Coastal Chronicles: California's Historic Highway One.

 

Routes of Missions in California. During our Pacific Ocean Coastal Adventures we drove in Highway One from Los Angeles to Carmel and Monterey. We explored several landmarks including churches, missions, and Heartst Castle. It was an unique driving experience.  

​Navigating the Missions and Landmarks of Highway One

​That drive along Highway One is legendary, especially the stretch through Big Sur where the cliffs meet the Pacific. It sounds like you had a solid mix of history and architecture between those old mission stops and the opulence of Hearst Castle.

​The California missions are actually connected by a historic route known as El Camino Real, or The Royal Road. Most of these sites were built about a day's journey apart on horseback, which is why you see them spaced so consistently as you move north from Los Angeles toward Monterey.

​Here are some highlights regarding the routes and history you encountered:

• ​Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa: This one is right in the heart of downtown SLO and was the first to use the iconic red clay roof tiles to protect against fire.
• ​Mission San Miguel Arcangel: Located just north of Paso Robles, it features some of the best-preserved original interior frescoes in the entire chain.
• ​Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo: Often just called the Carmel Mission, this was the headquarters for the entire mission system and serves as the burial site for Junipero Serra.

​When you're out there exploring these sites today, it's a great chance to look at how modern preservation efforts balance historical accuracy with the needs of active parishes. Seeing those thick adobe walls right before visiting the grand Mediterranean Revival style of Hearst Castle really puts California's architectural evolution into perspective.