All the best stops down the coast for the girls! If you're a fan of scenery, or wildlife, a wine connoisseur, or a thrill seeker looking to adventure, the PCH has it all. 

Santa Cruz, CA, USA

San Francisco, CA, USA

Half Moon Bay, CA, USA

McWay Falls, California, USA

Monterey, CA, USA

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Morro Bay, CA, USA

Pismo Beach, CA, USA

Pacific Coast Highway Girls Road Trip | San Francisco to Los Angeles in One Week

The Pacific Coast Highway stretches from northern California down to Orange County, near Los Angeles County. While you can continue to enjoy coastal highway roads farther north than the PCH's start, we kept our trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. So here are all of our stops between, starting in San Francisco. 

San Francisco should really be its own trip with multiple days to explore the city! Because we only had less than a day, we stuck to our basics,  but here are a few highlights of this wonderful city. 

This beautiful RED bridge is an iconic photography spot with stunning views of the city on one side, nature on the other, and the bay underneath. Be ready for some traffic on the drive there and wear layers when stepping out for photos, it gets cold near the bay. You can walk on the bridge as well, but the view is much better from the outside. Some of the best places to view the bridge include Golden Gate Viewpoint (the most standard), Marshall's Beach, and one of my favorites, H. Dana Powers Rest Area & Vista Point (northbound). 

Are you interested in old incarceration programs and military prisons? Well if you are, there is a ferry that takes you straight to this island which was once home to some of the most notorious/dangerous criminals. A tour guide will show you through the old prison premises whilst sharing stories of prisoners' lives including escape attempts, prison riots, and more. 

Otherwise known as 'crooked street' this street has a fun zigzag structure going downhill for a fun short whirlwind of a ride. San Francisco is pretty much a city full of hilly roads so the steepness isn't new but the sharp turns definitely stand out. Plus the scene from the bottom farther our from the street doesn't look too bad either. 

A personal favorite of mine and perhaps the only place in San Francisco with stunning structures of European-style architecture. A picturesque walk through these remains is great for any art and architecture fans.

Ghost Stop: Point Reyes National Seashore

I'll call this a ghost spot because we didn't end up going here due to time limits and frankly, not hearing about it until later. This is a beautiful protected seashore with a beach, views of Alamere Falls, and if you go in December and January or April through May, a great spot to go whale watching near the lighthouse!

Down the coast, you can stop in the rocky terrains to find all kinds of microbiomes with snails, little starfish, other crustaceans, and cool rocks and plants in general. Wear proper shoes or be ready for your feet to be battered when jumping between rocks to find these little pockets of water in the cliffs by the water. Make sure you don't accidentally step on any of the little guys either as you're exploring!

This is another beautiful beach town frequented by celebrities with some even calling/called it home (Clint Eastwood, Betty White, etc.). Enjoy the scenic drives, wineries, and hip restaurants here, a perfect couple's getaway. 

Stop 6: Big Sur | Julia Pfieffer State Park - McWay Falls

Big Sur is a dramatic landscape showing rugged cliff views into the ocean, grassy hills, and drastically tall Redwoods. You could easily spend days here, but unfortunately, we got here late as we were taking our time down the coast at all other stops, so our time was cut short. very short. The only thing we were able to do here was to catch McWay Falls.

Popularly known as the "Million Dollar View" Ragged Point shows cliffs staggering directly into the ocean with a beautiful seaside resort attached. Come for the view and be prepared to have only that. Wifi at this resort is limited, to say the least, so if you need to be with your phone, I would be prepared to spend a lot of your time here in the few places that have stronger connections along the resort. Otherwise, take in the gorgeous water and garden views and eat at the one restaurant on site (or the deli or cafe)!

When I think of Morro Bay, I think of sea otters/seals and a big rock. Morro Bay is actually named after this rock that sits high in the landscape making it visible from pretty much anywhere in the bay. 

Montaña De Oro State Park is another spot we missed, but wish we hadn't. The park's name translates to "mountain of gold" and for good reason too. During springtime, the mountains in this park are covered in beautiful wildflowers and lush greenery, and if you start to miss the water, you can still see the ocean across multiple trails. 

About 20 min from San Francisco, we saw a pumpkin patch! A perfect way to start off October! You could buy pumpkins of all sizes and shapes along with honey at a cute little stand towards the front of the road. 

We saw signs for garage sales a lot during our drive down the coast. We only stopped once, but if you have the time, I recommend checking out any larger ones you stumble upon. Some neighborhoods would set up shop together!

