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Pick up a rental car from LA, roll back the sunroof, and get ready to enjoy these less-traveled PCH highlights—all of which are just as fantastic as the world-famous ones.

California's Highway 1 is one of the best known drives in the country, and rather than just cruising the road, you have time for leisurely stops along the way.

As home to the largest northern elephant seal rookery in the mainland U.S., this secluded trail (located in San Simeon, California, just north of San Luis Obispo) offers intimate views of the elephant seals in their natural beach environment.

Road trippers can see monarch butterflies, migrating whales, and even zebras during their drive, but for many, the surprising highlight is the meals they can access along the way.

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

Pack up the car and hit the road: Here’s a snapshot of the eight scenic byways in California, routes where the journey is the destination.

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…

By Matt Meltzer for ThrillistThe Most Underrated Stops Along the Pacific Coast HighwayWine, ocean views, and wildlife on America’s most beautiful coastal drive. Plenty of things have happened during the past year to convince us we’ve entered some kind of bizarro, Matrix-adjacent simulation. But one…