PCH is LA's main character road: Santa Monica neon, Palisades bluffs, Malibu seafood shacks, and that ridiculous Pacific glitter. Leave before 9am for kinder parking, or reverse it late if you want the whole drive dipped in golden hour.

Pack layers, patience, and a real parking budget. The Palisades stretch has had post-fire road-work flags, so check Caltrans QuickMap before you roll and let the coast set the tempo.