My Road Trip Pacific Coast Highway LA to San Francisco, Day 1

Finally we were driving up the highway 1, California Coast, started my dream road trip...There aren't many words to describe the beauty and serenity in a drive along the road. Here are Some photos from my travel earlier this month.

We left LA at 430am in the morning in order to have more time on the road. The first stop is Santa Barbara, a small mission town .

 Old Mission Santa Barbara, the painting on the ground

 

Took a very short visit to Old Mission Santa Barbara before having our breakfast at Mcdonalds and then head inland to Solvang.

“Solvang,” which means “sunny field” in Danish.

This is a small beautiful town, and it doesn't look like any other places in California anymore. All the buildings are meant to mimic a small Danish town. All buildings are heavily influenced by Danish architectural styles and traditions, So many shops to walk around, plenty of bakeries to get some butter cookies or delicious pastries...

 

I love this colorful, charming town, quiet and peaceful... It is as though this place has been frozen in time.

Storks,  a traditional symbol of good luck. There are a lot of  life-size wooden replicas of the European White Stork displayed above many of the stores. In Denmark it is said that if one of these birds land on your house it is believed to bring good luck.

 

There are many lovely landscape setting in the gardens along the main street, very colourful though it is in early winter December.

It was having a bit rain after lunch, we continue to Cambria...Cambria has two oddly related attractions. One is Hearst Castle , the extravagant estate owned by publishing giant William Randolph Hearst. Built using a mish mash of European castles, churches and Moorish tiles, it also boasts the world’s most photographed swimming pool.

Amazing! That is all I can say about this castle. Well, I should have another post just for all photos taken in the castle.

Another attraction which is located 12 miles north of Cambria, a must to have a stop off at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery...

Continue to next post for those lovely Elephant Seals and birds...