Highway No. 1 Indeed: A Foggy Road Trip Up the Golden Coast

Californians are so damn lucky. No other state in America could afford to mismanage itself so badly and still come out as one of the greatest, most sought-after places in the world. Most of what makes California extraordinary — the beaches and cliffs, the forests, the mountains, the weather — was done by nature’s god. Any human improvement since he finished his work is marginal — or is perhaps a downgrade.

Yeah, the Golden Gate Bridge is a triumph of will and ingenuity and all that. But have you ever seen what’s past it to the north? I never had, despite living in the Bay Area for four years. You could take Highway 101 if you’re in the mood for towering redwood forests. I opted for the winding route directly along the Pacific coastline, slow and inefficient by design: Highway No. 1. It lives up to the title.

About the Author

John R. Puri

John R. Puri is the Thomas L. Rhodes Fellow at National Review.

Featured Tags

Californians are so damn lucky. No other state in America could afford to mismanage itself so badly and still come out as one of the greatest, most sought-after places in the world. Most of what makes California extraordinary — the beaches and cliffs, the forests, the mountains, the weather — was done by nature’s god. Any human improvement since he finished his work is marginal — or is perhaps a downgrade.

Yeah, the Golden Gate Bridge is a triumph of will and ingenuity and all that. But have you ever seen what’s past it to the north? I never had, despite living in the Bay Area for four years. You could take Highway 101 if you’re in the mood for towering redwood forests. I opted for the winding route directly along the Pacific coastline, slow and inefficient by design: Highway No. 1. It lives up to the title.