The best way to take in the beauty of Southern California, a region famous for its picturesque coastlines and wine regions, is best seen via road trip. From San Diego to Santa Barbara, the towns and cities of the Southern California coast boast great shopping, beautiful beaches, world-class wine and a laidback culture. Here’s a guide for making the iconic drive.
Start your road trip in sunny San Diego to enjoy fresh seafood, watersports in Mission Bay or to take a detour on the North Mountain Wine Trail. From there, head to Laguna Beach to lounge on the beaches, partake in the local surfing culture and glimpse the sea from the city’s rooftop bars and restaurants. The next stop, Costa Mesa, boasts some of the best shopping and dining in Orange County.
No Southern California road trip would be complete without some surfing. Stop in Surf City, aka Huntington Beach, for a classic, laidback surf vibe. Take a bike ride along the oceanfront pathway, play some beach volleyball and enjoy the surf. From Huntington Beach, take a quick drive to Long Beach to visit the historic Queen Mary before heading to Santa Monica and Venice Beach, where you’ll find the perfect strip of sand, surf and shopping. The curving shoreline boasts a combination of upscale shopping and dining and a laidback California atmosphere.
Stop in Ventura, a blissful beach town with great breweries, boutique eateries, shopping and a renowned live music scene, before heading north to Santa Barbara. Also known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara features an antique Mediterranean look with Spanish colonial-style architecture.
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