We been to California a number of times. It’s been over 30 years since we last drove the iconic Highway, so it was about time to revisit the legendary costal road. We drove from Los Angeles stopping at Sequaria National Park and Yosemite ending at San Francisco before starting the drive south og Highway 1.
Before we started our trip, we spend one day in Los Angeles, which in my mind, is a different town compared to similar towns in America. It has high rise buildings down town but mainly spread out over a huge area. With surrounding suburbs the perimeter is 550 km.
Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Rome the Colosseum and Los Angeles the Hollywood sign. The original sign was erected in 1923 and originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND" to promote a temporary advertisement for a new housing development. Due to increased recognition the sign was left off, but with the LAND removed in 1949.
Because we only had one day in LA before moving on, we decided to spend the day relaxing at Venice Beach with its many restaurants, boardwalk, pier, skater park and the little venice with its many canals and colorful buildings.
Hollywood Boulevard with its famous Walk of Fame had a reputation of being run down and with much crime, but lately its starting to be revived. Many of its Art Deco buildings are being renovated to its former glory -
- but its still about Rock and Roll -
- and kitsch.
Our next destination was Yosemite but it was to far from LA so we spend the night in Fresno. On our way to Fresno we drove a little detour through Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon. Before entering Sequoia we could see the huge Moro Rock in the distance and its possible to climb a steep stairway to the top for a spectacular mountain view. Unfortunately the Parking Lot was full - so no rock climbing.
Generals Highway runs between the two parks and on the way you will pass Tunnel Rock. You can walk under the rock on the old road, but beware of Poison Oak which is common here.
The trail to the famous General Sherman Tree starts at the Parking Lot. It is impossible to photograph the tree in its full glory because its in a small clearing between a group of other Sequoias. But the facts is impressive: its estimated to be 2,200 years old, it stands 84 meter tall, its trunk weighs 1,385 tons and the circumference at the ground is nearly 31 meters.
Standing between these impressive giants you feel quite humble.
Leaving Fresno we set off to Yosemite. We arrived around 3 pm. Already before entering the park the traffic was heavy and entering the park it was bumper to bumper. Our mistake was booking 3 days in the busiest periode - the Labor day weekend. Upon checking in we were advised not to drive around in the park because it would be next to impossible to park at our lodge.
Due to the advice of not using our car, we had to restrict our hikes to the Valley. That was kind of OK, but there were many sights we missed not being able to drive around, like Mariposa Grove, Glasier Point and Olmsted Point. One day we squished into a crowded Shuttle Bus to stop at Mirror Lake, but the bus driver warned us if we got out, it would be impossible to catch a bus back - they were fully packed.
September is not the best time to experience the waterfalls in the park. Upper and Lower Falls and Briudalvail was just a drizzle compared to spring where the melting snow creates a massiv flow of water.
After walking around the park a full day, it was rewarding to catch the last rays of sunlight kissing the top of Half Dome.
Leaving the park for our next stop, San Francisco, we stoped at a pull out with a magnificent view of Merced River leading up to the Valley.
Our last impression of Yosemite was the classical Tunnel View overlooking the Valley with El Captain and Half Dome in the distance.
We had 5 days to explore the City. We rented a flat in Bernal Heights, 25 minutes by metro to downtown. The location gave us an possibility to see the town from a different perspective.
Bernal heights is near The Mission. Its a very lively nabohood with a lot of young people, many Hispanic and Latin American restaurants and colorfull buildings, many decorated with artwork from local artists.
Golden Gate is the synonym of San Francisco. It was inaugurated in 1937, and with its span of 1,280 meters it´s the longest suspended bridge in the world. It´s 25 meters broad and the pylons are 220 meters high. Since the opening, nearly 2 billion cars has passed the bridge.
The Cable Car is another pride of San Fransisco. They been crawling up and down the steep streets since 1873. Today there are 3 lines which operates mainly for tourist reasons.
San Francisco is regarded as one of the hilliest citys in the world. There is many streets with a grade between 25% to 35% - the steepest one is 41%. For a tourist walking around town, the steep streets really requires an effort.
