A Cancer Survivor’s Trip Down the Pacific Highway: Celebrating 10 Years The California Experience

This is a part 2 of my incredible milestone celebration journey. As stated in my Part 1, when planning this trip, we (my long time friend, Tami, and I) always planned for more and made decisions along the way based on choice, time, and hours of operation. Most of the adventures listed are free or have minimal fees. Our main focus was to see the beauty of nature and wonders of Highway 1; taking time to do sit down meals during the day would have taken away from sight-seeing. We had breakfast on the go, snacks/sandwiches in the car for lunch, and splurged on dinners each evening with restaurants that had some pretty wonderful gluten-free options.  These are my vacation tourist images; I took pictures of what captured my attention. 

Part 1 starts in Vancouver and ends in Oregon. Why are there two parts to my trip? Well my website blog only allows 100 images in one blog post, being a visual story teller, I felt that the images shown tell the visual story of my adventures.  Want to read part 1 of the start of my trip? Click on the link: https://www.imagesbyalina.com/blog/a-cancer-survivors-trip-down-the-pacific-coast-highway-celebrating-10-years

The California experience was an eventful journey filled with natural wonders and historical sites along the Pacific Coast Highway. Each stop adds depth to our California experience, creating lasting memories and appreciation for the wonders of the West Coast. Here’s a breakdown of our adventures:

Day 9: Mendocino, Humboldt Redwood State Park, Chandelier Tree Drive, Ft. Bragg Glass Beach, & Point Cabrillo Light Station State

Day nine was a long driving day with at least 5 hours to get to our final destination of Mendocino. Our first stop was Humboldt Redwood State Park. This park is 53,000 acres with 17,000 holding the ancient redwoods which is the longest expanse of ancient redwoods in the world. Drive along the 32 mile ”Avenue of the Giants” which offers a glimpse into the awe-inspiring beauty of ancient redwoods. Unfortunately, our drive was cut a bit short due to road closures. Severe weather the month before caused some road damage; we didn’t worry, there was still lots to see with such a large expanse. We donned on our hiking boots and went walking. I felt so small in such a tall and majestic world. “The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe.” -John Steinbeck

Next was the famous drive through the 2,400 year old Redwood tree. The tunnel was carved in 1937 and can fit a car through it. Tami was super excited to have me snap pictures of her and the jeep driving through the tunnel. there is also tons of carved wooden sculptures. Today, thanks to conservation efforts, you wouldn’t be allowed to open a big hole in a majestic tree. The Chandelier Tree is one of only three drive-thru trees. 

For our next stop, I had the idea that there would be mounds and mounds of glass on the beach. Disappointing, this was not the case. The story behind Glass Beach is interesting. From 1906 to 1967, locals pushed everything from cars to cans, to even appliances over the cliffs. The broken bottles from the garbage cans transformed the beach into a mixture of glass and rocks.  Unfortunately, people have taken so much glass from the beach that there are just very tiny pieces left. It is still beautiful to see and worth the stop. Snap a picture but leave the glass for others. 

Our final destination of the day, Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. The lighthouse is open until 4 p.m. so we missed the opportunity to visit inside. It’s located a half mile from the parking area. There are three adjacent buildings comprised of the original lightkeepers’ houses and outbuildings. There are opportunities to see grey and humpback whales, a variety of bird species, and dolphins.  Fatigued by everything we had previously done, and knowing that is was already closed for visitors, we opted to take a picture from a far. That is one stop we will have to do again if ever given the opportunity. 

Day 10: Frances Ford  Coppola Winery, Point Reyes Lighthouse, the Golden Gate Bridge, & Alcatraz Island

With all the weather issues the previous month, we had a few road closures. How did we end up visiting Frances Ford Coppola Winery? It was really by accident. Sometimes the best experiences come from unexpected detours, like stumbling upon the Frances Ford Coppola Winery. The GPS took us off of Highway 1 and we ended up driving through Sonoma County. As we were trying to get back, we drove past this beautiful entrance. We couldn’t pass up this opportunity, so we turned around for an unplanned tour. Simply beautiful restaurant offering, pool, wine tasting, and a shopping experience . I did buy a very pretty bottle, I’m saving it for a special occasion to open. 

