Pacific Coast Highway and the Big Sur

This is a drive that everyone should take at least once in their life - it is a beautiful way to see just how diverse California geography can be! From our hotel in Santa Barbara to our next hotel in Monterey Bay was a distance of 234 miles (see our route map below) - but the twists and turns that this highway goes through on the way to Monterey just have to be seen to be believed! It is also the perfect trip to take with your significant other. Get in your car, pack a picnic lunch or get reservations for a romantic restaurant along the way.

Please be aware that this highway is known by several names, ie; Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), Cabrillo Highway, Shoreline Highway, or Coast Highway. Within this page, we will refer to it as "Pacific Coast Highway".

Our route to Monterey from Santa Barbara was simple; straight north on the 101 to Morro Bay, and then north on route 1 until we got to Monterey. Along the way, our intent was to stop at whatever looked interesting, and that wound up being Morro Bay. We stopped briefly in San Luis Obispo for an iced coffee and a snack and then drove on to the coast.

When we came across Morro Rock which you can see from the highway we had to stop. As you can see from the pictures it’s a large rock sitting amidst the Pacific Ocean just off shore. There is a causeway that connects it to the mainland which makes it a tied island. The uniqueness of the rock inspired us to learn more. We discovered that it is a volcanic plug which is created when magma hardens within a vent of an active volcano. According to wikipedia Morro Rock is 23 million years old and one of 13 such volcanic plugs in the area. It is illegal to climb the rock due to its fragile nature. There is some interesting information on the wiki site regarding the rock and the tribal history of the Salinan and Chumash tribes.

NOTE: To read more about "Volcanic Plugs" click here as most of the larger hills between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay are all volcanic plugs.

The Morro Bay Pier gave us an exceptional view of Morro Rock and also placed us in an area with a number of small shops and restaurants. Depending on the time you arrive it could be a good place to stop for breakfast or lunch and shop in the many local stores by the harbor.

29 miles north of Morro Bay on the Pacific Coast Highway, we arrived at the San Simeon area. As can be seen in this Google Map, we had utilized a turnout on the Coast Highway below Hearst Castle. We knew the access road was still being rebuilt, and we did not have entry reservations either, so the best we could do was admire it from afar.

Hearst Castle, located in San Simeon, California, is an iconic estate with a rich history tied to media mogul William Randolph Hearst. Construction began in 1919, when Hearst inherited the land from his mother and decided to build a retreat atop the coastal hills. He hired renowned architect Julia Morgan to design what he originally called "La Cuesta Encantada" (The Enchanted Hill).

The land on which Hearst Castle stands was originally part of a 40,000-acre ranch purchased by William Randolph Hearst’s father, George Hearst, in 1865. Over time, the family expanded the property to 250,000 acres. George Hearst used the land primarily for cattle ranching, and young William spent much of his childhood exploring the vast wilderness.

After inheriting the estate from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, in 1919, William Randolph Hearst decided to build a residence that would be both a family retreat and a showcase for his massive art collection. He hired Julia Morgan, the first woman licensed as an architect in California, to design the estate.

Construction of what would become Hearst Castle began in 1919 and continued for nearly three decades. Hearst and Morgan collaborated closely, and their combined vision led to the creation of a sprawling compound of gardens, terraces, pools, and buildings. By the late 1930s, Hearst’s fortune had begun to dwindle, and construction on the estate slowed. In 1947, Hearst left the castle due to declining health and moved to Beverly Hills, where he died in 1951. Construction on the estate was never fully completed, though it was largely finished by the time of Hearst’s departure.

In 1957, the Hearst family donated the estate to the state of California, and it was turned into a state historical monument. It opened to the public as Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, and today, it is managed by California State Parks. Visitors can tour various parts of the estate, including the gardens, the pools, and many of the interior rooms.

Speaking of restaurants, there is one in particular that is perched on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean coastline that is famous, the Nepenthe Restaurant. They have a large open air terrace, and there is inside and outside seating available for diners. We did not have time to stop for a meal, but the available parking was completely filled, giving us some idea of the popularity of this restaurant.

• Accomodations on the "Pacific Coast Highway"
• Gas Stations on the "Pacific Coast Highway"
• Pacific Coast Highway on the "Get Your Guide" Website
• Amazon Search Results List for "Pacific Coast Highway"
• Youtube Search Results List for "Pacific Coast Highway"
• Visit our Youtube Channel
• Our Image Gallery for Pacific Coast Highway
• Wikipedia Article for Pacific Coast Highway
• Google Image Gallery for Pacific Coast Highway

As you can see in this static map, we had a number of destinations (as well as a number of side trips) that would require a considerable amount of driving. Each of the itinerary stops is linked to our content (or page) to allow you to view our content.

Locations / Start & End points are both San Francisco International Airport

1. San Francisco Hilton Financial District.
2. Bonita Point Lighthouse and Fort Baker area.
3. Sausalito, CA.
4. Santa Rosa, CA in the heart of the Sonoma County Wine District.
5. Salida, CA - overnight rest stop along the way to Yosemite.
6. Yosemite National Park, CA where we stayed at the Rush Creek Lodge.
7. Frontieres Underground Garden Fresno, CA - this was an entertainment side stop, as we had read about this place and also wanted to get lunch.
8. Santa Barbara, CA
9. Morro Bay, CA.
10. Monterey Bay, CA to explore the Monterey Bay and Carmel by the Sea areas.