Leash Kid Adventures: I did it all in a series of really wonderful dreams

Though a bit of my heart was left in San Francisco, the rest was left on the rocky coast line of Highway 1.

PCH is a trip that is completely your own. Drive it fast with the top down, twisting in and out of the mountains, down to the farmlands, and back again to the sea.

Or drive it slow and get lost along your way. Take in every hidden driveway, the seals, sunset, the quirky roadside towns, and rustic lodges that can blur into the passing redwoods.

Stop to hike every chance you get into the forest. Some of my favorites were at Ragged Point, where the cliffs allow you to venture to the surf and pristine beach.

Or hike just to glimpse at the beauty of Pffifer Beach. This place alone makes the trip worth the flight, the drive, the steps.

You cannot reach the beach but you can climb on the cliffs above it and hike to the edges of the world.

We stayed at Pffifer Beach for much of the afternoon - taken by its beauty, learning about the history, and getting lost in the waves. There once was a house that stood on these cliffs and we hiked to the old foundations of it. It would be amazing to live here, completely taken in by the sea each day.

We drove the Pacific Coast Highway without an itinerary and only the wish to have the quintessential road trip experience - I wanted my feet on the dash, windows down, singing at the top of my lungs as I sped down the California coast line. Other than that, surprise me world!

Surprise me it did with pit-stops along the way. Half-Moon Bay was located just south of San Francisco and we stopped for sandwiches and cold drinks in the garden in the center of downtown.

I could have stayed in Half-Moon Bay much longer, with its pretty shops and quaint small town charm. But we had to remember to keep driving, as behind every turn is a new adventure and the beautiful view of the coastline we were so craving.

Halfway down the coast we stumbled upon Gorda Springs as the sun was setting on the ocean. A town that popped up along the side of the road and only consisted of a gas station, a small café, and these few small rooms - it looked as great as any where to stop!

A good thing to know before setting off on your own PCH adventure - there are not many rooms or opportunities for lodging. It is rustic, primitive, and quiet out here. The radio will be in and out so be ready to lead those sing alongs yourself and cell service is non-existent, so come prepared.

But the views are amazing - we could throw rocks into the ocean from our door frame. We sat on the porch into the night and drank wine and talked watching the sea life swim lazily by along the shore.

We stumbled over to the roadside diner and split fajitas with the resident cat and celebrated my birthday without phone service, television, or a massive party. It may not be much but out here you don't need much and that is the point.

The next day we continued South, stopping at the Elephant Seal Rookery in Piedras Blancas to watch the seals.

You can almost walk directly to them as they sleep and throw sand about. Although they look lazy here, the beach was full of commotion.

They squabble and fight, they swim and wade into and out of the water.

They are entertaining to watch - and listen to. This handsome fella would not stop bellowing as he wiggled his way up onto the beach besides these ladies.

But unfortunately, someone else thought they were entertaining (or delicious) to watch as well and I snapped this lurking off shore.

Be safe, my new elephant seals friends!

After being mesmerized all morning by elephant seals, we slowly got back in the car. I had hoped to make it to as far south as Los Angeles but the coast beckoned and I couldn't drag myself into the city just yet. I turned back into the safety of the woods to see the coast one more time.