So what is up with the cows? The trip to Point Reyes lighthouse is dotted with cow ranching farm lands. Interesting fact that the land has been seen cattle  since the 1850s. Once we arrived, there were miles of cars lined up waiting to see Point Reyes Lighthouse.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t wait the hours it would take to see it. It’s a half mile walk and 300 steps down to get to the lighthouse itself. If you visit in the winter months, you have the possibility of seeing whales; just make sure to bring a jacket it is windy and can get cold.   

As you drive towards San Francisco, the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge is just spectacular. Built during the great depression, the steel used on the bridge was coated with red lead primer; they named it ” International Orange”. It was one of the tallest suspension bridges for over 60 years and is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. On this particular day the fog was over the top of the bridge making for a very interesting photographic image. 

We took full advantage of the limited time we had in San Francisco and booked a night tour of Alcatraz. Navigating parking in San Francisco can be tricky, especially in the evening, so arriving early is key. Exploring the infamous island prison under the cover of darkness is quite an eerie and fascinating adventure. We stopped by the Shake Shack late night, a favorite burger place of mine.

Day 11: San Francisco 

In order to see all of the major sites in San Francisco, we booked a ticket on the Big Bus Hop-on-Hop-Off. This way we did not have to deal with parking each time and trying to map out the city sites on our own. It was a great choice, we were able to go to each of the city’s locations stay a bit and then get back on the bus to ride to the next place. The bus picks up about every 15 minutes, during the ride they explain the history of the area and provide information about that section if you want to listen. Just a few of my favorite spots, post card row or better known as “The Painted Ladies” which has a very scenic view of the entire city, Palace of Fine Arts which was built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exhibit after the devastating earthquake of 1910,  and the Golden Gate Bridge. There is a great deal to do in San Francisco, one day was just a taste of the city, to fully experience it you would need to stay a few days. 

Day 12: Pigeon Point Light Station, Big Sur, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara

This ride was our longest of the entire trip. We had a minimum of 7 hours in the jeep to get to Santa Barbara. It was also going to be a bit to maneuver the road closing at Big Sur. We ended up getting down at the Bixby Bridge to see it, driving over it, and having to turn around and then go the detour route to Pismo Beach. We didn’t reach our final destination in Santa Barbara until after 8:00 in the evening. Because of the detour and the long drive, there was a great deal we just had to miss seeing. If you are planning your trip you may want to consider extending your stay to fit in more sights and breaking up the 7 hour ride into two days. 

Pigeon Point Lighthouse standing at  115-feet and is one of the tallest lighthouses in America, has been guiding mariners since 1872. The lighthouse itself is closed for restorations but you can visit the grounds and visit the Fog Signal Building that houses the original Fresnel lens.  On the way we Stopped at Carmel-By-The-Sea for a quick peek at Betty White’s home (Tami is a huge fan and didn’t want to pass it up). I didn’t picture it here as the home entrance was hidden by the drive way, but did take a picture of another home overlooking the ocean perched on a cliff.  A few things we missed due to time constraints: 1. Carmel-by-the-Sea which is a very adorable and quaint town on the ocean with lots of cultural activities, dining experiences, historic sites, and stunning beach views. 2. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve  which is great for sightseeing/hiking, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, SCUBA diving and jogging. 

Highway 1  in Big Sur is designated American National Scenic Byway.  Bixby Bridge did not disappoint when it came to scenic beauty. It’s of the highest bridges of its kind in the world and soars 260-feet above the bottom of a steep canyon. It didn’t matter at which angle you took a picture of this magnificent bridge, the views were spectacular. 

We reached Pismo Beach a little before sunset. The pier had a beautiful sign that lit up and changed colors during the evening. It also had a great kid friendly park with a large whale as part of the climbing experience. Just look at the sunset this evening! Breathtaking isn’t it?

Due to the road closures and the late arrival into Santa Barbara we didn’t have time to see any of the sights that this beautiful town offered. I can tell you that I did sleep amazingly that evening. The Ramada at Wyndham had the best hotel pillows I have ever used. I even went down to ask if I could purchase one and have it shipped to my house. Nope!  Things we had on our list and had to skip: 1. The Old Mission Santa Barbara which was founded by the Spanish Franciscans in 1786. It is still a home to the Franciscan Friars. 2. The Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens which is 78 acres and home to only California native plants. 3. Any of the 7 beaches in Santa Barbara. 

