American BEAUTY

Why not try one of the most famous routes in the world – California’s Highway 1?

- CHARLOTTE RICHARDS

At one end is the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and at the other end, the arty, chic city of San Francisco. In-between, there are waterfalls, mountains and all the seafood you can eat.

With so much to see, it’s no wonder that California’s Highway 1 – a 400-mile road linking the two great cities – is considered a trip of a lifetime. If you’re in a hurry, you could do the drive in about eight hours, but three nights, topped and tailed with a stay in the cities at either end, is the perfect amount of time to take in the main sights.

Hit the road in Los Angeles

Head out of LA, past the beachside villas of Malibu, and make your first stop the town of Santa Barbara (santabarbaraca.com).

The colonial-style town of terracotta-roofed buildings sits on the sea, and is surrounded by the wine-producing hills of the Los Padres National Forest. If you’ve got time, take a trip out to the vineyards themselves, or buy an urban wine trail pass, which allows you to wander along State Street, stopping at 23 different taste rooms.

It’s also worth driving up to the Santa Barbara Mission (santabarbaramission. org), built by the 18thcentury Spanish settlers and one of the most beautiful examples in the area.

Heading north, the weather starts to get a little cooler and the scenery more rural. From here, it’s one long series of photo opportunities.