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The Art of Detours

Laguna Beach, Pacific Coast Highway, Route 101
Around Laguna Beach. Suddenly this amazing view appears. Iconic Route 101.
Driving into sunset. Photo by Tijana.

We took a few detours on one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the USA, Route 101.

Known as the Pacific Coast Highway, California’s Route 101 runs directly along the Pacific Ocean for 790 miles, from San Diego all the way to the Oregon border. In San Diego, 70 miles of highway 101 features some of the coolest beach towns and most beautiful scenery anywhere in California. There are some wonderful scenic stretches between Los Angeles and Laguna Beach, too.

Road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway, California
On the beach, at the spur of the moment. Detours are the sweetest part of the road trip. California dreaming.
Photo by Tijana.


Road Trip on the Pacific Coast Highway, Route 101
Freedom. Detour. Photo by Tijana.


Beach detours, Pacific Coast Highway, Route 101
Just being in the moment. I love how dogs were playing on the beach, too, I noticed them after I took photos.
Photo by Tijana.


Beach Detours, Pacific Coast Highway, Route 101
Happiness. Sudden moments. Photo by Tijana.

California Dreaming

On my iTunes, California Dreamin’ is blasting. There is something about a road trip, that sense of freedom, living in the moment. Making decisions on instinct, and having sweet detours when something inviting takes your full attention.

And you stop.

And soak it all in.

Take a pause.

And feel so alive.

Where it Is?

10 comments

  • Andrew Alexander

    Lovely!! Isn’t it funny how the detours often end up being the most beautiful and memorable part of the journey? I love to plan a trip, to make a careful list all the things I want to see and do someplace, but it’s still so important to remember to leave time to wander. You capture that beautifully, T!

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      Sudden detours are unforgettable. What is so special is that sense of freedom, that is so intoxicating. And the beauty is, you never know what you will find. I think with GPS we lost a lot. In the beginning, I was using GPS just when I truly got lost, or if I needed to go to a meeting. Otherwise, I would just wander around. Especially, on the vacations, it is so important just to be in the moment. The best experiences happen that way. I get also that some things we need to plan, not to miss some experience or to make things go smoother.

  • Ivana

    This is just so lovely!
    The roads lead somewhere.. eventually. Getting there is the journey.

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      Ivana, that is such a beautiful comment! For me, interestingly, the journey starts immediately when I start planning it. Or, when I just conceive it. Yeah, life is like that, too – every road leads somewhere. Sometimes, we don’t know what that journey will bring. Nonetheless, a journey bring something. A joy, lesson and anything in between. Even I love art and traveling, there is something about spectacular nature that just does it for me.

  • Andrej

    There’s nothing quite like the exact amount of sunlight filtering through the exact kind of sky at the exact kind of moment, which is usually late in the afternoon. The last photo, in particular, is happiness-inducing. Chiaroscuro almost!

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      Your comment is a pure poetry. It is something that you would read in a book. Thank you.

  • Dave

    Beautiful photos and a stunning part of our country. It’s amazing when you’re on the highway and the clouds/fog are below you!

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      It is true Dave. There is so much to see. Road trips are the best. I loved the comment about clouds, I can imagine how magical that looks.

  • Rebecca

    Soon after arriving in San Francisco, I discovered the dramatic beauty of the Pacific coast highway. The rugged, expansive cliffs were an incredible sight as the sun set over the ocean. Later as I wandered in the hills above Palo Alto, I discovered a large herd of bison, part of Stanford University’s preserve. I was hooked.

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      Dear Rebecca, so happy to hear about your discovery. Many times I am at awe of nature. That part of world is mesmerizing. You described it very well. Are there any other parts in the world that you enjoyed?

      Stay curious.

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