Brief History Of The Pacific Coast Highway

Imagine coasting down a winding road, convertible top down, with the sea breeze running through your hair, palm trees swaying in the wind and the sun shining down on the water. The Pacific Coast Highway is probably the most iconic and scenic route left in America, and it’s the dream destination for avid road trippers, car lovers, and travel geeks in general. The entire length of the PCH stretches from north to south along the entirety of the United States’ western border of the Pacific Ocean (hence the name, Pacific Coast Highway). Drivers can take it from San Diego to LA, San Francisco, and all the way up to Washington state. With the vast majority of the highway located in California, it has become a classic symbol of the state’s substantial natural beauty.

But how did this stunning highway come to be in the first place? It was built and officially opened in the 1930s, but it wasn’t one project that was commissioned; rather, it was a series of massive infrastructure initiatives that sought to connect Mexico to Canada via the United States little by little on a smaller local scale. In Southern California’s Orange County, that meant connecting beach cities like Newport and Laguna Beach to Los Angeles, and Los Angeles to coastal towns to the north, like Ventura. These smaller segments all along the California coast eventually became what is now known as the PCH.

For this reason, the highway wasn’t always known as the PCH or the 1, as the first designated freeway in the United States from north to south. It used to be part of Highway 60 and was originally called Roosevelt Highway after the death of president Theodore Roosevelt in 1919. Parts of the PCH are referred to by other names such as Cabrillo Highway, Shoreline Highway, or just Coast Highway. It was not officially designated the Pacific Coast Highway in its entirety until 1964, when all its separately constructed pieces were considered one long western thoroughfare.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.