Los Angeles to San Diego County, via the PCH Through Orange County

Today's the day! Make sure your car is fully charged before you start the journey.

Since first sailing from Southampton, England, in 1936, the Queen Mary's reputation for opulence preceded her arrival in ports around the world. The historic ocean liner is now permanently moored in Long Beach, and it's a wonderful experience to step aboard — even if just for a coffee and small bite at the Midship Marketplace, plus have a bit of a look about. Read more about the Queen Mary's history here.

Southern California has some serious cred when it comes to the craft brew scene in the US and globally — to the point that the "West Coast-style IPA" is a recognized, hops-forward style of beer now made around the world.
And while not as famous as some other SoCal breweries (we'll drop into another tasting room later in the day) Ballast Point Brewing not only makes a fantastic range of beers but also scores huge points for this prime restaurant/brewery location on a narrow spit of land where the open ocean flows into local waterways.
The food menu is designed for sharing (or not). Think pretzel bites with beer cheese, steak nachos, birria "quesatacos", Roman-style pizzas, a classic Ballast Point burger, patty melt, or Filipino-inspired BBQ pork ribs. This is the main mid-day meal, so feel free to go a little extra on the ordering.

Departing Ballast Point Brewing, the route soon connects with California's iconic Highway 1, perhaps better known as the Pacific Coast Highway (or the PCH, for short). Driving the PCH as it toodles along the California coastline is pure delight — so enjoy every moment, and pull over to take in the scenery whenever you're so inspired.
One such mandatory stop is the pier at the heart of Huntington Beach, aka Surf City, U.S.A. Stretching 1,850 feet into the Pacific Ocean, the pedestrian pier is one of the longest on the West Coast and absolutely worth a stroll. Also recommended: get those toes actually in the sand, on the fringes of the ocean.

In contrast to the laid-back surf vibe of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach draws a more well-heeled, coastal-chic sort of crowd (think designer homes and posh resorts, beautiful yachts, and yes, the Real Housewives of Orange County). So it only makes sense that one of San Francisco's most celebrated third-wave coffee darlings, Blue Bottle Coffee, chose Newport Beach for its OC location — a striking, modern design cafe that sits on the water.
Sleek design details aside, Blue Bottle lives up to its reputation of excellent coffee and espresso beverages — drip or pour over coffee, iced, blended, whichever way you prefer. (There's also hot and iced tea and non-caffeinated beverages, too, if that sounds more refreshing.)

The stretch of PCH connecting Newport Beach to Laguna Beach is one of the prettiest in all of Southern California, thanks to the wildness of Crystal Cove State Park, which won't ever be developed.
In contrast with its neighbors to the north, Laguna Beach has long been known as an artist's enclave, and the pedestrian-friendly downtown area is full of galleries and artisan boutiques. One can't miss stop is Wyland Galleries, the artist Robert Wyland's flagship gallery location and site of his working studio, as well as his first Whaling Wall mural. (Over his career, the conservationist has painted more than 100 such large-scale murals around the world — if you've ever seen his work before, you'll recognize his style instantly). The gallery's ocean-front deck has some amazing views, too.

The coastal community of Dana Point has a unique position along the Southern California coastline, jutting out into the ocean as it does. A brief stop at the Dana Point Lookout — a few steps lead down to a large wooden platform — offer truly spectacular views of the Dana Point boat basins and arc of the coastline. During the migratory season for Humpbacks and other whales, May through November, the Dana Point lookout is one of the best place to spot the whale activity from shore, even with the naked eye.

From Dana Point the PCH merges into the I-5 freeway, as it's the only way to cross through the rugged military training base that links Orange County with San Diego County (and sits on some pretty beautiful oceanfront real estate).
But before driving south, it's worth a couple minutes' detour to stop in at Mission San Juan Capistrano, the 7th of 21 missions that Spanish priests founded in the state during the 18th Century, when Alta California was still a Spanish territory. Mission San Juan Capistrano is notable for its architecture and gardens, as well as for the thousands of migratory swallows that return every spring.
Tuesday – Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Arriving in San Diego County, it's time to cut back to the PCH — there's even an off-ramp for Pacific Coast Highway directly from the freeway. The northernmost coastal city in San Diego County, the PCH thoroughfare in Oceanside has a distinctly retro, laid back beach vibe that succinctly captures the SoCal coastal lifestyle.
So it makes perfect sense that Stone Brewing — one of Southern California's top craft breweries — opened a tap room here, its only location on the coast. Pop in to share a tasting flight of a few of Stone's flagship and seasonal brews in a cozy patio setting, to see what all the fuss is about.

Depending on what time of year you're making this drive, sunset can be as early as 4:30-5 pm in the winter months and as late as 7:30-7:50 pm during June and July, so check in advance what time sunset's slated to happen today, as you don't want to miss the popular local tradition of watching that glowing orange ball slowly (and then suddenly, quite quickly) slip below the horizon of endless sea and sky. In downtown Carlsbad, there are few better local vantage points to catch the sunset than the bluff top pedestrian walkway that overlooks Carlsbad State Beach. (The views from the lower seawall walkway and the beach itself are also quite lovely.)
There is a small parking lot for the beach next to Offshore Surf Shop and Harbor Fish Cafe, but your best bet is to parallel park along Carlsbad Boulevard (free) or on a local side street. (Or, park the car, check in at the hotel, and walk over).

If you can't be on the beach for sunset, the next best option for taking in the sunset views is reservations at one of only a few rooftop venues in downtown Carlsbad, which is also known locally as "The Village."
Fresco Cocina is known for its sharable small plates, street tacos, as well as its full menu of more modern Latin cuisine — think whole roasted snapper Veracruz, Peruvian lomo saltado (beef tenderloin tips), and beer battered Pacifico sea bass fish tacos.
One tip: Tonight's hotel is just a block away, so if you'd rather walk to dinner (& back), that works, too.

Tucked away on a quiet side street within walking distance of everything downtown Carlsbad has to offer, Beach Terrace Inn is one of the only hotels to be located directly on the beach in all of San Diego County — just follow the steps down from the ocean front pool patio and you're out on the sand in mere moments.
A majority of the 48 rooms at this boutique property have a type of ocean view, although the Ocean Front King and Queen rooms have full oceanfront panoramas with private balconies that are certainly worth the one-time splurge. Leave the sliding door ajar overnight and let the sound of the waves lull you to sleep.
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