DeAnn Owens
No Comments

Beautiful Streets In California

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page
The 2017 Buick Enclave driving along a road with Golden Gate Bridge in background
2017 Buick Enclave
Photo: Buick

California is blessed with incredible landscapes and natural wonders. If you love exploring the great outdoors, soaking up the sun, seeing the stars, or hitting the ocean, the opportunities to do it all are seemingly limitless in the Golden State. And, if you love a Sunday drive (or any day of the week drive), the following California streets are exceptionally beautiful.


Take a Drive: The best Buick SUVs to take on a road trip


LoveExploring.com writer Ella Buchan rounded up 30 of the most beautiful streets in the country, and California is home to five on her list.

St. Helena

Main Street in St. Helena will captivate your senses. According to Buchan, it offers an “upscale yet relaxed vibe,” earning the moniker of Napa Valley’s Main Street. The street itself is not very long, but it packs a punch with an eclectic assortment of shops and eateries. It is also situated in close proximity to the area’s popular vineyards.

“Landmark buildings include the Culinary Institute of America, occupying a former winery, and the 19th-century Richie Block building,” Buchan reports.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles has plenty to offer its residents and draws countless tourists thanks to its beauty, charm, and Hollywood glamour. And, then there’s the high-end shopping opportunities of Rodeo Drive. Even if you don’t have the budget to buy anything, it’s still a sight to see.

San Francisco

Two streets in San Francisco made Buchan’s list — Lombard Street and Steiner Street. Both have incredible appeal but differ considerably. The eight hairpin turns on Lombard Street make it the “most crooked street in the world.” And, it’s only a quarter-mile in length!

“It’s such a beloved attraction that cars often line up to wind their way (at no more than 5 mph/8 km ph) around the steep street, which was completed in 1922 in a bid to calm traffic. It was even featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s dizzying film Vertigo, bloom-filled plants add extra prettiness,” according to Buchan.

Steiner Street was featured on the little and big screen. You might remember the colorful Victorian homes in the opening sequence of the TV shows, Full House and its reboot Fuller House. One of the house’s exteriors was used in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea is a picturesque stretch of land that leads you to the breathtaking Pacific Ocean. As you make your way to the water, you’ll notice an eclectic group of cottages and feel like you’ve entered a storybook.