While my husband and I drove to Morro Bay from Big Sur, I did a little research, learning that Morro Rock is a 576-foot tall volcanic plug that was formed about 23 million years ago from a long-extinct volcano. It is part of a chain of nine volcanic peaks known…
While there may be no greater “sure thing” image to capture when along the coast than a lighthouse, no two of their stories are the same. Pigeon Point Lighthouse Pescadero, California Perched on a cliff 50 miles south of San Francisco, the 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the…
Traveling south on the Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles, I knew that there was a road closure coming up due to landslides and other weather-related issues. As we got closer to this area, my husband began to see signs warning that the road would soon be coming to an…
The stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway between the California towns of Carmel and Big Sur is one of the most stunning parts of our beautiful America. The coast here is what we all think of when we picture Monterey, when in fact this area is south of that city….
Monterey Having visited Monterey, California quite a few times beginning 30 years ago, I have always thought of it as an elevated tourist town, its major claims to fame, in my mind, being its costal location, its famous aquarium and the legend that was created in the pages of a…
During our trip to California my husband and I decided to spend a night in Pacific Grove. Googling for lodging I found that the charming Lighthouse Lodge & Cottages had availability. Painted blue with a large lighthouse outside the office, it seemed to be waiting just for us. When you…
I first visited Pacific Grove, California 30 years ago, passing through the town after leaving Monterey on my way to the 17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach. At the time, when there was no GPS, I assumed that I was still in Monterey. Driving along the coast, the Pacific Ocean on…
Capitola, California is a small seaside town located 40 miles north of Monterey. In the 2024 census its population was 9,456. Capitola’s Venetian Court consists of two rows of 24 multicolored pastel townhouses sitting beachside. Built in 1924 the complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in…
Arriving in Santa Cruz, California in the early evening we found a hotel for he night, asking the gentleman at the front desk for a dinner recommendation. On the way to the restaurant we drove around a little, passing the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with its roller coaster and ferris…
As my husband and I reconnected with the Pacific Coast Highway in California after landing in San Francisco and going to Yosemite where we spent a few days, we began our long, exciting journey south. One of the first sights on the itinerary I had created was Shark Fin Cove,…
