Tailor-made Vacation · USA
Pacific Coast Drive: San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego
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Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
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At a glance
Discover the best of the Pacific Coast Highway on this 14-day road trip through San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
This classic California coastal itinerary combines iconic cities, scenic ocean drives and charming beach towns.
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Start in San Francisco, home to the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and diverse neighbourhoods packed with culture, history and great food.
From here, drive south along the legendary Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), one of the most scenic road trips in the USA. Follow the dramatic California coastline and stop in laid-back seaside towns like Santa Cruz along the way.
Next, explore Los Angeles, where famous landmarks, sunny beaches and vibrant neighbourhoods await. Walk along Hollywood Boulevard, relax on Santa Monica Beach, and discover cultural hotspots like Little Tokyo and Olvera Street.
Finish your journey in San Diego, known for its golden beaches, lively nightlife and world-class attractions. Visit the Gaslamp Quarter, explore the famous San Diego Zoo, and unwind on the beautiful beaches of La Jolla.
This Pacific Coast road trip is the perfect way to experience California’s most iconic cities, coastal scenery and beach culture in one unforgettable journey.
Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Days 1-4: San Francisco
Begin your Pacific Coast Highway road trip in San Francisco, one of the most iconic cities in California. Known as the “City by the Bay”, it blends historic landmarks, vibrant neighbourhoods and spectacular coastal views. Visit the Golden Gate Bridge, explore Alcatraz Island, and wander through Chinatown, North Beach, and the lively waterfront at Fisherman’s Wharf. Ride San Francisco’s historic cable cars or cycle across the Golden Gate for unforgettable views of the bay.
Just outside the city, Napa Valley offers a perfect day trip with world-class vineyards and wine tastings. Back in the city, explore Union Square, Nob Hill and the Castro District, the heart of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ history and nightlife.
Day 5: San Francisco to Carmel
Today you begin your journey along California’s famous Pacific Coast Highway, driving south towards the picturesque towns of Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Stop in Monterey to stroll along Cannery Row and enjoy lunch at Old Fisherman’s Wharf, where sea lions and ocean views set the scene.
Continue to the charming seaside town of Carmel, known for its art galleries, storybook cottages and beautiful white-sand beach. This area is also home to the legendary 17-Mile Drive, one of California’s most scenic coastal routes. Expect dramatic cliffs, windswept cypress trees, and famous landmarks such as the Lone Cypress and the world-renowned golf courses of Pebble Beach.
Day 6: Monterey to Santa Barbara
Continue south along the spectacular California Central Coast, one of the most scenic stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway. Along the way you’ll pass dramatic ocean views, rugged cliffs and historic landmarks including Hearst Castle near San Simeon.
As you approach Santa Barbara, the landscape softens into rolling hills and vineyards framed by the Santa Ynez Mountains. Often called the “American Riviera”, Santa Barbara is known for its Mediterranean-style architecture, red-tile roofs and relaxed coastal atmosphere. Before arriving, you may wish to stop in charming seaside towns such as Morro Bay or Ventura, perfect for a relaxed drink by the ocean before settling into Santa Barbara for the evening.
Day 7: Santa Barbara to Santa Monica
Today’s coastal drive brings you to Santa Monica, one of the most famous beach cities in Southern California. Start at the iconic Santa Monica Pier, home to the historic amusement park and the official end of Route 66. The wide sandy beach is perfect for a stroll, bike ride or simply relaxing by the Pacific Ocean.
Santa Monica is also known for its vibrant shopping and dining scene. Wander along the Third Street Promenade, an open-air shopping district filled with restaurants, boutiques and street performers. For a more upscale feel, head to Montana Avenue. With its ocean views, lively atmosphere and stylish coastal charm, Santa Monica offers a perfect introduction to Los Angeles.
Day 8-10: Los Angeles
Spend the next few days exploring Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world and one of the most exciting cities in California. Walk along the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, take photos of the Hollywood Sign, and visit world-class museums such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
For nightlife and LGBTQ+ culture, head to West Hollywood (WeHo), home to one of the most vibrant gay scenes in the United States, with lively bars, restaurants and clubs. You can also explore Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or soak up the bohemian energy of Venice Beach, where street performers, Muscle Beach bodybuilders and colourful boardwalk vendors create a classic LA atmosphere.
Day 11-14: San Diego
Your Pacific Coast road trip ends in San Diego, a laid-back coastal city known for its year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches and vibrant cultural scene. Explore Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub home to gardens, museums and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
For nature lovers, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve offers scenic coastal trails and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Spend time relaxing on the golden beaches of La Jolla, an upscale seaside neighbourhood known for its dramatic cliffs and wildlife. In the evenings, head to the lively Gaslamp Quarter for restaurants, bars and nightlife, or cross the bay to Coronado Island for a quieter beach escape.
Our Experts
The thing about the USA is that it's just so diverse. It doesn't matter what you're looking for, you can find it in the USA. I personally love San Francisco because it's hotels are arty and luxurious at the same time.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.