San Luis Obispo's Bubble Gum Alley, and the PCH Northbound

San Luis Obispo provides a great opportunity to get out of the car, and stretch your legs for a bit. One place to seek out: Bubblegum Alley. For decades, people have been sticking their used gum to the walls of this narrow passage. Some of the more creative visitors leave their name on the wall, forming letters by stretching and sticking multiple gumballs.

Find Bubble Gum Alley on Higuera St, just north of Broad St. And if you forgot your gum, don’t worry. There’s a store near the entrance with a big gumball machine, right out front. (That gumball machine can also help you spot the alley, it’s a little hard to find!)

san luis obispo river walk

San Luis Obispo (also known as San Luis, or an even shorter version, SLO) offers another attraction: a river walk that cuts through the pedestrian-friendly downtown. You can walk along the banks of the river, or skip across it on strategically located rocks. Since the creek is below street level, many restaurants have patios overlooking the water.

San Luis Obispo has a great old mission that’s easy to find: right downtown, at the end of the river walk.

From San Luis, Highway 1 once again splits off from US 101, heading back towards the Pacific.

Morro Bay

morro rock at morro bay

After you leave SLO, Highway 1 returns to the ocean at Morro Bay. You’ll know you’re getting close to the water when you spot two things: the smokestacks of a large power plant, and the impossible to miss Morro Rock. The Gibraltar-like stone provides a dramatic break in the fairly-flat coastline (fairly flat at least, so far!)

morro rock, morro bay, pacific ocean

To my eyes, Morro Rock played a bit of an optical trick. The water appeared close to the road, but in reality, it was quite a walk. Making the experience even less pleasant, when I was there (in late May) it was windy and cold.

Plan on spending the night, either in San Luis, or Morro Bay. North of here, you’ll find far fewer signs of civilization. I was here around mid-afternoon… far too late in the day to begin a journey across Big Sur. Morro Bay is a good place to fill up your tank with gas. There aren’t many more places as you head up the coast… and the few stations you pass, will be quite pricey (well over $3 a gallon).

pacific coast highway rocky coastline

North of Morro Bay, you’ll find several state parks and beaches, which give you direct access to the rocky shore.

pacific coast highway, pacific ocean

This park provides steps from the parking area, which allow you to walk right down onto the rocks, and if you venture close enough, shower in the ocean spray.

Do you know where I was when I took this? I believe it was either San Simeon State Park or Cayucos State Beach. If you can tell me, use the comment form below.

rocky beach along pacific coast highway

Another view of the Pacific Coast along the side of the Pacific Coast Highway.

pacific coast highway, pch

Even when you can’t see the ocean, there’s plenty to see. Here are a couple of classic road photos, taken just before the Pacific Coast Highway climbs into the Big Sur mountains.

pacific coast highway heads into the mountains

El Camino Real to Pismo Beach

Big Sur, along the Pacific Coast Highway

Note: This trip was first published in 2004.

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