California Highway 1-Carmel to San Francisco

Driving California Highway 1, in the north, this part goes from Carmel to San Francisco along Monterey Bay, the Pacific Ocean and Half Moon Bay.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a picturesque town well-known for high-priced boutiques, art galleries, its stunning Spanish Mission and golf courses. You can easily hang around a day or two at this place. You can visit Point Lobos State Reserve and view sea otters, sea lions, and if you come to there at the right times of the year, California Gray Whales migrating.

Right next to Carmel is Pacific Grove, a scenic little town which offers some great B&Bs. If you want to play golf on Monterey Bay see if you can book a tee-off time at the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links. Here you'll get the backdrop of the Monterey Bay Coastline for a fraction of the cost you have to pay for the famous Carmel golf courses.

Only about 4 miles (6 km) drive north of Pacific Grove and Carmel is Monterey. However consider to take the scenic route. There is an admission fee of about $9.00 you have to pay per car, and drive the 17 Mile Drive (about 27 km - but the name is 17 Mile Drive). You'll see some of the world famous golf courses, forests of Monterey Pine and the Lone Cypress tree on Cypress Point which is a popular photo subject for visitors.

Whenever you stop for lunch at one of the restaurants at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, the Lodge, or Poppy Hills, you may get your ticket validated and get your gate fee back. You may be able to talk your way in without the fee if you tell the gate keeper that you will be stopping for lunch. It's worth a try.

You can probably find more affordable motels and B&Bs in Monterey than in Carmel. You should see Fisherman's Wharf. Most of it has been turned into restaurants and touristy markets, but it's really worth a visit. You can find some historic building nearby from Spanish times and from when Monterey was the capital of California.

You should also visit Cannery Row made renowned by the John Steinbeck novel. It's a little further along the seafront. The old sardine packing houses have been converted into restaurants and shops, but here you will find the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's exhibit of California kelp forests is amazing. It's one of the largest and best aquariums in the country and really shouldn't be missed on your trip.

Travel along California Highway 1 around Monterey Bay to the surfing town of Santa Cruz, a laid back beach and university town full of students and retirees. It's worth to visit the old fashion Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, eat seawater taffy, and ride the Giant Dipper, a wooden roller coaster built in 1924. Near the Beach Boardwalk along West Cliff Drive there is a surfing museum.

Driving north again, you travel by coves with booming surf, sandy beaches, farming towns and Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Half Moon Bay features miles of sandy beaches.

Next you pass across Pacifica, and you'll soon arriving at San Francisco. Take the time and stay a few days there. Check out the best Hotel Deals to find your accommodation that suits your personal and financial needs. Then you are ready to experience this gem of a city after a couple of relaxing days spent driving California Highway 1.