Craig Gillette
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 p.1 #12 · US 101 & California 1 Which direction? North or South | |
In a general sense, yes, driving south puts the car on the ocean side - which is very much the cliff side in some places (if northbound, some of the landside cliffs are also close in places like Big Sur but you just worry about scraping on them, not falling up the cliffs). Driving south does enhance the view for the passenger and the driver.
There are places where the driver's attention really does have to be on the driving. And kidding aside, as you drive Big Sur and some of the other areas, the road follows the terrain so it does go back into canyons then out around a point, then back into a canyon, etc., and some of the curves are very tight on the inland side. If going south, on the ocean side, the inside tight turns are generally have the land falling away (not completely a pun), going north, as you turn tightly around a point or outcropping, it can be very close to the rocks and the visibility bad. And big RVs and busses often swing wide for those turns.
I haven't driven the whole route for years but would suggest, if time permits, Highway 1 instead of 101 north of San Francisco. This is not high speed driving. There are several routes across back to the 101 and the 101 isn't unpleasant.
I'm kind of with the 101 south from San Francisco group, or even the I-280. 17 south to Santa Cruz takes you through the Felton area as well and near the Roaring Camp and Big Trees RR and some state redwood parks. The area on the 101 around San Juan Bautista is interesting with the mission and the earthquake history as well. But if you probably want to go to the coast via Castroville and Marina if you haven't already. 1 south through the Monerety, Pacific Grove and Carmel area, although that's worth a couple of days n iteslef, Montery has a number of Spanish colonial and early California historic sites, the Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf and Aquarium, as well as the geaches of the Pacific Grove and Carmel area, and Point Lobos Reserve. Then 1 through Big Sur. I'm not sure I'd push for following 1 south after leaving the San Luis Obispo area. Push on to the Buellton, Lompoc and Santa Ynez area. Mission La Purisima Concepcion near Lompoc is restored and situated in a more openstate park area of rolling undeveloped hills, unlike most of the Missions which are in the cities that grew up around them. Solvang isn't as quaint as it used to be but maybe worth some time to see the little ag communities in the area, then south to Gaviota then along the coast to Santa Barbara.
We tend to drive inland at Ventura on Highway 126 as it gives us better routes home comparted to following either the 1 or 101. 1 follows the coast after getting though the Oxnard area and goes past Pt. Mugu then along Malibu to Santa Monica. and then 1 is especially crowded and mostly urban. Venice Beach (Google for info), if that interests you. 101 - from Ventura east (even if the general impression and map directions suggest "south") takes you along the north side of the Santa Monica mOuntains and into the San Fernando Valley. Often a very busy drive and unless you need to go that way, may or may not be preferred over the 1 to Santa Monica. This is the main L.A. metropolitan area. 1 - Pacific Coast Highway will get you to Long Beach and then near the water at Seal Breach and Bolsa Chica, then eventually rejoins the 101/I-5 at about San Juan Capistrano/Dana Point/San Clemente (I don't follow the numbers around there so not entirely sure which you would or wouldn't see and when.) I-5 south to San Diego is faster, the old PCH 1 (or 101?) still goes through the beach communities. Slower and maybe somewhat more scenic. You'll take I-5 through the Camp Pendleton Marine base from San Clemente to Oceanside anyways.
Edited on May 07, 2008 at 06:51 PM
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