California's Famed Highway 1: A Northern Trek

California's Highway 1 is a breathtaking drive, especially through Big Sur, where the Santa Lucia mountains meet the sea. The route demands 100% of your attention, but it's well worth it for the natural beauty, coves, and turquoise waters.

Highway 1 is a two-lane mountain road with hairpin twists and turns, and it can be challenging to drive, especially with heavy traffic. The distance from Cambria to Big Sur is 60 miles, and it takes at least two hours, depending on how many stops you make.

You can drive from north to south (Monterey to San Luis Obispo) or south to north. Driving north to south is easier and prettier, as the ocean is on your right, and it's easier to pull over and take pictures.

If you're driving north on Highway 1 from San Francisco, you'll cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and pass through Marin Headlands, which offers some of the best viewpoints of the bridge. You'll also pass small beach towns like Stinson Beach and Dillon Beach, and the town of Point Reyes.

North of Point Reyes, the coastline becomes rugged and desolate, with sweeping beaches and coves that are part of Sonoma Coast State Park. This stretch of Highway 1 from Jenner to Mendocino offers wineries, redwoods, and miles of wild coastline.

Mendocino is a cute, artsy town with galleries and fine dining options, about 169 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1, a five-hour one-way drive. Fort Bragg, 10 minutes north of Mendocino, offers more budget-friendly accommodation and dining options.

The Golden Gate Bridge

The idea of a fixed link between San Francisco and Marin County had been proposed as early as the 19th century, but it was not until the 20th century that such a project became feasible. The bridge was designed by chief engineer Joseph Strauss, along with Leon Moisseiff, Irving Morrow, and Charles Ellis, and opened to the public in 1937. At the time, it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world, with a main span of 4,200 feet and a total height of 746 feet.

The bridge is also known for its distinctive colour, officially called international orange. Irving Morrow, the consulting architect, chose this colour to complement the natural surroundings and enhance the bridge's visibility in fog.

The bridge has undergone various retrofitting and improvement projects over the years, including a bridge deck replacement in the 1980s and seismic retrofitting to better withstand earthquakes.

Marin Headlands

The Marin Headlands is a beautiful area in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, known for its unique geology, coastal prairie ecosystem, and rich history. Here are some key facts and highlights to help you plan your visit:

Geology and Nature:

The Marin Headlands features dramatic cliffs of oceanic rock, offering sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The area is known for its fog-swept landscapes, with misty lagoons and rolling hills of coyote brush and sage. The sea cliffs and road cuts have exposed some of the finest examples of pillow basalt and radiolarian chert, which formed at the bottom of the sea thousands of miles from the coast.

History:

The human history of the Marin Headlands is long and layered, originating with the Coast Miwok peoples who have lived there for thousands of years. The area also has a significant military history, serving as a coastal defence hotspot during the Cold War. Fort Cronkhite, Fort Barry, and the Nike Missile Site are reminders of this past.

Things to Do:

• Point Bonita Lighthouse: A must-visit destination, offering a suspension bridge and hiking trails.
• Hiking: The Marin Headlands features a vast network of multi-use trails, including the Tennessee Valley Trail, the Coastal Trail, and the Golden Gate High Ridge Tour.
• Wildlife Viewing: The area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including birds of prey. Each year, over 20,000 raptors migrate over the Headlands.
• Historic Sites: Explore Fort Cronkhite, which includes Rodeo Beach and Lagoon, Fort Barry, the Nike Missile Site, and Battery Townsley.
• Views: Enjoy breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge from Kirby Cove, Hawk Hill, Battery Spencer, and Hill 88.
• Picnic Areas: Battery Wallace, near the Point Bonita Trailhead, offers scenic picnic spots with tables and grills.
• Shuttle Service: Take advantage of the free Marin Headlands Shuttle, which operates on weekends and stops at various locations, including the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Rodeo Beach, the Visitor Center, and the Point Bonita Lighthouse.

The Marin Headlands offers a wealth of natural and historical treasures, providing a unique and captivating experience for visitors. Remember to bring your own snacks and water, as food vendors are limited in the area.

Bodega Bay

For film buffs, Bodega Bay is famous as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller, "The Birds". The Potter Schoolhouse, carefully preserved for over 150 years, is one of the iconic filming locations in the area.

Fort Ross

The park offers a variety of activities such as fishing, surfing, exploring tide pools, picnicking, whale watching, and bird watching. There are also educational programs available, including customised programs on marine ecology and the cultural history of Fort Ross.

The Fort Ross Conservancy is the nonprofit organisation that supports both Fort Ross and Salt Point State Park, located 8 miles north. Salt Point State Park covers 6,000 acres along the coast of Northern California, offering camping, hiking trails, and rocky coastline.

Entrance fees to Fort Ross are $10.00 per vehicle, with discounted rates for seniors and disabled individuals. The parking lot closes at sunset, and additional disabled parking is available down the dirt road leading to the Fort.

Mendocino

In addition to its stunning natural scenery and renowned wines, Mendocino County also offers a variety of outdoor activities. You can ride horses along sandy beaches or take the Skunk Train through redwood forests. The Mendocino Golf Course has been awarded the Environmental Leaders in Golf Award, and the Pygmy Forest State Park is another unusual and interesting natural area to explore.

When planning your trip to Mendocino, keep in mind that the county enjoys a cool maritime climate. Summer days can be cooled by fog, while daytime highs average in the upper sixties and lows in the fifties. Winters are mild, thanks to the Pacific Ocean, with little to no frost or snow. Mendocino averages about 43 inches of rain per year, mostly in fall, winter, and spring.

Frequently asked questions