Known as Route 1 in California, this fabled highway follows the Pacific coast from the beaches of Southern California to the rugged coastline of the Pacific Northwest, although most limit their drive to the 800km stretch between LA and San Francisco.
On PCH, you don’t open your window for a breath of air; you roll it down to feel the wind blast through your hair. Better still, take windows out of the equation completely and have your Travel Counsellor book you a convertible, because the wind in your hair and the sun on your face are all you’ll need.
Travellers heading north usually commence in Santa Monica. Once a sleepy beachside village, today it’s a bustling vibrant community; much favoured by the Hollywood set for its wide sandy beaches and lively café culture. A few km west is the star-studded enclave of Malibu. Surf, sand and stars are de rigueur in Malibu, in any order you like. Continuing west you’ll pass through Santa Barbara before turning north past Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Next stop is Pismo Beach, the destination Bugs Bunny made famous. At nearby San Simeon allow time to inspect the Hearst Castle. Here you’ll find a hilltop mansion with 165 exquisitely overblown rooms, gardens and Roman baths built by eccentric billionaire William Randolph Hearst.
North of San Simeon the highway runs through the beautiful Big Sur, where you can stop off at Nepenthe, a cliff side home built by Orson Welles for bride Rita Hayworth, before arriving at Carmel-by-the-Sea, once governed by Clint Eastwood. An attractive small town, Carmel comes with friendly locals and great food. One must-do is the 17 Mile Drive - a tour through one of California’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. It’s so exclusive, unless you’re a resident you have to pay a fee to get your vehicle through the gate.
Next stop, Monterey was the capital of California for a brief period. Today it’s mostly known as the setting for many of John Steinbeck's novels. North of Monterey your landscape begins to urbanise, until morphing into the conurbation known as the San Francisco Bay area.
Pacific Coast Highway fun facts
McDonalds’ Egg McMuffin was invented in 1968 in Santa Barbara by a franchise owner, Herb Peterson
Neon signs, billboards and hot dog stands are prohibited in the village of Carmel, and a (free) permit is required to wear high-heeled shoes
Shirley Temple was born in 1928 in Santa Monica
Oahu, Hawaii
Friday 3rd September 2010
Travel Counsellor: Sylvia Paggiaro
My trip to Hawaii began with my Qantas Flight from Brisbane to Sydney and a connecting Qantas international flight arriving in Honolulu. Luggage was never a problem as I had checked this in from Brisbane and not seen again until collected in Honolulu.
This was a familiarisation trip with a small group of my fellow Travel Counsellors. It was an incredible experience hosted by Qantas Holidays. The warmth and hospitality shown to us by the Hawaiian suppliers made our stay even more memorable.
My first impressions of Hawaii as we were being transferred to our hotel was, just how BLUE the Pacific Ocean is. With the white soft sands of Waikiki and the azure ocean, the water was inviting!
Our first evening we headed to Germaine's Luau (included a buffet dinner and Polynesian Show). It was a perfect beach location. The rolling waves and balmy breeze mixed with great company, good food and great entertainment, made this a fun evening.
Other activies to include would be to visit Pearl... view full story
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