Highway 1

These listings are just a taste of each area.. They offer an introductory taste, so that you arrive with a few good leads on things to do and places to eat and spend the night. You’ll make many more discoveries as you explore on your own.

family walking along foggy Northern California beach;
image courtesy of California State Department of Parks and Recreation

Highway 1 North

The San Francisco Bay Area is the starting point.

quick link
Highway 1 South

Highway 1 north from San Francisco allows an escape into a quieter, less-populated area. The two-lane road leading to Stinson Beach winds through fragrant eucalyptus groves, then rustic countryside that is rife with wildflowers in spring. It hugs ocean-side cliffs for long stretches, riding like a roller coaster and providing breathtaking views. The inland route known as Panoramic Highway is steep, with many blind curves. One of its nicknames is Kamikaze Alley, bestowed because of accidents that occur regularly in the fog. On sunny summer days, both roads become congested when everyone heads to the beach to soak up some of the famous California sunshine that is so elusive in the northern part of the state.

A word of warning: The rocky cliffs and beaches along the coast are scenic and beautiful, and people sometimes forget that they are also dangerous. Though it is tempting to stand at the edge, where the surf is pounding, people have been washed out to sea doing just that. Don’t be one of them. Be careful. Stay on trails. Obey posted signs. And take special care not to let children run loose.

Stinson Beach

Attractions
Stinson Beach
Stinson Beach Books

Muir Beach

Attractions
Muir Woods National Monument

Olema

Attractions
Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes Station

Article
Escape to Point Reyes: Elk, Egrets, & Exciting Edibles
Attractions
Black Mountain Artisans/Weavers
Coyuchi Outlet
Heidrum Meadery
Restaurants
Bovine Bakery
Osteria Stellina
Pine Cone Diner
Toby’s Feed Barn
Tomales Bay Foods

Marshall

Restaurant
Tony’s Seafood
Hotel
Nick’s Cove Restaurant, Oyster Bar & Cottages

Tomales

Restaurant
Route One Bakery & Kitchen

Valley Ford

Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery

Bodega Bay

Introduction + town of Bodega
Attractions
Children’s Bell Tower
Restaurants
Fisherman’s Cove

Jenner

Attractions
Fort Ross State Historic Park
Fort Ross Vineyard & Tasting Room
Restaurants
Cafe Aquatica
Stewart’s Point Store
Hotels
Jenner Inn & Cottages
Timber Cove Inn

Gualala

Attractions
Gualala Arts Center

Elk

Hotels
Elk Cove Inn

Mendocino

Article
Souvenir Foods of Mendocino
Attractions
Artists’ Co-op of Mendocino
Corners of the Mouth
Ford House Museum and Visitor Center
The Highlight Gallery
Kelley House Museum
shops
The Watertower Gallery
Restaurants
Cafe Beaujolais
Patterson’s Pub
Ravens Restaurant
Hotels
Agate Cove Inn
Allegria Oceanfront Inn & Cottages
Blair House Inn
VIDEO-Victorian pivoting dip sink
Blue Door Inn
Brewery Gulch Inn
Heritage House-ARTICLE-Same Time, Next Year
The John Dougherty House
Mac Callum House Inn & Restaurant
Stanford Inn by the Sea

Fort Bragg

Attractions
Glass Beach
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
North Main Street Shops
Pacific Star Winery and Tasting Room
Sea Glass Museum
Skunk Train
Restaurants
The Company Store restaurants
Headlands Coffee House
Laurel Deli & Desserts

Highway 1 South

The trip down Highway 1 from San Francisco features a breathtaking, cliff-hugging ride along the Pacific Ocean.

After passing ridges of boxy houses in pastel tones (referred to as being made of “ticky-tacky” by folk singer Malvina Reynolds in her famous ‘60s song “Little Boxes”) and the beach town of Pacifica, Highway 1 winds to the ocean through a eucalyptus-lined path in the coastal foothills. A stretch of this road known as Devil’s Slide hugs cliffs dropping steeply into the sea. In fact, part of the road itself occasionally drops off, causing traffic congestion due to detours. Though many people make informal stops in the Devil’s Slide area to take pictures, it is unsafe. Restraint is in order until finding an official parking area. Once passing this hilly area, the road moves inland and becomes more flat and straight.

When the Bay Area is blazing with sunshine, this area is often disappointingly socked in with fog. And vice versa. In fact, on many late summer and early fall days when San Francisco is covered with fog, this area is at its most beautiful. The area’s spectacular unspoiled beaches are a popular destination anytime, but they are especially so then, when the weather is usually warm and clear.

Be careful, though, about going in the water, as tides can be dangerous. Always check with a ranger station or lifeguard before swimming.