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Monterey, Santa Cruz, Carmel, Big Sur Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

It's an incredible drive along Highway 1 from Santa Barbara heading north through Big Sur and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Here's a panoramic view of the famous Bixby Bridge, not far from the Ventana Inn and Spa and the Post Ranch Inn.

This spot is so incredibly beautiful that we had to shoot it twice. Here's a slightly different perspective from right nearby.

Continuing 13 miles to the north will put you in the lovely resort town of Carmel-by-the-sea. Carmel is a beachside community with lots of art galleries and a nice selection of places to stay, including the Highlands Inn Park Hyatt, the Carriage House Inn, Carmel Inn and Suites, Wayside Inn, and Dolphin Inn.

There are some great places just outside of town, too, including the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Course, and the Carmel Valley Ranch Resort.

Continuing up the Highway 1 another 12 miles, we arrive in Monterey, home of the Monterey Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Centrally located hotels include the Marriott Monterey, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, Hotel Pacific, Spindrift Inn, and the Hyatt Regency Monterey. There are also some nice places to stay near the golf course at Pebble Beach, including the Inn at Spanish Bay, Casa Palmero, and the Lodge at Pebble Beach.

Continuing the northward journey towards San Francisco, the next stop is Santa Cruz, where you'll find the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as well as the University of California Santa Cruz campus. Hotel selections in Santa Cruz include the Coast Santa Cruz Hotel, Santa Cruz Beach Inn, Chaminade, and the Best Western All Suite Inn.