Curated Road TripsCurated Road Trips
    47 Activities

    California’s Pacific Coast: Scenery and Culinary Delights

    California’s Pacific Coast: Scenery and Culinary Delights
    Starts from

    Los Angeles

    Transportation

    By Car

    Guidance

    Self-Guided

    Activities

    47

    Duration

    5 days

    Length

    571 mi

    Guide details

    Starts from

    Los Angeles

    Transportation

    By Car

    Guidance

    Self-Guided

    Duration

    5 days

    Length

    571 mi

    • Lifestyle Experiences
    Map preview
    TCS Roadtravel

    TCS Roadtravel

    • Delight in Bruce Munro’s fantastical light installation, Sensorio.
    • Visit Santa Barbara’s famed mission, named “Queen of the Missions” for its beauty.
    • Drive the coastal, cliff-edge curves of Big Sur, one of America’s most beloved scenic byways.
    • Explore the opulent hillside estate of William Randolph Hearst at Heart Castle.
    This five-day trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco brings you to the very best of California, from exceptional coastal scenery and wineries to luxurious hotels and eateries. After a stop in Malibu, spend a day in Santa Barbara – the American Riviera – famous for its Old Mission, beach-based lifestyle, and charming Spanish architecture.
    Drive through several wine regions, including Santa Ynez Valley and Paso Robles, to enjoy golden rolling hills, scenic vineyard drives, and some of the region’s best winemakers, mixing old-world sophistication with a laid-back California attitude.
    Meet up at the Pacific again to enjoy one of America’s finest coastal drives: Big Sur, where jaw-dropping cliffs, iconic waterfalls, and quirky counter-culture meet the great Pacific.
    The last days are spent soaking in the beauty and charms of Carmel, Monterey, and Santa Cruz, before heading into the great city of San Francisco.
    Compare different car rental companies conveniently online via the TCS car rental platform. Whether in Switzerland or abroad, whether on holiday or on business trips. With TCS, you remain mobile and flexible and benefit from the best rental car offers, including many advantages and services.
    Book Car Rental Now

    Categories

    • Lifestyle Experiences
    This five-day trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco brings you to the very best of California, from exceptional coastal scenery and wineries to luxurious hotels and eateries. After a stop in Malibu, spend a day in Santa Barbara – the American Riviera – famous for its Old Mission, beach-based lifestyle, and charming Spanish architecture.
    Drive through several wine regions, including Santa Ynez Valley and Paso Robles, to enjoy golden rolling hills, scenic vineyard drives, and some of the region’s best winemakers, mixing old-world sophistication with a laid-back California attitude.
    Meet up at the Pacific again to enjoy one of America’s finest coastal drives: Big Sur, where jaw-dropping cliffs, iconic waterfalls, and quirky counter-culture meet the great Pacific.
    The last days are spent soaking in the beauty and charms of Carmel, Monterey, and Santa Cruz, before heading into the great city of San Francisco.
    Compare different car rental companies conveniently online via the TCS car rental platform. Whether in Switzerland or abroad, whether on holiday or on business trips. With TCS, you remain mobile and flexible and benefit from the best rental car offers, including many advantages and services.
    Book Car Rental Now
    TCS Roadtravel

    TCS Roadtravel

    • Delight in Bruce Munro’s fantastical light installation, Sensorio.
    • Visit Santa Barbara’s famed mission, named “Queen of the Missions” for its beauty.
    • Drive the coastal, cliff-edge curves of Big Sur, one of America’s most beloved scenic byways.
    • Explore the opulent hillside estate of William Randolph Hearst at Heart Castle.

    Travel itinerary

    Malibu, Montecito, and Santa Barbara
    8 Activities

    Day 1

    85 mi

    Malibu, Montecito, and Santa Barbara

    Enjoy a day exploring the Santa Barbara and Montecito lifestyles, with Spanish-inspired architecture, vibrant culture, stately neighbourhoods, and life at the beach.
    La Dolce Vita Meets California Dreamin'
    9 Activities

    Day 2

    159 mi0.2 mi

    La Dolce Vita Meets California Dreamin'

    Today is all about the senses, from gastronomy and wine to bucolic sights and a light installation at Sensorio. Enjoy the pastoral views of golden hills covered in California oaks, where the coastal surfer lifestyle collides with a rustic, rural flavour.
    Savour California's Gorgeous, Rugged Coastline
    9 Activities

    Day 3

    118 mi0.1 mi

    Savour California's Gorgeous, Rugged Coastline

    You'll leave Paso Robles today by way of the stunning back-country road that is Highway 46, leading to the Pacific Coast. You'll stay on the coast all day as you head for Big Sur, for views and the feeling of freedom that you won't soon forget.
    Treasures of the Coast at Three Charming Coastal Enclaves
    12 Activities

    Day 4

    54 mi0.3 mi

    Treasures of the Coast at Three Charming Coastal Enclaves

    Today, you'll spend time in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove, and Monterey, all gems of the coast. The ocean flavours every bit of life here, from the fishing heritage of Cannery Row to the delicious plates of seafood served up at iconic restaurants all along the coast. You'll spend the evening on a state-of-the-art ranch, where you’ll enjoy views of the vineyards and interact with the cute animals.
    Coastal Redwoods and Silicon Valley Riches
    9 Activities

    Day 5

    153 mi

    Coastal Redwoods and Silicon Valley Riches

    After a stop in the cute college town of Santa Cruz, you'll drive through the Inner Coast Range to experience the enormity of California's redwood trees. As you reach the Bay Area, you'll drive through two iconic stops: Buck's Restaurant, where start-up deals are made, and Filoli, an estate produced by the Gold Rush era. You'll continue north to the jewel of the coast, San Francisco.
    Map preview
    Curated Road Trips

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