US Highway One - The Coastal Highway

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The US Coastal Highway runs from San Francisco to Los Angeles, but it is the part between Carmel and San Luis Obispo that is the real treat.  The road follows the ragged coastline and the views are spectacular, there are lots of parkingspots and it offers a lot of photo oportunities.

The waters at Big Sur
The waters at Big Sur

The road is famous for its scenic beauty, and rightly so. The views are spectacular, when driving from the north to the south you will also see it bathing in sunlight. That is the reason why it is highly recommended to go in that direction.

Meeting with the Locals jut outside Cambria
Meeting with the Locals just outside Cambria

Once you stop the car and get out you get that rare sense of untouched nature,, there is just you, the sea, the hills and the wind.

Another one of the locals who came to greet us
Another one of the locals who came to greet us

There is one thing to keep in mind when driving Highway One; Gas stations are few and far between! So be ready to fill up any time you see one.

A single pump Gas Station, just north of the Nepenthe
A single pump Gas Station, just north of the Nepenthe

A major vantage point on the Coastal Highway is the “Nepenthe” café and restaurant. Situated high above the sea, it offers a stunning view of the Pacicfic. As one of the few places to eat along the drive it is well worth to stop for a bite. Check out the website here 

View-from-the-Nepenthe
View-from-the-Nepenthe restaurant deck

 

After stopping at the “Nepenthe” our next stop was the beach called Piedras Blanca, crowded with elephant seals.

The Sea Elephants of the Piedras Blanca
The Sea Elephants of the Piedras Blanca

 

We had decided to skip Hearst Castle, which is right outside San Luis Obispo, because display of wealth in such a manner always tend to make me queasy. Instead we decided to check out another place we had heard of;  “The poor Mans Hears Castle” or “Nittwitt Ridge” just a few miles further south, in Cambria. This is a most peculiar place, buildt out of garbage by an eccentric californian.

DSC03111
Nitt-Witt Ridge – Not everyones dreamhouse.

The next stage took us to the city of San Luis Obispo and to a quick stop at what must be the number one symbol of “Kitsch” architecture; ” The Madonna Inn”

The Reception at the Madonna Inn
The Receptiondesk at the Madonna Inn

 

Finally, after a long day on the road we reached the “Danish” town of Solvang. We arrived late, checked in at the Kronborg Inn – which was an excellent choice, both nice and clean, friendly staff and comfortable a room. 

Kronborg Inn, Solvang
Kronborg Inn, Solvang

What was not so great about Solvang was the lack of decent restaurants, it could possibly be that we were a little too late, but the number of open restaurants was quite limited. The receptionist recomended that we try a place called “Root 246” which was within walking distance, but that turned out to be crowded, not a single chair available. Evidently that was the only decent restaurant in town because all the others were deserted. We ended up eating in what was supposed to a chinese restaurant and though it was cheap, it was not good value for money.

Hopefully, Solvang will show us a better side of itself in the morning!

Tomorrow we shall be going through the Santa Ynez valley, Los Olivos and end up in Santa Barbara 

 

 

 

 

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