Visit San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Laguna Beach & San Diego

Touch down in California, and take a convenient cab to your hotel in the hip city of San Francisco. Enjoy an evening meal in one of the city's excellent restaurants before settling in for the night ahead of two action packed days exploring this wonderful city.

Once the fog has lifted in the late morning, one of the Pacific Coast's most vibrant cities will be revealed. Ride a cable car up and down the iconic steep streets to experience the city's Victorian charm, famous movie locations and the numerous visitor attractions that San Francisco offers.

A second full day to explore San Francisco's must-see places that will be all listed in your Road Trip Pack. These “must-see” places of interest include Coit Tower, Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies, Union Square and Alcatraz to name just a few. Lastly, whilst in San Francisco, you should consider tasting some of the best Chinese food on the Pacific Coast. You'll find Chinatown centrally located in between Union Square and the Financial District.

After collecting your road trip wheels, try to take in Golden Gate Park on the way out of town, even bigger than New York's Central Park, this is a lovely place to start and it's also a great place to pick up the Pacific Coast Highway too. Along the way to Carmel-by-the-Sea, you can visit both Santa Cruz and Monterey. The Monterey Aquarium is the best aquarium on the Pacific Coast, and the perfect attraction when paired with whale watching in Monterey Bay. Lastly, take 17 Mile Drive to Carmel-by-the-Sea, this short but super scenic drives through offers Pebble Beach and past beautiful beaches and millionaire mansions.

Carmel-by-the -Sea is a quaint and wealthy small town. Stroll down the hill to visit the Pacific Coast's best beach or climb up the hill to find charming galleries, restaurants and homes. Point Lobos State Marine Reserve lies just a couple of miles south of Carmel. This is a glorious place to spend a morning or afternoon hiking amongst the coves and along the rugged coastline. This beautiful spot is a firm favourite our team and an essential Pacific Coast Highway stop off.

Leave Carmel and head south down the Pacific Coast Highway to the southern end of Big Sur. This classic coastal drive is at its most dramatic along this 100 mile stretch of California. Twisting roads curve around steep cliff faces, passing gorgeous State Parks and numerous spectacular vista points which overlook the vast Pacific Ocean.

Santa Barbara is an affluent town, built in a charming Mediterranean style that's an essential stop for anyone driving down California's Pacific Coast. Stroll along historic State Street, visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens or simply enjoy the beautiful beaches. As always, your Road Trip Pack will list everything this town has to offer. Wine and Taco tasting in the Funk Zone is a favourite of ours when we're in town. What will you love the most?

The Pacific Coast Highway passes by Malibu’s beaches and coastal homes before arriving in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. With its “Baywatch” beaches and iconic Pier, Santa Monica is a great place to spend the day. Hire a bike and cruise the boardwalk down to Venice Beach or shop your heart out on 3rd Street Promenade.

Tinseltown is synonymous with glitz and glamour, and although many of the studios have now moved on to other parts of the city, it's still a fun place to visit. Visit the home of the Oscars and walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame looking for the handprints of your favourite movie stars. Just a short drive northeast of here lies the Griffith Observatory, perched high on a hill overlooking the City of Angels. This famous landmark is well worth a visit and also offers great views of the legendary Hollywood sign.

Beverly Hills offers the chance to see movie star homes on palm tree-lined streets. Once you've found the homes of your favourite celebrities, you could see where they shop by joining them on Rodeo Drive. Close by is the amazing Getty Center, which is a firm favourite of ours. Your personalised Road Trip Pack will explain how to visit this attraction and all the other essential places to see in LA.

Leave LA on the Pacific Coast Highway for the short drive to your next destination - lovely Laguna Beach in Orange County. Along the way, you can visit the up-scale town of Newport Beach and enjoy a walk in Crystal Cove State Park which lies just a few miles north of Laguna Beach.

Get up early and you’ll be rewarded by watching the sunrise in one of the town's many beach coves. At dawn, it’s often possible to see dolphins feeding close to the shore. Later, you can enjoy the beaches, shop in the town's galleries and dine in one of Laguna’s many top restaurants. This Californian coastal town has such a relaxing atmosphere and plenty of charm, you’ll wish you had longer in Laguna, so feel free to request additional days here or at any point along the Pacific Coast Highway.

The short drive down to sun-drenched San Diego is the final stretch of your Pacific Coast Highway adventure. Be sure to stop by Torrey Pines State Reserve along the way, this spot's glorious coastal trails are right off PCH. San Diego's other highlights include Balboa Park, the Gaslamp District and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.

After two weeks of driving and sight-seeing, maybe its time to just relax by the pool or chill out on Coronado Beach? If you're looking for even more action, then your Road Trip Pack will list all of San Diego's other attractions. These will include Cabrillo National Monument, the USS Midway and San Diego's Air & Space Museum. Tomorrow, you'll return your car at the airport before flying home to the UK along with a thousand Pacific Coast Highway memories.