Last year for my birthday, we traveled up the California Coast while taking the scenic route. We camped, beach by beach, and saw some of the most amazing scenery. There's something so magical about the water and the wind, and how the coast curves it's way North. Here, you'll find the best local grass-fed burgers, farmers markets, and untouched scenery. Although the California drought left us without showers for a night, it was all made up for when we opened our tent on the beach and saw two breeching wales just yards from where we stood.
Our beach front camp spot in Ventura, CA
The second night of our trip was spent in San Simeon State Park, which was only a short walk to the beach. The campground was virtually empty besides some raccoons that ransacked our cooler in the night. Large rocks + mossy hillsides made up the beach area, which made for great sunset photos.
The next morning we headed a few minutes North to Hearst Castle, because who can pass up an opportunity for phenomenal architecture? The grounds were breathtaking, even through the clouds. The driveway in itself was a good 10 minute ride up steep cliffs and green, cattle-laden pastures.
We then headed out towards Big Sur, where the cliffs grow taller + the phone service fades out. Enveloped in low clouds + tall trees, this place is storybook quality. We stayed in Limekiln State Park, which is hands down my favorite campsite to date. We pitched our tent along a creek, which gracefully faded into the ocean.
Limekiln is the beginning of two simple hiking trails. We opted for both routes and found the most tranquil waterfall + quiet woods.
View of Bixby Bridge as we leave Big Sur
Finally making it to San Francisco, we let full tourist mode break out. Our first stop was to see the Golden Gate Bridge, which is expensive to cross but worth the breathtaking Southern view. We decided to ditch camping in the city and stayed at a hostel which was surprisingly enjoyable + welcoming. Our only mission in the city was finding good food + drinks, which we absolutely did. Very little photos of these events were taken due to full enjoyment.
Exploring Chinatown
We ended our trip with coffee from Four Barrel to fuel our long drive home. Overall, it was a much needed mental break + perfect birthday weekend trip. I've lived in California for almost 3 years now + I love that there is still so much of this beautiful state to explore.
Using the Roadtrippers app, I created a custom itinerary of places to stay, sights to see, + food to eat on the way up. If you're interested in driving up the coast yourself, you can view my itinerary + top sight-seeing spots HERE.