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These days, everyone seems to have a “bucket list” of all the things they eventually want to do, and one of the missions that should be included—at least once in a lifetime— is taking a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway. It stretches approximately 2,400 km down the West Coast from Highway 101 in northern Washington State—where it splits off Highway 5 west of Seattle, near Olympia—to connect with Route 1 in northern California, ending in Orange County. The natural wonders along the coast are at their most majestic in Washington, Oregon and throughout northern and central California—but most people would agree that the trip past Los Angeles

is considerably less spectacular, and better saved for a second trip (usually paired with a visit to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm).

Naturally, since you could easily spend several weeks doing the drive—depending on where you start and whether you choose one way or round-trip—and with countless campsites along the way, an ideal mode of transport is a Volkswagen Westfalia camper van. If you don’t already have one of these vehicles, there are several rental companies in various locations (from Victoria and Vancouver B.C. to Los Angeles, California), that offer this fun, flexible way to travel in classic West Coast style.

The beauty of this drive is that you don’t need to do a lot of research about where to go or what to see, because there is always another charming hamlet or majestic viewpoint just around the corner. And in a camper van, you won’t be worrying about hotel bookings, which can be the best way to travel when the roads get foggy or rainy and you don’t want to risk life and limb just for a check-in deadline. There is also one significant detail to remember: travelling southward down the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll be on the outside lane, which often means your passengers will be staring down cliffsides that feel about a

metre away, and a kilometre down. You’ll want to make strategic driving choices, such as stopping at dusk or whenever it’s raining too much to see the sights, which can be a great excuse to explore a quaint oceanside town or a rest stop you never would have discovered otherwise—and if you love to hike or spend time on beaches, you’ll feel like you’ve discovered paradise!

The first stretch of your journey—assuming you start from the north outside Seattle—will include Highway 101 around Washington’s Olympic National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve area that covers 900,000 acres of the Olympic

Peninsula. Some parts of this region typically record more than 3 metres of rainfall per year—the forests are lush and remote, some of the only remaining temperate rainforests on Earth. If you stop to explore the Hoh Rain Forest, you might find yourself standing next to a 600-year-old Sitka spruce tree. While there are many notable viewpoints along the route, as you are about to leave Washington State, be sure to stop at Long Beach— 45 km from end to end, it’s one of the longest beaches in the world.

As you enter Oregon, you’ll pass through historic Astoria, the oldest American settlement west of the Mississippi.

Also at the top of Oregon is the renowned Cannon Beach, which stretches 14.5 km and can be recognized by Haystack Rock—at 72 metres tall, the third largest coastal monolith in the world. There are more than 80 state parks along the Oregon coast, which is almost 650 km long. One of the state’s most popular tourist destinations is Newport’s Oregon Coast Aquarium (www.aquarium.org), which features a walk-through underwater tunnel that is also the site for popular family sleepover parties. If you happen to be travelling when weather permits, you can also enjoy an abundance of golf courses along the coast, including

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The views are endless on this amazing highway, where North America meets the Pacific Ocean.

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home of Steinbeck’s “Cannery Row” and also the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium (www.montereybayaquarium.org).

While there, it’s worth paying the toll to cruise along the 17-Mile Drive, which meanders along some of the area’s most beautiful—and exclusive—coastline. Again, just when you’re convinced you’ve seen the best views, driving a bit farther south on the highway reveals the mountainous glory of Big Sur, a remote region bordering the Los Padres National Forest. If you’ve become desensitized to nature’s showy displays, continue travelling south to San Simeon to visit Hearst Castle, which will overwhelm you with its man-made opulence. Eccentric publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst built more than 160 rooms in this compound, with 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways.

At this point the scenery begins to look distinctly “Southern California”—and the temperatures are noticeably warmer. By the time you reach Santa Barbara, the local architecture clearly indicates the Spanish influence—you might even feel like you’ve reached a Mediterranean village, except for the obvious Californian atmosphere.

Only an hour and a half down the coast, and you’ll find yourself in the deceptively quaint town of Malibu, which is home to celebrities and Hollywood power players who like to lay low. If you still haven’t had your fill of California, continue to Los Angeles (specifically, Santa Monica) and enjoy the endless sunshine for as long as you like. The quick way back to Canada would be to take Highway 5 inland, but since you don’t see this part of the country every day, we recommend budgeting the time to go back up via the Pacific Coast Highway—since you’ll be California dreaming the minute you get home, you might regret not taking full advantage of this road through paradise.

www.westfaliarentals.com Victoria & Vancouver, BCCalgary, ABSeattle, WA

www.vwsurfari.com Los Angeles & San Francisco, CA

www.usa-camper.com Los Angeles & San Francisco, CALas Vegas, NV

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the stunning Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (www.bandondunesgolf.com).

An added bonus to this trip is that, eventually, a few days down the coast, you’ll be enjoying California sunshine—no matter what time of the year. A few of the northern coastal towns, such as Eureka and Arcata, tend to be constantly foggy, but as you reach Sonoma County and San Francisco, you might be surprised to discover clear, sunny skies even in winter. Naturally you may be tempted to take a side trip inland

to wine country or Calistoga, in Napa Valley, for its spas and hot springs, but keep in mind you’ll be driving through the heart of San Francisco, a city in which you could easily spend several days to see the sights—which is especially easy via their famous streetcars or on foot.

Just remember that some of the most spectacular sights still await you south of the city, where a few hours later you will discover the charming seaside towns of Santa Cruz, Carmel and Monterey, which is the famous

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