A coastal paradise + small town in northern California just 40 minutes from San Francisco and home to the infamous Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay. We stopped at the beach and enjoyed a short trail walk and a quick dip, but there is so much more to do!

Enjoy the many beaches the area has to offer. 

The most popular beaches by the name and views, are Half Moon Bay State Beach and Venice Beach (no, not the one in LA). 

If you're a pro surfer or surfing enthusiast, you might know about Mavericks Beach for its drastic waves. Even if you don't like surfing, you might enjoy the views. 

If you're looking to splurge on a fine hotel experience, this is a great place to do it. Have an amazing seafood dinner at Navio, or have drinks at the Ocean Terrace Bar with spectacular views of the cliffs and bay. If you enjoy golfing, you can take a few swings here as well at the course located on the same grounds!

Depending on the time of year, you might be lucky enough to witness gray whales making their migration south to breed (January - March). From March, your chances of seeing humpback whales get higher as they start approaching closer to shore. 

Half Moon Bay's Main Street is lined with locally-owned boutiques and restaurants making it a perfect place to browse and lunch! Inquire about wine tastings and wineries here too to really round out your experience, you won't be disappointed!

Our Stay: Two Nights in an Airbnb for up to 6, $1116

Within walking distance of the Boardwalk is West Cliff Drive, a scenic 2-ish-mile drive with views of the ocean and a lighthouse. The walk is wheelchair accessible with plenty of spots with benches overlooking the water. If you prefer to drive, there are also plenty of parking lots down this drive to allow you to stop and enjoy the view. At the other end of this drive, is Natural Bridges State Park. 

The most convenient and popular beach to enjoy in Santa Cruz is Main Beach. Situated right next to Santa Cruz Wharf and Boardwalk, this beach is perfect if you are on a time crunch and want to enjoy as much as you can in one spot. 

There are wine tastings all along the coast. In every town we spotted options so definitely explore, but we did notice a significant amount of options pop up on our maps in Santa Cruz. There are small vineyards, distilleries, and breweries offering plenty of select wines and beers. With so many options you can choose your wine tasting experience. Whether you want vineyard views, a more educational tour on sustainable practices and grape varietals, an intimate tasting experience in a distillery, or stay closer to town in a standard tasting room too!

Extending about a half mile into Monterey Bay, this walk allows you to slowly be surrounded by the water and get a closer look at sailboats in the distance. If you're lucky, you might see other wildlife such as sea lions, dolphins, and maybe whales. 

If you enjoy local shops, definitely stop into the stores lining the wharf including beach apparel, a fun sock store, kites for flying on the beach, and more! 

Interested in surfing? Then you might enjoy Cowell Beach more. While Mavericks Beach in Half Moon Bay is known for drastic waves meant only for pro surfers to brave, Cowell Beach offers more for beginners. 

Rides for people of all ages, fun food stands, and little shops! The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has everything for a family to enjoy with the beach and Wharf only walking distance away. If you want to hit up all three of these spots I recommend doing the beach and boardwalk first as the Wharf is open much later to explore into the evening. Tickets for entrance are much cheaper if you buy them online beforehand as well so make sure to plan ahead if you can.

See all kinds of wildlife at Natural Bridges from whales making their seasonal migrations to birds and if you're lucky, seals on the shore! The beach isn't the only thing here, see wetlands and marshes, grassy shore areas, and open access tide pools to show all kinds of small ocean life like crustaceans and starfish. 

There are multiple spots near Santa Cruz to see the infamous tall Redwoods through tram tours, bike tours, and regular walking hikes. We weren't able to do this excursion, but if you are a fan of tall thin trees, definitely don't miss out on these tour opportunities. 

Famously known for their beach with colorful houses lined up right near the shore, Capitola is a picturesque beach town with shops, restaurants, wineries and more. There is something for everyone!

Popularly known for its biodiversity, depending on the time of year you can see whales, shore birds, sunfish, jellyfish and more. Fishing docks line up much of the bay, but there are still spots to brave the cold waters for a beach day if you can. My friends and I found a great spot to enjoy some breakfast pizza before we headed to the aquarium!

This aquarium is located right at the shore edge with windows into the ocean showing marine life directly from the ocean! We saw seals, shore birds, colorful fish (even tanks with glow and dark bacteria), and other fun coral and sea plants! There is a dock in the middle to see the waves as well. 

