California

We love street and urban art. We love its raw grit, city themes, fleeting nature and the sport of spotting new works by street art all-stars. So no matter where …

Cruising down the PCH from L.A. to Laguna Beach is just like out of a movie. Read on for the Globetrottergirls top 5 stops along this stretch of the PCH.

With over a month to spend in California and plans to travel between Los Angeles and San Francisco, there was no question that we would take the Pacific Coast Highway for a true California Dreamin’ road trip.

While you’re at Alamo Square, go to the bathroom. Not because the facilities are so clean (which, for public restrooms, they are). Right outside the bathroom, well hidden from the sound of buses squeezing through the hilly San Franciscan streets, there is a creative and quirky collection of plants, potted in discarded shoes found by city gardner David Clifton.

Though its name sounds otherwise, it is not located by the Golden Gate Bridge (although you’ll find two huge parks there too: the Golden Gate Park stretches for 47 blocks from Stanyan Street to the Pacific Ocean – it’s more than 3 miles long and half a mile wide, which makes it even bigger than New York’s Central Park and its 4.12 km2 (1.589 sq mi) makes it one of the largest urban parks on the planet. You can easily spend an entire day just exploring the broad parkways and the variety of activities the park offers.

Seeing Elephant Seals on Highway 1 was a highlight of the PCH road-trip.

Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco is filled with wildlife watching experiences, so it seemed natural to sign up for a whale-watching tour to see some of nature’s largest mammals further off the coast of California. Little did we expect to have to hold on for dear life out on the open sea, and one of us spending more time clenching on at the back of the boat feeding her breakfast to the birds.

Los Angeles might seem like an expensive city, but it’s easy to explore L.A. without breaking the bank! Check out our top ten tips for L.A. on a shoestring:

The fact that the locals don’t use the cable cars is most likely due to the limited network. Only three routes are still in operation, rendering the cable cars experience a tourist experience rather than practical commuter transport.

San Francisco was one of our favourite cities during the American leg of our travels. The city is filled with life; it could take a lifetime to discover all of its secrets. It could also take a big budget if you’re not careful. However, with a bit of planning, exploring the streets of San Fran doesn’t need to eat through your budget. Here are the Globetrottergirls’ tips on getting the most out of San Francisco on a shoestring budget.