State Hwy 1, Aptos

Unlike its northern neighbors, Cabrillo Highway in Aptos is a fairly mundane stretch of interstate, especially considering the area that it surrounds. It is past the Santa Cruz rush, so traffic is fairly minimal, even during rush hour. This is always a nice surprise in such a crowded area, but not something that one should get used to if one is commuting from Aptos to anywhere north or in the Bay Area.

The biggest disappointment with the road is that while it parallels the coast, it does not offer the stunning cliffside, coastal views found north of Santa Cruz. Rather, the road flattens out for a while before turning into dramatic coastline again just south of Monterey.

While the highway is not on the beach, it is certainly near the beach and offers beachfront access. With thin traffic and the ocean less than ten minutes away, there really isn't much to complain about here, even if the views leave something to be desired.