Top 10 Scenic U.S. Road Trips

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Few can resist the lure of the open road once summer rolls around

Big Sur

Iconic Route 1 extends almost the entire length of California, but our favorite stretch is through Big Sur, which comprises 90 or so miles along the central coast from San Simeon to Carmel. Big Sur’s beauty is not overrated: Sandwiched between the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific – redwood groves on one side and rocky beaches with sea lions on the other – it’s remarkably unspoiled, partly because the only access is via the two-lane Route 1, or Cabrillo Highway. Devote a long weekend, ideally in May or September for fewer crowds. Start out in San Jose, which has the closest major airport, and head south 74 miles on U.S. 101. Merge onto Route 156 and pick up Route 1, cruise through Monterey and Carmel, and then enter Big Sur proper. There are no big towns, only small clusters of roadside restaurants and stores, so fill the gas tank in advance. The road twists along precipitous cliffs and it can be a relief to stop for impromptu hiking, picnicking, or beachcombing (try Jade Cove for its namesake stone). A bohemian Eden in the 1960s, when Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller spent time here, Big Sur is an area where their free-spirit vibe still lingers.

Smart Splurge Hotel: Few venues match the laid-back elegance and unrivaled location of Post Ranch Inn, a Sherman's Travel Smart Luxury Award winner. www.postranchinn.com

Great Value Hotel: Among Big Sur's many campgrounds, our favorite is Ventana for its seclusion within a redwood-filled canyon and its hot showers. Thirty miles south of Carmel and less than a mile from the famous Nepenthe restaurant, the site will reopen in spring 2010, following a renovation. www.ventanacampground.com

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