Travel for Food Hub The Food Blog for Travel Lovers
Last Updated on March 13, 2023
As 53 per cent of Americans consider themselves to be foodies, it should be no surprise that quality food is top of the list when choosing a new holiday destination. If you are a foodie road trip lover, you will like the idea to explore a new region tasting the local cuisine while driving through it. And stop in the best places on the lookout for exciting places to expand your palette.
California’s Pacific Coast Highway runs from Orange County to Mendocino. And it is a perfect adventure to discover tempting food along the 600-mile route. As long as you’ve checked the essentials of your car before taking a road trip, there’s nothing more to stop you hitting the open road spurred on by your passion for food.
Designing your trip
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Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the world’s most famous road trips with plenty of restaurants to take a pit stop along the way. The route itself covers the three coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. If your time is limited, you can do it in segments, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. However, it’s best to drive in a southward direction. So that you’re on the ocean side of the road and the stunning coastline views. Additionally, the importance of ensuring that your vehicle is a good all-rounder and can safely handle long-distance driving should not be overlooked.
Taste of the ocean
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If you’re starting out in San Francisco, make sure you choose a restaurant that offers panoramic views of the ocean from the Bay. A favourite amongst the locals is the Waterbar. This is one of the finest, sustainable seafood eateries, also offering unbeatable cocktails, and even has an Oyster Happy Hour. California always sets the trends for food, so it won’t be difficult to indulge in culinary delights along the coastline. As you head south, check out Shadowbrook Restaurant. It is located on a beautiful, Santa Cruz hillside, which serves up fresh seafood from inside a charming cable car.
Going all American
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If it’s a rustic atmosphere you’re after, head to Big Sur Bakery located on the Pacific Coast Highway, where you can sample their homemade pastries or try one of their wood-fired pizzas or grilled meats inside the setting of a 1930s ranch house. The Range in Santa Margarita is well known for its pan-roasted elk medallions, forest mushroom soup or coffee-crusted Angus rib-eye. Alternatively, a family favourite, serving breakfast, lunch and dinners for four decades, is Paradise Cove. If you have a chance, try their famous carrot cake waffle!
When you pair delicious cuisine with world-renowned Californian wines or craft beers, you’ll see why this foodie road trip takes such pride in its foodie culture. It will definitely keep you coming back for more.
