Hey there, fellow road warriors and thrill-seekers! 
Planning a driving holiday along the Pacific Coast Highway? Fasten your seat belt: it’s a white-knuckle ride, a feast for the senses. You’ve read the confessional travel pieces and dipped into the guide books, but now it’s time to get real; to nail the detail and cut out the clutter. So, in a hurry, what’s the deal? Just the facts, ma’am, to keep you clear of costly mistakes. And the deal is ….
Route Selection
Before you plan your beachgoer tour, define when you’re hitting the road and check the weather report; a freak storm or rockslide, especially just over your halfway mark, will be a mood killer. The PCH traverses the Pacific Coast from Mexico all the way to Canada, so the direction you’re heading will make a difference. Heading north from Los Angeles is one ride, and heading back south is another.
Timing is everything: travel off-season to avoid crowds and traffic and enjoy a smoother ride, consider how many days you have at your disposal (a leisurely pace with an overnight every 150 miles allowing for museum visits, nature walks, and foodie/farm-to-table type of adventures is not the same as a frantic 700-mile dash over a weekend), benchmark your trip to your style.
Must-See Destinations
And now the fun part — the major stops along the PCH you shouldn’t miss. Your first stop: San Francisco. This is the home of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, so make sure to snap a photo of it. Afterwards, you can drive through the vibrant streets of San Francisco. Then head south towards the bay, Monterey, Big Sur, and the utterly dramatic coastal scenery. It’s called Pacific Coast Highway for a reason. Your next stop is the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium — it’s magnificent.
Then gear up for the beauty punches in Big Sur, with its wild oceanic cliffs and rolling foam-crested waves that equal gold as Instagram bait. Drool over Moonstone Beach in Cambria and sit in awe at Hearst Castle, the former residence of the media tycon William Randolph Hearst.
Let Santa Barbara’s gilt-edged beaches and sleepy spirit serve as your first intermission. Take a bow when you arrive in Los Angeles. Stroll Santa Monica Pier. Drive down Hollywood Boulevard. Take everything in. Each stop puts you in touch with a distinct glimmer of Southern California.
Accommodation Planning
The Coast Highway is also lined with B&Bs, swanky seaside resorts and campsites – book your stays well in advance if you’re heading to any of the more popular stops along the way such as Monterey, Santa Barbara or Mendocino, especially during high season (typically Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day).
Do your research and reserve early. You’ll want to phone up in February to book your cottage in the Lake District or your hotel in Hvar, Croatia, or elsewhere for that matter.
Packing Essentials
Pack smartly and lightly for your PCH journey. Wear layers to adjust for changing temperatures up and down the coast and inland. You’ll need comfortable walking shoes and sunglasses and a hat. Sunscreen is important, too – always put your best face forward.
A reusable water bottle, highway munchies, and a camera or handheld smartphone to capture those ‘Oh, Wow!’ vistas? You betcha. Oh, and chargers and juice for those various electronics? Got to have ’em. And don’t even think about leaving home without your driver’s licence, your insurance info, any prescription drugs you might need, and a first-aid kit.
Plot your course on a GPS or on your old ring-bound road map, plan your sightseeing stops – and be sure to pack for the journey. You’re ready to take on that road trip unlike any other before.
What are you waiting for? The Pacific Coast Highway beckons! Make the most out of it. Book the holiday. Roadtrip it up. The best of the West awaits! Chin up! Be bold! Let’s make this a story we will all last a lifetime! 
