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<\/a><\/p>\nYou know that San Luis Obispo\u2019s nickname is SLO, right? Meander Santa Barbara\u2019s Funk Zone with artsy boutiques. Be awestruck by the 24-carat gold mosiac pool inside Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Explore the Highway One Discovery Route<\/a>\u00a0website for details on more regional activities. And you start to wonder, \u201cDo mermaids exist?\u201d Turn into the fairytale town of Carmel to prance past gnomish Lord of the Rings<\/em>-like homes. In Monterey, watch divers float into the three-story glass kelp forest at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, dubbed one of the world\u2019s greatest fishbowls. In Oregon, highly recommended is Multnomah Falls at the Columbia River George. You must hike it, even if you hate hiking! The powerful rush of the falls is absolutely invigorating. And in Southern Oregon and the Applegate region, you can raise a glass and nosh on homemade pizza at Dancin Vineyards outside of Jacksonville, Red Lily Vineyards, famous for carrot ginger soup, and Wooldridge Creek Winery where you can order homemade charcuterie goods and cheese from a goat creamery (of all places) with personalized service. But you are on the run to scope out nature, so bring your java (drawn with artistic foam at the top) to visually soak in the sea stacks and rainforests of Olympic National Park, the wildflowers of Mt. Rainier, or the vista at Mt. St. Helens. Head to Seattle to play tourist at Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. If you\u2019re like me, you\u2019ll want to take in specimens only found here: the Underground Tour through secret tunnels, the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, and the Museum of Pop Culture.
\nOkay. Let\u2019s take a breath. I don\u2019t want you to hurtle from one town to the next. It\u2019s not a race. Savor the journey and pull off the road when you see something that piques your interest. Turn around if you need to. Believe me, it will be worth it.
\nNorthward, you stumble upon Big Sur and grin at the ocean\u2019s palette of aquamarine, indigo blue, and emerald green.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nAfter three hours, you land in San Francisco. While you cannot swim safely at Ocean Beach, you can admire it from above, dining at the elegant Cliff House. Hint: its Terrace Room offers outstanding, gigantic complimentary popovers at breakfast.
\nOn another day, slurp clam chowder from a sourdough bowl at Fisherman\u2019s Wharf or practice your Cantonese ordering dim sum in Chinatown, the nation\u2019s original Chinatown, circa 1849. Check out the gorgeous pictures and Chinatown history in the new book San Francisco\u2019s Chinatown<\/em> <\/a>\u00a0to get your bearings.
\nHave extra time? Fuel up to drive to the perennially green Pacific Northwest, filled with a bastion of scenic treasures.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMeanwhile, wine aficionados can graze vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. Several wineries run their own cafes, so be on the lookout for these: Brooks Winery, King Estate, and Left Coast Cellars.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIn Washington, coffee is king and so are cute coffee places resembling cozy living rooms.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhew! Anyone completing such a gutsy journey from the Golden State to the Beaver State to the Evergreen State deserves a medal of endurance. The sights, sounds, tastes, and textures gleaned from such a trip is unlike any other. If you need help with itineraries and want tips and assistance to curate the perfect vacation, please check out California Tours Road trip.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n