by Michael Satterfield - 08/23/2021
In this series, powered by Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline, we are exploring three great road trips in three great sports cars, for our first installment we have traveled to California, home to the Pacific Coast Highway, one of the most famous roads in the world. Our journey takes us from the sleepy fishing village of Morro Bay to the luxury resort destination of Monterey. While you can enjoy a drive up PCH in any car, I have chosen the 2021 Mazda MX5 RF, the last of the truly affordable sports cars. Since we are working with Shell that means we be getting the maximum performance from the MX5 thanks to Shell's V-Power NiTRO+ which means more fun on the twisty backroads of California.
Morro Bay is the perfect starting point for a pacific coast highway road trip, known for Morro Rock, the remnants of an ancient volcano, the small coastal town is worth spending some time in. Walking down to the boardwalk you’ll generally find a romp of otters grooming or dining on the catch of the day. Fishermen unload their daily catch at the dock as local artists attempt to capture the scene in watercolor. I stopped and chatted with one artist who happened to be the owner of a collection of steam cars, we could have talked for hours, but since this is a road trip story, I had to drop the top and hit the road.
Heading north towards Cambria, another idyllic resort community, and then on to San Simeon, home to Heart Castle. The massive estate was built by publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst between 1919 and 1947, it has 42 bedrooms and 61 bathrooms, multiple swimming pools, a movie theater, an airfield, and was once home to the world's largest private zoo. Sadly, for us the site is now run by the State of California and was closed due to COVID restrictions, however, if you are planning a trip up PCH, Hearst Castle should be on your to-do list.
Just a little further up the highway, you will see a sign that reads “
Elephant Seal Vista Point” while you can see the seals year-round, the most active time is October through May when they are breeding and birthing. The large lumbering seals can be seen doing battle in the waves or lounging in large groups on the beach, you’ll also likely spot California sea lions on the beach.
From here on out there are few places to stop, but the views along the coast are spectacular. Most of this stretch of PCH cuts through various nature reserves like Limekiln State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The region is collectively known as Big Sur, and a perfect place to grab lunch at Big Sur Bakery which also happens to be home to one of the smallest Shell stations I have ever seen, it is a good place to top up your tank as next gas station is at least 40 miles down the road.
Back on the highway and headed north, one of the most spectacular stretches of road is in front of you, as the road weaves its way through the forest before turning back to the shoreline where you’ll see the Point Sur Naval Facility perched upon a rocky hill which is also home to the Point Sur Lighthouse, both are part of the Point Sur State Historic Park and do offer tours, just be sure to check ahead of time as the park has limited hours and is only open a few days a week.
Around the next bend is one of PCH’s biggest tourist attractions, Bixby Creek Bridge, it is such a draw that traffic can often grind to a halt as tourists look for parking along the side of the road. If you do happen to get lucky enough to find a place to park it might take you a while to get up to the front of the line to snap a picture.
Monterey is just a few more miles up the coast, most of the year Monterey is fairly quiet, but when
Car Week roars into town the entire peninsula is taken over by dozens of car events from downtown to The Quail, Pebble Beach, and of course the legendary Rolex Reunion held at Laguna Seca raceway. But we are here before car enthusiasts from around the world descend on the region. If you are in Monterey any other time of year, don’t worry there is plenty to do.
There are several incredible hotel options in Monterey, but if you can stay near Cannery Row, the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa or the InterContinental offer some of the most amazing views of the bay and are within walking distance of the
Monterey Bay Aquarium, McAbee Beach, and not too far from the Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
From the restaurants and shops of Cannery Row to world-class golf at Pebble Beach, there is something for everyone in Monterey. If you aren’t a golfer, Pebble Beach should still be on your list, while it is home to a private community and the world-famous golf course, it is also home to 17 Mile Drive, a scenic road that takes you past the course, mansions, and the beautiful coastline. From 1950-1956 racing drivers competed for the
Del Monte Trophy along portions of this drive, the first race was held simultaneously with the first Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. That inaugural race was won by the legendary Phil Hill while the last race was won by none other than Carroll Shelby. While the speed limit is mostly 25 mph, you can imagine how amazing it must have been to take on these curvy roads at speed.
While Pebble Beach might be the most famous golf club in Monterey, a far more exclusive community is just over the hills and down the road,
Santa Lucia Preserve. The Preserve Golf Club once hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf TV series, the course is not open to the general public, if you can get an invite to this course, you should jump at the opportunity. Designed by Tom Fazio, the course has been ranked in the top 100 U.S. Courses and served as a qualifying location for the US Open, and recently hosted the California State Amateur Championship.
My trip ends with checking into the King Suite at the Hacienda at Santa Lucia Preserve, overlooking the former polo fields of the estate-turned clubhouse. Places like Santa Lucia remind you of just how beautiful California can be. But my time here is short-lived the next morning it is back in the MX5 for the long drive back down to Los Angeles.
On the way back to Los Angeles I take highway 46 back to Interstate 5, for one final roadside stop of the trip, Blackwell’s Corner. The service station has been a popular stop since 1921 and is mostly known as the last place that actor and armature racing driver James Dean stopped to get gas before his tragic accident just 26 miles down the road. The station has 50s style diner, a collection of James Dean memorabilia, and they are known for their wide selection of local Pistachios. Plus, it is a Shell station, so our entire trip, including the one home could be powered by Shell V-Power NiTRO+. Shell V-Power NiTRO+ is engineered for enhanced performance and optimal efficiency, so you get the most out of every mile.
Check out the video from my trip below and be sure to visit
Shell.com to find a station near you.
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