Cabrillo Hwy South, California

There are several things to keep in mind about Northern California beaches. First and foremost, they are never warm. Never. Even in the summertime, the fog cools down the coast line enough that going in the water is not really a desirable activity. Another thing to note is that even if the weather does, by some barometric freak coincidence, detect that it is warm enough to go swimming, the water will say differently. The cold undercurrent means that the water is frigid year-round, deterring all but the most resilient of swimmers and surfers.

That said, the beaches, particularly in small towns like San Gregorio, are nearly untouched. While you will get the lovely views of coastal drivers, you will not be bothered with other beachgoers or tourists (who likely don't even know about the place).

If you want a relatively secluded beach experience near San Francisco and are okay with the cold, this could very well be a great option. Don't forget your wetsuit!

California's Highway 1 may conjure up images of winding, twisting roads in Sonoma County, or built-up stretches of multimillion dollar mansions in Malibu. However, the Cabrillo Highway in San Gregorio almost launches the driver back to another era, with stunning mountains on one side and unspoiled coastal views on the other. This tiny town, located less than an hour south of San Francisco, might as well be eons away. Given the lack of population density in this area, traffic is actually fairly manageable until one starts heading inland, and the area feels almost more cow country than mansion sprawl. It is actually a bit of a miracle that it has not been more built-up.

The nearest town is Half Moon Bay, which is not exactly an urban metropolis, and one has to venture either up the coast to San Francisco or inland in order to find some action, but for the right person, this could be a great place to live. All-in-all, this is primarily a scenic driver's road.