Traveling across the USA by car has pretty much everything to offer for an exciting holiday, full of adventures and inspiring moments of delight. It´s easy to get there from most places in the world, and with access to the Web, airfare has become so much cheaper and detail travel so much easier for a happy holiday. Driving within USA is efficient, convenient and safe, at any time you can find lodging along the way. One of the most iconic road trips is to follow the Pacific Coast, a border to border drive through California, Oregon and Washington State.
Make it memorable by starting in San Diego, and discover the Spanish and Mexican roots for to better understand how California came to be. In 1869, Rudolph Schiller photograph Old Town and the San Diego river, where the native Americans Kumeyaay had lived for thousands of years before the Spanish colonization of California began in 1769. Today Old Town pays tribute to the cultural influence that makes California so special. Two hour´s drive north to Orange County, the natural home of TV´s reality show Laguna Beach, The Hills and the off spin The City began exciting careers of tremendously rich nameless youth. Further up coastal highway sprawling Los Angeles, with it´s colorful history of old Hollywood glamour, Venice Beach and architectural landmarks. The weirdest architectural marvel is the Walt Disney Concert Hall, made in curvilinear steel by architect Frank Gehry. A stunning catalyst for masterly architecture and audacious skill of engineering.
Malibu is not always scenic here are the mansions that links so much of today´s history and its diverse communities. Follow Highway 1 to peaceful Santa Barbara, harmonious Spanish revival architecture, and a sun drenched Mediterranean climate make Santa Barbara to a quiet retreat to the big city bustle. From here on, the road is slow and winding, a good bet for hairpin turns and sublime vistas. After a thrilling stretch make a stop at Hearst Castle in San Simeon. A holiday paradise for newspaper baron Randolph Hearst and his Hollywood friends. Architect Julia Morgan labored between 1919 and 1947 to create this illusion of southern European Renaissance estate, stuffed with museum pieces from the finest auction houses. After a few minutes north on Highway 1, is the playground of West Coast sea life. Meet elephant seals bask in the sun on the beaches at Piedras Blancas. The subadult males are exiting to watch, they like to spar and play, and challenging each other with their changing voices. The adult are just here to molt, after their feeding journey to Alaska.
To see San Francisco in all its glory is sit still in your car and drive, or go to prison on Alcatraz Island for some tremendous vistas. The boat ride give you the best postcard look over the city and Golden Gate Bridge. The architect couple, Irving and Gertrud Morrow gave the iconic bridge its lightning and color. One of California´s greatest landmarks since 1937. Take Highway 101 north, the route bristles with coves crags and looming pines interspersed with homey wineries along State Road 128. Follow Highway 101 to exploring the Redwood National Park. A monarch of the North Coast, treasures of nature and culture. In 1800 redwood exploration replaced gold fever, the trees start to fell and seeming endless at first. A living link to the age of dinosaurs. Congress created Redwood National Park in 1968 to protect the world´s tallest trees and life along the coast. The park lie also in territories of native Americans groups, who lived along the coast for thousands of years. About 100 K´s north from the Park you crossing the border into Oregon, where the coast mountain range meets the dunes and the ocean. No trip along the coast is complete without a hike through Oregon Dunes between Florence and Coos Bay. The dunes is like no others in North America, formed by forces of wind and water for about 55 million years. Drive north along Highway 101 and finally you reach Astoria, crossing the mighty Columbia River into Washington State. Home to Olympic National Park, one of the rainiest places on earth, which create massive trees and lush vegetation with snow feed rivers. If you here for a hike in the rugged mountains, a stroll in the rain forest, or on intriguing beaches for to see the tides. To really appreciate all this, you need to stay in the park for a day, or more. Heading then to Lake Quinault Lodge, an extravagant lakeside lodging designed by architect Robert Reamer. The perfectly preserved two-story main lodge with its centered fire place was built in 1926. Here you can spend your time in front of the masonry fireplace, playing lawn games, and enjoying quality chair time in front of the lake. From lake Quinault, follow Highway 101 to see the mystical town Forks where Stephenie Meyer based here Twilight book series. Before you leave the Olympic Peninsula, visit the remote native American Makah Museum in Neah Bay. The museum features archaeological discoveries from the coastal village Ozette, where the Makah people have lived for 500 years as whalers, sealer, fishermen, hunters, gatherers, crafts maker and warriors before the white man came in double decker ships. Seattle is the final stop on the trip and was the starting point for gold seekers in 1897. Tens of thousands came to the small waterfront town, for to be outfitted for the goldfields of Alaska and Canada. Discover more of the glory days of Klondike Gold Rush at the historic Cadillac Hotel in Pioneer Square.