Day 13: Malibu Pier, Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory,  Hollywood Walk of Fame, Venice Beach

 The Malibu Pier is a recognizable landmark and famous for its iconic dual white towers built in 1905. We ate at the Malibu Farm Cafe, a farm to table restaurant featuring locally grown organic ingredients. It was so delicious, I took a picture of my meal. 

The next stop was Santa Monica Pier which has been around since 1909. It offers fun for the entire family. We rode the Pacific Wheel which is the world’s only solar powered Ferris Wheel. It provides a panoramic view of the coastline and stands 130-feet above the pier. There is Tami taking a selfie as we go around. There are other numerous rides like the roller coaster (I don’t ride, lol!) and the Merry-Go-Round which was closed the day we went. Street vendors perform all along the pier providing entertainment. Of course there is the famous Route 66 Sign which marks the end of the trail. Route 66 isn’t a nonstop roadway from Chicago to California but was created as a way for farmers, truckers, and travelers, and small communities trying to make a living to have a means of moving and traveling across the county.

There are multiple ways to see the Hollywood sign, from helicopter rides, to horseback riding, to hopping on a bus and taking it up the road to view and even hiking some trails up the mountain. One of the best and least expensive ways to see the Hollywood Sign is to go to Griffith Observatory, park your car and walk to the park. The sign was originally constructed in 1923 as an advertisement for a housing subdivision and evolved into a symbol. It was only intended to last 18 months but has been around 100 years. It is not illuminated at night so you do need to go during the daylight hours to see it. You can pose with the angel wings that overlook the sign. It’s a great photo opt moment. There is lots to do at the observatory as well such as the Observatory, theatre, and exhibits. We chose not to stay so we could end our outings at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  We started our walk at the Capitol Records Studio Building. Built in 1956, it’s a 13 story circular building that resembles a stack of records. We also stopped at the famous Guitar Center on the strip. It has some interesting guitars and handprints from some pretty amazing artists displayed on their outside entrance. 

We ended our evening with dinner and a stay at Venice Beach.  The pier and restaurants was walking distance from the hotel. 

Day 14: Olvera Street, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive

Before we began our adventures around the city, we stopped at Erewhon Market. It’s a certified organic market place. We had the most amazing breakfast. Living in a small town, I miss having access to more organic healthy choices. I know it’s a grocery store, but, if you live an organic lifestyle and try to have healthy choices, don’t miss this place. 

After we drove to the famous Olvera-Street which is the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles. It is rich in Mexican history. Walk along the Pueblo Historic Park that has Mexican marketplace lined with street vendors, cafes, restaurants and gift shops. See the city’s first church, firehouse and theater, and the Avila Adobe. 

Next we drove back to Hollywood Walk of Fame and finished seeing all the Hollywood Stars. We also made a window shopping stop at the famous Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive. There are some wonderful window displays and art as you walk the streets. We bought absolutely nothing, but still had a wonderful experience. I loved the sign of the photographer and the saying he was taking a picture of plus the Rolls Royce of Bijan. Unfortunately like many major cities, there was a stark contrast between areas. I added a few images of the homeless situation; people living in tents or just parking an RV right on the street and taking residence. 

Day 15: 

I was off to my next adventure. I flew to Bloomington, Indiana to visit my best friend. Her son was graduating from college and I wanted to see him accomplish this very important milestone and take some pictures around the Indiana State University. 

No words can describe the beauty of the natural geology of the Pacific Coast. Fifteen days was a great deal of time and yet not enough to see all that this area has to offer. We traveled two countries, one island, and three states. I checked off that bucket list trip and am aiming for my next one. I have a few I want to complete. 

Some suggestions on how to plan your trip down the Pacific Coast Highway: 

We looked at various blogs, researched the miles between locations and calculated how much time we would need to not only travel but sightsee as well. We created a Google Drive Document and listed stays, restaurants, and possible things to do and then made decisions along the way based on time, hours of operation, and road access/closures.