Here are some driving adventures from Palo Alto to...

Linda Mar/Pacifica

• Beautiful Linda Mar/Pacifica State Beach. Eat at the most beautiful Taco Bell you’ve ever seen. Big deck overlooking the surf. Can rent surf boards.

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Gray Whale Cove State Beach.

• Pack a cooler and stay awhile.

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Montara

• Point Montara Lighthouse is an interesting landmark

• Moss Beach Distillery is a great restaurant with incredible deck views.

• Hike the Cypress Tree Tunnels

• Hike the Pillar Point Bluffs

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Half Moon Bay

• Mavericks…where the Big Wave Surfing happens

• Eat at Old Princeton Landing Public House and Grill (patio out back), Half Moon Bay Brewing or any of the restaurants along there.

• The Ritz Carlton. Go have dinner on the The Ocean Terrace which looks out at Half Moon Bay. Big fire pits. Gorgeous. Great food. Or, have brunch/meals at one of the other restaurants.

• Cowell Ranch Beach. Gorgeous

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Pescadero

• Pescadero State Beach is great for tide pools. Check the tides so you make it during low tide.

• Turn off the beach to get into the town of Pescadero. Go to Arcangeli Grocery Co for the best HOT artichoke break you’ve ever had.  There is also a small artist colony, flower farm, coffee house, art gallery. Very cute. A lot of road-bikers and motorcycle clubs stop here.

• Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Beautiful. Bring your camera.

• Hwy 1 Brewing Company. Craft Beers. Good Food. Live Music.

• Pie Ranch. Pasties, Pies and Produce

• Ano Nuevo Coast Preserve. April 1-Aug 31…take a guided tour to see the Elephant Seals. Totally worth it.

• Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Gorgeous hiking. Giant Redwoods. Waddell Beach across the street from the trailhead is a great stop.

• Greyhound Beach. Small hike down and usually have the beach to yourself.

• Swanton Berry Farm. DELICIOUS. Pies, Pastries, Soups. Big tables with books and games. You can also pick strawberries in season.

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Davenport

• Cute artists town. Grab food at Whale city Bakery.

• Davenport Beach is beautiful. You can also walk to the Davenport Crack and Sharkfin. You’ve probably seen photos of these two spots on postcards. Bring your camera.  You might want to drive to the parking lot for Sharkfin.

• Bonny Doon Beach is beautiful but it’s also a nude beach.

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Santa Cruz

• Wilder Ranch State Park. Miles and miles of hiking trails right along the coast. Stunning. The Santa Cruz Marathon goes through here.

• Oct-Jan…hike the Natural Bridges Monarch Trail to see the thousands of migrating monarchs in the trees

• Eat at West End Tap and Kitchen or Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing and wine taste at the two tasting rooms or take a look in the boutiques while you are waiting. We love this place.

• Park around Lighthouse Point. Go to Steamer Lane Supply and grab fish tacos and drinks. Watch the surfers. Walk up and down Cliff Dr.

• Santa Cruz Wharf and Boardwalk

• Pacific Ave is a long street with shops and restaurants. Verve Coffee Roasters is delicious.

• Pleasure Point is a pretty and small beach. There is a cute little street with food that you can walk to. There is also another Verve Coffee. Betty Burgers is a pretty famous local burger place. Ridiculously good.

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Capitola

• Beautiful town where all the buildings are painted bright colors.  The best beginner surfing beach there is. Cute boutiques and restaurants.

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Aptos

• Marianne’s Ice Cream is the local spot. Delicious.

• Aptos Street BBQ is incredible.

• Rio Del Mar Beach is miles long.

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Monterey

• Fisherman’s Wharf. Aquarium. Tons of shops and restaurants around Ocean Ave/San Carlos St.

• Rent kayaks at Monterey Kayak Rentals and paddle through the kelp forest…see tons of sea animals. Very cool.

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Carmel

• 17 mile drive and Pebble Beach

• Carmel Beach feels like powdered sugar. Beautiful.

• The town is right above the beach with restaurants, shops, coffee, ice cream, art galleries. Very cute.

• Mission Ranch Restaurant is off the beaten path. It is Clint Eastwood’s restaurant.

• Point Lobos South Shore Trail is one of my favorites. Windy. Tons of tide pools. Sea Lions, etc…Just beautiful.

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Big Sur

• Has the huge bridge that you see in a lot of CA beach photos. Was in the tv show Big Little Lies. A few places to stop for food or walks down to a beach.

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San Simeon

• Hurst Castle

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San Luis Obispo

• Beaches everywhere. Morro Bay. Great Hiking.

• Madonna Inn is a really unique hotel.