Scenic drives in California

Beyond the well-explored city limits of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, California offers unique delicacies for visitors and its seasoned natives, as well.

Hit the road and enjoy scenic drives, discover historical landmarks across California!

• It is the sort of road you see in movies, with sharp turns, beautiful beaches and cliffs that plunge to the frothing ocean. The most dramatic and rugged portion of Highway 1 is an official part of the National Scenic Byways and it runs from San Simeon to Carmel. - Don't miss it!

• 17-Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula is widely recognized as one of the most scenic drives in the world with picturesque viewpoints along the famous Pebble Beach PGA Golf Course. With deer crossings, playful sea lions this is magnificent display of the California coast. The Lone Cypress - one of California’s most enduring landmarks - has prevailed for over 250 years on its rocky perch.

• El Camino Real - the Trail of the Missions - is stretching from San Diego to Sonoma, connecting 21 California Missions, established by Franciscan friar Junipero Serra in 1769. The most beautiful missions are in San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Barbara, Carmel and San Francisco.

• Highway 49 - The Mother Load - displays well preserved, historical western towns from the 1849 Gold Rush era like Oakhurst, Mariposa, Sonora, Placerville (Hangtown), Auburn, Nevada City - and you can still wash gold at Columbia State Historic Park.

• Route 395 offers the most magnificent mountain views in the world, as the Sierra Nevada range stretches high above the desert floor. Easy access to Death Valley, Alabama Hills, Mount Whitney, Palisades Glacier, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite and Lake Tahoe and many other great hiking and outdoor destinations.

• Historic Route 66 connects Los Angeles with Chicago and enjoys growing popularity since 1926. Cruising on Route 66 you will discover great western architecture, diners, specialty stores, old cars and more... Riding beautiful bikes in a relaxed atmosphere is favorite pastime of many.