#5 Monterey: With so many magical destinations along the California coast, it’s quite easy to overlook some of the smaller ones for big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. But in the middle of these two metropolises, sitting alongside a bay on the rugged central coast, there’s Monterey. There’s more to the little beach town than the famous Cannery Row, and whether you’re looking for a good place to stop on your road trip along Highway 1, or a quick getaway from not-too-far-away, you’ll find the right experience for you here.