Like new York, San Francisco has it own Flat Iron Building.
Leaving San Francisco, we started our long awatited drive down Highway 1 that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of California. At 1,056 km it is the longest state route in California and the second longest after Highway 200 in Montana. It provides a scenic route to numerous attractions along the coast, and serves as a major thoroughfare in the Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area.
Our first stop was at Point Lobos State Park, It has often been called “The crown jewel of the California State Park System.” Walking the trails along the coastline in the footsteps of famous photograhers as Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, is an unforgetteable experience.
On land, the Park has unique geological formations and incredibly rich flora and wild life. The offshore area forms one of the richest underwater habitats in the world.
We planed to stop at Bixby Bride, but the pull out was closed so we had to photograph it further up the highway.
Monterey had long been famous for the sardin fishery in Monterey Bay. That changed in the 1950s when the local fishery business collapsed due to overfishing. A stroll at the famous Canary Road is a must, with the old sardin factories known from the novels by john Steinbeck. A few of the old fishermen's cabins have been preserved.
A must in Monterey is the Aquarium. It was build at the site of a defunct sardine canney and with its around 2 million visitors a year it has led to the revilization of Canney Row. The Aquarium displays over 550 spiecies in 8,700,000 liters of water. Nearly three stories high and 1,200.000 liters, the Kelp Forest exhibit is regarded as the first successful attempt to maintain a living kelp forest in an articficial setting.
Filtered seawater from Monterey Bay is pumped into the Kelp forrest and other exhibits at 7,600 liters per minute
Beeing in Monterey, Pebble Beach is a location not to be missed. It is a community on the Monterey Peninsula. The small residential community is mostly single-family homes and is home to 8 golf courses. Nonresidents are charged a toll to use 17-Mile Drive, the main road through Pebble Beach. On the drive you will pass many vistas overlooking the ocean, among them the iconic Lone Cypress.
Returning back to Monterey after spending the afternoon at 17-miles drive, we cought the last glimpses of the sun over the Peninsula.
Leaving Monterey for Santa Barbara, our first stop was at McWay Falls. It is a 24 meters high waterfall in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The source of the waterfall is McWay Creek, and it falls directly into the ocean.
Our next stop was at Piedras Blancas Rookery. It is the only elephant seal rookery in the world that is easily accesible. The viewing area is the best place to see the seals, with boardwalks that extends both north and south of a large parking-area.
Last stop before our rental in Santa Barbara was Morro Rock. The 177 meters high rock, is composed mostly of dacite, a vulcanic rock. It is one of 13 extinct vulcanic lava domes between Mooro Bay and Islay Hill in San Luis Obispo County.
The city is situated between the steeply rising Santa Ynez Moutains and the Pacific Ocean. Due to it´s mild climate it is often described as Mediterranean, and have been dubbed “The America Riviera.”
Santa Barbara is a popular tourist spot, with the long beach, the pier and plenty of restaurants, from casual to fine dining.
Mission Santa Barbara is one of 21 missions creating a uniquea trail of history across California. Founded on December 4th, 1786 by Father Lasuén and named after Saint Barbara, Mission Santa Bárbara is known as “The Queen of the Missions”. Originally built with one tower, the second tower was added in 1831
Before flying back to Denmark we stayed one day in Los Angeles revisiting some of the old places we been to before.
Hollywood Boulevard is an iconic thoroughfare known for its association with the entertainment industry. It is home to the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, where more than 2,600 brass stars honor the achievements of notable figures in film, television, music, and theatre. It also features Grauman´s Chinese Theatre, where the handprints and footprints of countless celebrities can be found,
15 years ago we stayed a couple of nights at The Hollywood Roosevelt hotel. It was build in 1927 - dates back to the Golden Era and reflects classic Hollywood in every sense.
The hotel has hosted stars like Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and Marilyn Monroe, who had some famous pictures taken at the hotel pool.
After three weeks of countless impressions and the highly anticipated Highway 1 drive, it was time to head back home, and what was more suited than having a last drink at the hotel pool, seeing the sun setting over Los Angeles