"SCENIC HIGHWAY ROAD TRIP" California by LysDor

California Travel Guide: 53,180 reviews and 98,772 photos

USA - The land full of promises and dreams come true.

I have visited the States at least ten times and have always been pleasantly surprised and amused by everything that are: BIG. Everything is BIG here: cars (a must in the States), buildings, bridges, coffees, food portions (until then I thought Belgium was the top leader...LOL) and All-U-Can-Eat Buffets, fridges and stoves, straight roads (not a single curve!), supermarkets, and much more...you name it! HUGE - The country ? it's vast!
OPENNESS and KINDNESS -Everyone ? perfect strangers ? just start talking to you ... I wasn't used to that at all! First I was sceptic about all that "HI, how are you today", "Great...", "HI, love your colorful shirt Miss..." things, but soon got used to it and realised that it is only THE AMERICAN WAY of being nice and friendly :-) !
SMILE - The self-confident "american smile" with perfectly white teeth ? very recognizable FLUENCY and EFFICIENCY Everything works perfectly: lines are organized for smooth queuings, directions well displayed, warnings given and sometimes you even don't have to think for yourself ? So, leave your brain at home and just listen and follow instructions (again can be frustrating at first...LOL)! JUNK and FAST FOOD -How amazing it was to try out a DRIVE-THRU fast-food restaurant: sit in your car, order, pay and EAT! Now we have them here as well but the first time I saw that kind of premises made me wonder. What is the point eating in your car!?? I still don't get it and find it far too messy-business for me!
And I haven't mentioned yet the enormous quantity of various ready-made meals found in supermarkets!

These were only few things that hit and intrigued my mind over the past years and nowadays when I travel to US I can't find the same kind of excitement I used to - BUT
I LOVE THE COUNTRY.

I think it's time for me to move on and start exploring the country from a different perspective.

Meanwhile I have gathered here a few photos and comments of my previous very tourist-like trips. Not so many pictures indeed - as for me, the essential is to sense and absorb the feeling of the place for yourself which is usually hard to share with others even with photos. There are there only to help remind me of that particular moment in my life and trying to convince you that it was so!!

This road-trip is the must-do-once-in-your-lifetime Pacific California Highway 1

I arrived in San Francisco, spend few days in the city with a visit to Russian River and then on the road to the city of Angels stopping in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica.

The only two problems were a too tight schedule (only 7 days) and a lousy weather along the California HighWay. No gorgeous scenic photos from the "most beautiful US HighWay" that I've only heard of and seen on...pictures so far ? LOL!
But then for me one of the foundest thing to do in America is to drive those BIG cars.
The first car was a T-Bird used for the whole drive down to Santa Monica where it was changed to a Convertible Mustang (my favorite car By The Way!).

Last visit to California: May 1995
Intro Updated Apr 25, 2004
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Reviews (18)

Carmel-By-The-Sea is like a... - California

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Carmel-By-The-Sea is like a doll-town. All houses and buildings are just not looking like *real-things*. I like the... more travel advice

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CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA After a long and so pleasant drive along the scenic drive with views drown in fog (Couldn't see a... more travel advice

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Travelogues (1)

Written Feb 20, 2002

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Comments (57)

chewy3326 Dec 23, 2006 at 4:28 PM Report Abuse

Looks like you had a wonderful time in California! Great tips and photos
Imbi Jan 4, 2003 at 5:30 AM Report Abuse

great style of tips. i really enjoyed it.
yen_2 May 3, 2002 at 1:16 AM Report Abuse

Excellent page,Tina,very well done!!!
Monique_T Apr 20, 2002 at 4:35 AM Report Abuse

great page. I just love the USA!
traveldave Apr 7, 2002 at 7:40 AM Report Abuse

Nice tour of the Golden State.
Beach_dog Mar 11, 2002 at 8:42 AM Report Abuse

What a great trip :0) and such nice pages.
dianinparis Feb 26, 2002 at 11:35 PM Report Abuse

It`s soooo beautifullllll !!!!!!!
RamSter Feb 25, 2002 at 3:51 AM Report Abuse

wow GREAT tips, love San Fran too.
Christina_C Jan 28, 2002 at 9:21 AM Report Abuse

Fabulous! You must see our wine country someday!
Turkish_star Dec 9, 2001 at 10:46 AM Report Abuse

nice pics! I love USA