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If you're looking for holidays to the USA with a difference, why not try a fly drive trip along the California coast? Giving you the ultimate freedom to explore the iconic landscape and culture, a fly drive holiday makes for a unique, memorable getaway that you can make truly your own. With the Pacific Coast Highway measuring some 1,055 km, you have no shortage of terrain to explore. Those cruising through California in a Mustang will be able to cover a lot of ground in just one week, spotting sights both famous and little-known. And you can tailor your trip suit your tastes, either opting to stay in hotels or choosing to travel in a motor home, thereby combining your travel and lodgings in one. Fly drive holidays in the USA do not get much more memorable than exploring California in a convertible. Los Angeles County, Long Beach is the perfect place to begin your adventure. It has been home to the RMS Queen Mary for the past 40 years and you can even stay the night in this art deco vessel, or simply choose to take a tour of its decks. From here you can head to the Hermosa and Redondo Beaches, where you will be able to spot surfers catching waves while you spend some time relaxing on the sand. Nearby Malibu is also a fantastic place to see people practising the sport, with Zuma beach being particularly good for this as well. If it's some of California's skaters you want to see, Venice Beach is a good place to stop at. Home to rollerbladers and skateborders, there are also countless other sports to see in play here, such as volleyball. Driving 75 miles further will take you to Santa Barbara - an incredibly beautiful area sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynes Mountains. Its vineyards produce some fantastic wines and starred in Sideways, a film about the wine-based adventures of two friends the week before a wedding. Despite this publicity, the area is still relatively free of crowds and has something of a sophisticated air. Home to many boutiques and excellent cuisine, it is an absolute must on any road trip along the Californian coast. From here you can head to San Luis Obispo, which features charming towns with impressive shopping districts, as well as areas steeped in history. You can visit Guadalupe, a border town known for its 50s atmosphere. Nearby Pismo beach is perfect for those keen to spot more surfing in action, while there are also lots of other attractions in the vicinity, such as golf. Your next stop is likely to be Big Sur. Situated just an hour from San Luis, it features fantastic scenery and incredible sights along the highway. In San Simeon you can visit Hearst Castle, which was once home to 1800s newspaper legend William Randolf Hearst. Meanwhile, you can also head to Piedras Blancas, where you will be able to see a colony of elephant seals which occupy the area. Leaving here, you will see some of the most breathtaking highway views in the world. Vistas from the road are laced with astonishing sights, such as humpback whales. You will also be able to travel over Bixby Creek Bridge, historically important as it brought automobile travel to Big Sur. You can also explore the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to see awe-inspiring redwoods and one of the few waterfalls in the area that cascades directly into the sea. Next you can drive to the Monterey Peninsula, which is home to Carmel - famous for electing Clint Eastwood as its mayor. While still residing in the area, he no longer holds office. You can, however, head to the Mission Ranch - a restaurant which he runs - featuring a nightly piano bar and outstanding brunch. After visiting Monteray Peninsula you can head to Santa Cruz - another home of surf. This is a great place to absorb California's culture simply by people-watching. From here you can drive along Highway 84, travelling through the Santa Cruz mountains. Along the route you will be able to see a panorama of San Francisco - the destination to which the highway is taking you. In the city you can visit iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge before returning home.
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