A short hike from the parking lot takes you to a stunning landscape of McWay falls. The waterfall isn't even the main looker here, it's the landscape surrounding it. Coming from the top of a tall cliff, this waterfall goes straight onto the beach and into the ocean! Compared to the powerful waves hitting up against the cliff, the waterfall is almost not as noticable, but stunning none the less. 

The beach we went to had mini sand dune-looking mounds eventually smoothening out as we got closer to the water and rock. We found all kinds of sand dollars and shells at the beach and went to go on a trail hike next to see the other side of the rock. The water continues to get warmer the further down the coast, but this was the first time I noticed the difference. That or I just finally got used to the cold. 

The trail we walked down took us through grassy lands on a wooden walking path. The ending point took us back to the water with a view from the other side of Morro Rock. People were going kayaking in the water to get a closer look at sea otters and shore birds, but there are vantage points on land too. Drive to the Great American Fish Company to get a pretty good shot at seeing seals, sea otters, and sea lions (yes, they are all different)! 

If your group is into hiking this is definitely a great place to explore. The park has flat land terrain as well as steeper hikes to peaks with stunning viewpoints. Maybe even see some wildlife along the way. If a typical walk isn't thrilling enough for you, the park also offers trails for mountain biking!

Coming close to the water, there are also a ton of fun things to do at the beaches. Tide pools are lined up in rock formations on the beaches where you can explore micro sea life as a fun and family-friendly activity, just make sure to watch out for the high tide! The more adventurous folk can enjoy surfing as well. Spooner's Cove is a beach area in the park that is one of the only dog-friendly areas with a campground to stay overnight. Explore caves, tide pools, go fishing, kayaking, and even enjoy looking at all the pebbles and different rock formations along the beach. 

If all you want to do is enjoy some wine and fun beach vibes then this is the place for you. The water along the coast here is still freezing, but really as warm as it gets with slightly less terrifying waves that make you feel comfortable going in past knee level. 

Unfortunately we spent a little too much time in Morro Bay and Pismo Beach, so it was nightfall by the time we reached Santa Barbara. We ended up driving right past the town to make it to our stay in LA. 

Like San Francisco, and honestly all of the stops on this trip, you could spend days here to truly enjoy everything Los Angeles has to offer. 

We went to Steve's ATV rentals along the beach where a van picked us up and drive us right near the water to the dunes. A quick tutorial with a practice session and we were headed down the slopes. If you're a timid thrill seeker who wants to push your boundaries, ATV is a great and fun way to do that. 

You could see the lights from the city between mountains AND a beautiful ocean view. Tie that in with the plentiful wineries the area has to offer and you're a lock for a pretty great weekend trip of beaching, hiking, and drinking!

Have a beach day with a fun carnival-themed pier with a fun roller coaster, Ferris wheel, concession stands, street performers/artists, and more. The views aren't too bad either. 

Learn about astronomy with a stunning view of downtown Los Angeles. Every night, there are free public telescope viewings, just make sure to go on a clear night and expect a crowd! Parking can be difficult, so prepare for a walk from farther options, or count on rideshare apps to get you there! If you prefer to avoid the packed environment but still want the iconic night views, pick weekday nights for a slightly smaller crowd. 

free, concession stands and rides cost $$

Along the Santa Monica Mountain range, is this stunning beach town where all beaches are open access. The waves are strong making them great for surfing and wind surfing, just watch out for that riptide!

This is another popular beach south of Santa Monica beach. Experience the bustling artistic community along with their own concession stands along the boardwalk. 

Not far from Griffith Observatory, is Universal Studios.  Most people spend the whole day here and enjoy special rides, performances, and specially-themed lands, such as the famous Harry Potter World and Jurrasic World. A day pass for general admission costs $109 if you buy online beforehand! 

Known as a bougie lover's paradise, Rodeo Drive is a stretch of street lined with luxury shops, restaurants, and a few hotels. Come here to empty your wallet on iconic stores like Gucci, Prada, Dior, etc. 

The end of summer/early fall is a great time to enjoy the coast, with the water finally warming up from the summer heat and the peak season starting to slow down. 

Stay: One Night in a Victorian Inn for 6, $684 for two rooms

Our Stay: One Night in an Airbnb for 6, $500

Our Stay: One Night in Sonder Found Santa Monica for 6, $760

Pacific Coast Highway Girls Road Trip | San Francisco to Los Angeles in One Week

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