East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

One of my favorite stretches along the coast — East Cliff Drive captures that classic Santa Cruz mix of ocean breeze, surfers below, and wide-open views of Monterey Bay. The cliffs glow golden in late afternoon light, and every curve of the road reveals a new vantage point. It’s the kind of place where you pull over just to take it all in — the rhythm of waves, the salt in the air, and that feeling of being exactly where you’re meant to be.