article_snippet: It's only about 350 miles as the crow flies between San Francisco and LA, but this (mostly) coastal route is probably well over 500 miles long as it winds through some of California's most wonderful, ever-changing scenery.
article_snippet: Leaving Carmel, you find yourself at the edge of the spectacular area known as Big Sur: wild and often mountainous terrain battling it out with the equally wild Pacific.
article_snippet: A little unnerved by this, We headed back to the safety of the highway and soon found We in Santa Barbara.
article_snippet: It's the classic California of posters and T-shirts, with infinitely long palm-lined streets with mountains at one end and the ocean at the other.
article_snippet: Mind you, the scariest ride of its day off was getting on the freeway by accident on the way into LA.
article_snippet: Unless you're a professional stunt driver in a hurry, the freeway is probably best avoided in favour of a trundle along California's more sedate boulevards.
article_snippet: we drove the last 40 miles south through the LA suburbs to we final stop at the Huntington Beach Hyatt Regency.
article_snippet: For more information about California, go to visitcalifornia.co.uk or call 020 7257 6180.
highlights_snippet: Jane opted for a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway (aka Route 1)
  the Pacific Coast Highway (aka Route 1)
   goes from San Francisco to Los Angeles .
  
highlights_snippet: the Pacific Coast Highway (aka Route 1)
   is well over 500 miles long .
  
highlights_snippet: Route winds through some of California's most wonderful scenery .