Comments on: Direct me to the weird and quirky of Highway 1.

Question: Direct me to the weird and quirky of Highway 1.

kmtiszen — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 11:36:54 -0800

What are some quriky/oddball sites along Highway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco?

I'm going to be taking a two day drive up Highway 1 in early December and I've pretty much covered the "normal" things to do. But I'm sure there are tons of quirky alternative things to do and see along the lines of Roadside America and Weird US. I'm already aware of things like the Madonna Inn, Nit Wit Ridge and Bubblegum Alley in SLO. Any other good ones out there?

By: PercussivePaul

PercussivePaul — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:23:04 -0800

The Santa Cruz Mystery Spot?

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:33:30 -0800

You might want to allocate a little more time to your trip--Highway 1 joins Highway 101 outside Oxnard and doesn't rejoin the coast until a little ways north of Santa Barbara. From there, Highway 1 is long, and twisty, rejoining 101 in Arroyo Grande and then splitting off to the coast in SLO, and almost all of it has only one lane in either direction, and in many places it's simply the main street through towns like Lompoc and Guadalupe.

It's a gorgeous drive, but after three hours of twisty-turny and getting stuck in a line of cars behind an RV, you'll probably begin thinking about switching back to 101. If you're stopping to check things out, you might want to either take 1 only part of the way or spread your trip out over four days so you can really enjoy it.

That said, you'll definitely want to stop to see Morro Rock in Morro Bay, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, the Bixby Bridge outside of Big Sur, The Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, and if you're feeling brave you might drive by the Federal Prison in Lompoc. Cannery Row in Monterey is a little tourist/kitsch-heavy but you might want to check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:42:44 -0800

You might also want to check out Mavericks, just outside Half Moon Bay. The big wave surf contest won't be on, but the view and the waves are worth a look.

By: luriete

luriete — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:49:18 -0800

Mavericks is fun. Hearst Castle is great. In Big Sur, Deetjen's is the nicest and oddest inn on the whole coast (after St Orres, maybe, which is a lot fancier and up near Gualala). They also have an AMAZING!!!! restaurant that you need to have supper at.

Just up the road is Nepenthe, a restaurant/shop built on the cliff that you need to walk up to the top of and check out one of the greatest views on the California coast ...

There's a Henry Miller museum in Big Sur, too, on the highway, next door almost to Deetjen's.

Just N of Santa Cruz there are some nice beaches & good spots to see the sea lions along the highway, too.

By: gradient

gradient — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 13:25:56 -0800

Santa Cruz in general is a bit strange. I live here.

Another vote for Mystery Spot.

By: MattD

MattD — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 13:38:40 -0800

What Fandango_Matt said. Highway 1 is beautiful but best consumed in small cunks. The long stretches north of San Simeon where it is literally a ledge on a cliff over the Pacific Ocean can be a bit stressful, particularly in the dark or in bad weather. (But at least you're driving north, so you've got the southbound lane between you and oblivion!)

By: telseth

telseth — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 14:14:44 -0800

Not quite wierd or quirky... but Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP is a must. One of the most photogenic spots I have ever seen. And is only a 2 minute hike from the parking area.

By: hortense

hortense — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:02:32 -0800

Gaudalupe has excellent restaurants,Guadalpe's and the Far West, very yum. Call ahead to make reservations to soak in the hot springs at Esalen twenty miles north of Treebones Resort.

By: shoos

shoos — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 21:19:39 -0800

There's Ostrich Land in Buellton and Neverland Ranch near Los Olivos.

By: Heywood Mogroot

Heywood Mogroot — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 01:30:48 -0800

Pt Lobos is a nice marine headland type place. One of the more interesting points on the globe I've seen.

Bean Hollow S.B. is my favorite spot between Santa Cruz and S.F.

By: anglophiliated

anglophiliated — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 07:12:31 -0800

Ano Nuevo State Reserve is one of the world's largest Elephant Seal breeding colonies. Its starts to kick off in December and its an amazing spectacle. You might need to book a guided walk because they won't let you wander during the breeding season and its pretty popular. Be warned, its stinks of seal crap and if you are travelling with small kids they might find some scenes disturbing.

By: billtron

billtron — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 09:02:35 -0800

TACOS