The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Cruise the Iconic Pacific Coast Highway
November 11, 2009

Pacific Coast Highway 1 is a celebrity among American roads and highways. Some of the accolades it has received include being listed as one of nine ‘All American Roads’ by the U.S. Department of Transportation and one of the Most Scenic Rides in America. Clearly, Pacific Coast Highway 1 is a star.

For bikers, riding the Pacific Coast Highway is as good as it gets. The road offers the technical challenge of negotiating hills, blind turns, and traffic. A mistake on this highway could result in a head on collision with a vehicle, rear ending a slow vehicle, or a several hundred foot drop off a cliff. This ride is not for rookie bikers.

The reward for this ride is some of the most stunning scenery in the world. This ride features views of the Pacific Ocean, coastal mountains peaks and valleys, rock outcroppings, waterfalls, redwood forests, and flowered meadows.

Along the highway, whales, sharks, sea lions, falcons, butterflies, and other types of wild life can be seen from various vantage points. There are also a number of lighthouses and 18^th century Spanish missions along the route.

The best way to enjoy the Pacific Coast Highway is to start south and head north to Monterey, CA. As a destination, Monterey has lots of offer and makes a great place for bikers to jump off their bikes and enjoy the landscape. Monterey has lots of restaurants museums, galleries, and tours. This area is also known as Butterfly USA due to the winter migration of a large variety butterflies; some migrating from as far as Canada. One of the best tours in the area is Hearst Paradise, the mansion/castle built by former publishing giant William Randolph Hearst.

Depending on the time of the year, motorcycle apparel and gear can be very important. Generally, the weather in this region is mild but rain could be a factor. Since this route has lots of twists and turns, checking and possibly changing your motorcycle tires for a ride like this is a smart move.

Riders of all types uniformly say that the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the best rides a motorcyclist can take. It doesn’t matter what type of bike you ride, this highway offers the type of scenery and challenge that all bikers can appreciate. Make sure to watch the road more than the scenery while driving. Like any scenic highway, traffic can sometimes get congested.