Scenic South Coast - Special Advertising Feature

Sunset, July, 2003

The coastline from San Diego to the megalopolis of Los Angeles is Southern California at its sun-drenched, sandy-beach best.

* Driving distance: 133mi/217km

* Suggested time: 1-2 days

SAN DIEGO. Take 1-5 north and exit at Ardath Rd. to reach La Jolla's Prospect St., the Rodeo Drive of San Diego County. Continue north past Scripps Institution of Oceanography to Torrey Pines SR, then return to 1-5 north and drive to Carlsbad, home of LEGOLAND. On 1-5, continue north to...

OCEANSIDE (38mi/62km). Stop in at the California Welcome Center, then enjoy Oceanside's white, sandy beaches and beautiful Mission San Luis Rey. Travel 1-5 north past the San Clemente SB to...

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO (27mi/43km). Take Hwy. 74 (Ortega Hwy.) exit toward Mission San Juan Capistrano. Founded in 1776, it's the oldest settlement in Orange County. Take Hwy. 74 west to Pacific Coast Highway/Hwy. 1 to...

LAGUNA BEACH (10mi/16km). Every July the town hosts the acclaimed art event, Pageant of the Masters. Stay north on Hwy. 1 to...

NEWPORT BEACH (12mi/19km). A year-round vacation town known for its waterfront resorts, shops and restaurants, and miles of harbor waterways. A little farther up Hwy. 1 is...

HUNTINGTON BEACH (6mi/9.6km). Known as "Surf City," it's home of the International Surfing Museum and the Surfing Hall of Fame. Balsa Chica Ecological Reserve is home to more than 200 species of birds. Continue north on Hwy. 1 to...

LONG BEACH (15mi/24 km.). The splendidly restored Queen Mary is docked at the end of I-710. The ship is now a first-class hotel. Visit Aquarium of the Pacific or take a gondola ride through the canals of Naples. Catch a ferry to Catalina Island, just 22 miles and an hour away. Or turn inland and take 1-710 north to 1-5 north to...

LOS ANGELES (25mi/40km).