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Snaking along the California coast between two of North America's most famous cities, California State Highway 1 passes through some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world. It starts 150 miles (240km) north of San Francisco and ends in the myriad small cities which form the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Highway 1's 550 miles (885km) offer the visitor an outstanding variety of things to do and see. For those seeking spectacular scenery, it travels past wild and lonely coasts, silent green forests, purple-blue mountains and parched scrubland. For tourists which are interested in wildlife, sealions and the spumes of whales can often be seen from Highway 1, while short stops and detours are often richly rewarded with bright carpets of flowers and glimpses of exotic birds.
State 1 begins about 150 miles (240km) north of Sand Francisco, at Leggett, crossing the scenic south fork of the River Eel, and heading west to the coast. It zigzags south, following the rims of the deep gulches that slice into the land from the sea. The San Andrea Fault runs very close to the road between Point Arena and San Francisco. Near Bodge Head, a spur of land that juts out into the Pacific, Highway 1 reaches its highest altitude - about 600 feet (182m) - affording magnificent views across spray - shrouded headlands and mountains crowned with clouds.
THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
State 1 is absorbed by US 101 to form the Golden Gate Freeway, which runs down to the famous bridge. Deep red, and rising 750 feet (227m), the majestic twin towers of the Golden Gate Bridge are one of America's most famous landmarks. From all directions the freeway affords splendid views, for San Francisco is as memorable basking in bright sunlight as it is cloaked in the fog that so often hangs low over the city. S.F. 's population is a melting pot of many ethnic groups - Africans, Europeans, Latin Americans and Asians and many ethnic characters such as the famous Chinatown.
Highway 1 splits again from US 101, and proceeds south, travelling through pleasant residential areas such as Richmond, Sunset, and Ingleside, before turning west to hug the coast once more.
Still clinging to the coast, the route rolls further southward, to the famous Monterey Bay area. This is a much sought after area in which to live with its warm-climate architecture and tree-lined streets. Attracting millions of visitors per year is the ultra-modern Monterey Bay Aquarium opened in 1984. The Aquarium houses tanks 30 feet (9m) deep, with walls of transparent acrylic environments. One display even houses a shoal of small sharks and visitors can watch them being fed by divers.
Continuing south, Highway 1 curves around Monterey Bay towards Carmel by the Sea. The settlement of Carmel dates back to the 17770s.
The road continues ever southwards, now passing the great rock at point Sur, and travelling down the stretch of coastline known as Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Here, looking out across the shifting blue-grey surface of the Pacific Ocean you might see vertical spouts of water, blown by migrating whales that move up and down the coast.
HEARST CASTLE
The fantasy house was built by the rich newspaper magnate , Willian Randolph Hearst. Hearst Castle is definitely worth a visit, and is one of California's most famous tourist attractions. A number of different tours can be taken, which explore different parts of the house and estate. Buses collect visitors from the huge car park and take them up to the castle on the hill which its sprawl of associated buildings, swimming pools, intimate bowers and rolling ranch land.
Back on Highway 1, the road leaves the coast at the towering rock in Morro Bay. The road becomes double-laned until it touches the coast again briefly at Pismo Beach. Thereafter it winds through the attractive valleys around Lompoc, before joining US 101 again to run down the side of the Santa Ynez Mountains between Gaviota and Ventura. The small islands of San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz can be seen hazily across the Santa Barbara Channel.
LOS ANGELES - CITY OF ANGELS
State 1 separates from US 101 at El Rio, and travels along the coast to the vast city of Los Angeles. With a population of over 3,5 million people, LA is America's second largest city after New York. However, LA City is only one city of many that form a continuously built up area that stretches for more than 60 miles (96km) along the coast from Malibu in the north to San Clemente in the south.
Los Angeles teems with life. It is the centre of the movie business, and many film stars live in the smart, bright mansions scattered in the wealthy areas of the megalopolis, like Brentwood and Bellaire.
At Los Angeles, Highway 1 comes to an end, having wound its way along some of the most varied and spectacular, scenery in America. It passes golden beaches fringed with scallop-shaped waves and rocky peninsulas battered by heaving surf.
There can be few roads in the world that encompass such a variety of natural and man-made attractions.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The California State Highway covers a distance of about 550 miles (880km). A section of interstate 5 also runs north from Los Angeles and being a more direct route, takes much of the traffic away from Highway 1, which is single-laned in parts.
Southern California is on the San Andreas fault and is subject to earthquakes. This occasionally affects traffic. The best information about road conditions can be obtained from any AAA office, which will also provide free maps to members.
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