favorite vantage points, and some photos to show why.

1. Soberanes Point and Soberanes Point Trail

This was our first stop - and probably our favorite. As we cruised south out of the Camel Highlands, the landscapes started to change, and we were antsy to turnoff at the first available spot. Soberanes Point has a lookout up high, as well as a trail on the water, that will offer the jaw-dropping views you're looking for. We hiked up to the top of the mountain for an EPIC vantage point of the coastline. (Make sure you’re wearing comfortable hiking shoes, as exploring these trails can get a little intense.) We then hiked down to a lookout that was absolutely breathtaking. We watched as 10+ foot waves crashed along the cliffs, and marveled at the blue, unruly seas. It’s definitely not a coastline that’s conducive for swimming!

2. Rocky Creek Bridge

Just under a mile away from the famous Bixby Bridge, the Rocky Creek Bridge can easily be mistaken for it! Every bit as picturesque, this bridge is definitely worth the stop. You can climb down to the base for a photo op, and it’s usually less crowded than Bixby. It’s an architectural marvel, and absolutely stunning to see up close!

3. Bixby Bridge

The Bixby Bridge is world-famous, and we can see why. Not only is it one of the most photographed bridges in the world, it's been in TV shows (Pretty Little Lies), movies (Play Misty for Me), and video games (GTA)! Built in the 1930's, it's an architectural marvel- that will cause you to just sit and stare. We recommend parking and taking your time walking around. You can even cross the street and get some cool views from behind the bridge, and that's not a bad spot for a picnic! If you're really feeling daring, you can walk along the edge to the bench in the center of the bridge! Definitely not for the faint of heart, but worth it for the photo op!

4. Hurricane Point

Named for how windy it is up there, Hurricane Point is one of the highest points along Highway 1. From this spot you'll have incredible views in all directions. You'll even have a great view of Bixby Bridge (to the north) from this spot. Just be sure to hold on to your hat!

5. Pfeiffer Beach

We missed out on this one, because we got really hungry (See our blog on where to eat in Monterey to read more about Ventana Big Sur for lunch). This "secret" beach looks incredible, and we have in on top of our list for when we are back in the area. It's apparently a bit difficult to find, as there is no signage. It's a beautiful, unspoiled beach with the famous Key Hole rock, and apparently some purple sand (Purple?!?). We need to go back ASAP!

6. McWay Falls

Waterfalls are just plain cool. This one is no exception!! There's an easy trail that allows you to traverse along the cliffs, and gives you epic views and different perspectives for photos. On a sunny day the water is almost translucent it's so blue! Unfortunately you can't access the beach where the falls are located, but that makes it feel very untouched and rural. We recommend that you go early morning or late afternoon - we were there mid-day and the sun was too bright for a good photo of the waterfall, but still worth the stop. A MUST SEE on your drive! (Just look out for the signs... it can be easy to miss!)

These are just a few of our “must-stops”, but honestly EVERYWHERE you turn is breathtaking!! Take our advice and make a day out of this small (but mighty) stretch of California coastline. Next time we plan to pack a picnic and find a secluded spot along the cliffs that we can sit and enjoy the views. And best part is? It’s picture-perfect year round. We went in January and the weather was amazing!

This post was sponsored by Monterey County. All opinions expressed here are our own

Life is a Highway - And Highway One is Open!!

California Coast = Best Coast