In the 1920s, federal Highway 101 was completed, connecting the three western states from Olympia, Washington, through Oregon, and down the California coast to La Jolla and parts of San Diego.

From the border to Sonoma, California, Highway 101 generally follows the old trails that linked the Spanish missions, presidios and pueblos of the late 1700s. “Mission bells” were placed in the early 1900s to commemorate these historic settlements located apart from one another by a day-long horse ride. This part of Highway 101 is also known as El Camino Real, the “King’s Highway.”

Today, travelers along Historic Highway 101 enjoy beachside dining and shopping, museums and attractions, and nature preserves among neighborhoods and businesses. The glittering Pacific Ocean borders San Diego’s coastal cultural corridor.

Beginning in the north or south, here are two itineraries to connect to the coastal vibe:

Northbound: La Jolla to Oceanside

Renowned for its towering sandstone cliffs, rare pine trees, and ancient marine terraces, Torrey Pines State Reserve in La Jolla has easy walking trails that lead to outstanding ocean views. The parking fee is $8.

As you wind through Del Mar, Jimmy Durante Boulevard leads to the Del Mar Race Track. “Where the turf meets the surf”, this is the home of the famous horse racing venue founded in 1937 by Hollywood actors Bing Crosby and Pat O’Brien.

If you’ve worked up an appetite, stop for lunch at Las Olas (“waves” in Spanish) in Cardiff-by-the Sea, across from the ocean adjacent to a lagoon. This Mexican restaurant has been serving margaritas and local lobster in-season since 1981.

Just past the Self Realization Temple and Ashram Center in Encinitas, take a left on K Street, a right on 3^rd Street, and drive half a mile north to see the 1928 Encinitas “boat houses” built from recycled lumber and supplies from two local buildings erected in 1888 and taken down in 1925. This is one of the area’s first “green” recycled construction projects and is typical of the artistic culture of Encinitas.

Along Historic Highway 101 travelers find many types of boutiques and shops in addition to fine art galleries. Caldwell’s Antiques in funky Leucadia has been open since the mid 1960s. They specialize in old radios, advertising, jukeboxes, and slot machines. You’ll be invited to view the mysterious “Strange Thing” in this shop for only a quarter.

Stroll the Oceanside Pier, the longest wooden pier on the west coast at 1,942 feet, and walk the beach before heading back in the car.

End the day with dinner at Le Papagayo in Leucadia where live blues, jazz, and tropical sounds are delivered nightly along with a Pacific Island and French-influenced menu. Guests can sit outside on the patio where heat lamps take off the evening chill. When the trains pass, you might have to pause your sentence as they whistle through, all part of the charm of this 101 experience.

Southbound: Oceanside to La Jolla

San Diego’s north county is a mecca for surfing and the California Surf Museum in Oceanside chronicles the lifestyle of surfing’s art, culture, and heritage through rotating displays. Open daily, museum admission is donation based.

Have a mid-morning indulgence at The Pannikin in Encinitas, housed in the historic Encinitas train station built in the 1880s. The station was moved from the downtown tracks to its present location in the 1970s. Coffees, teas, and breakfast treats and lunch are prepared fresh daily.

Enter the Meditation Gardens at the Self Realization Temple and Ashram Center in Encinitas, founded in 1937 by meditation and yoga master, Paramahansa Yogananda. Meandering pathways weave among koi ponds and lush gardens moistened with briny sea air.

The nearby surfing beach, Swami’s, is one of several southern California beaches referenced in the 1963 Beach Boys’ song “Surfin’ USA”. This spot is world-famous for its wintertime big surf.

Okay, now you’re hungry. Watch as waves roll in at Cardiff-by-the-Sea’s “Restaurant Row”. Not every restaurant has a view that rivals that of The Beach House, where a reasonably-priced American bistro and seafood menu comes with coastal breezes right off the beach.