Driving south from San Francisco, the Highway 1 vistas become increasingly dramatic along a stretch approaching Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Continue to Big Sur, featuring craggy cliffs, towering redwoods, and the famous Bixby Creek Bridge, a graceful arch 260 feet high above a steep canyon overlooking mountains and ocean. One of California’s most photographed spots, the image is recognized globally. It’s not a pedestrian bridge and the parking lot fills up fast. Weekend crowds can be overwhelming, especially at sunset. Pick a weekday and go for sunrise instead. Tip: Roll your wheels indefinitely south for increasingly unpopulated turnouts with vistas to rival any of the more famous. bigsurcalifornia.org