By: Liz Froment

There are a few famous roads across the U.S. that are prime destinations to take a road trip. Route 66 is one, Route 1 from Miami to Key West is another, but maybe one of the most beautiful rides has to be down the Pacific Coast Highway.

For a little bit of background, the Pacific Coast Highway or PCH runs right along the coastline of the entire west coast of the United States. What many people do as a highlight road trip is to focus on the sections of the California coastline between San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Of course, one of the best parts about the Pacific Coast Highway is that there are many places to pick up the highway for a few days or even a few hours of a road trip. Here are some favorite sites.

Monterey: Home to incredible ocean views and one of the most amazing aquariums in all of the United States, Monterey is a great stop along the PCH. Just over 100 miles south of San Francisco it provides a great view of the coast where you might just peak at a few sea lions!

Big Sur: Many people will cite Big Sur as one of the most spectacular parts of the ride because at this point on the map, the road begins hugging some very twisted and winding turns right next to the Pacific Ocean.

Hearst Castle: Another incredibly famous site is the Hearst Castle. Built by famous newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst, it is now part of the California National Parks syste. It is truely one of the most distinct and opulent homes in all of America.

Santa Ynez Valley: If you are worried that you are going to miss some of those famous California wines along the PCH, not to fear. The Santa Ynez Valley is a premier destination for anyone interested in wines as well as craft beers.

Those are some of our must see spots along the Pacific Coast Highway. If you’ve ever been and have any other hot spots you love, let us know in the comments!