Hugging the coastline between Carmel and Pacific Grove, this curving highway teeters above cinematic peaks of the area’s windswept cliffs. Beat the traffic jams by switching four wheels for two with an e-bike rental from Mad Dogs & Englishmen (a sidecar for your pup is optional, but very much encouraged). Start your ride early to catch the atmospheric morning sea fog roll back from the coastline, make like local legend Ansel Adams and snap the lone 250-year-old cypress bravely growing from a granite cliff halfway round and watch out for wayward golf balls flying overhead – the peninsula’s renowned Pebble Beach in on your way. Once you’ve had your fill of wave-watching on this jaw-dropping road, venture further afield to explore 30km of cycle paths, some of which take you through Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

Move over Napa and Sonoma: our new viticulture obsessions are the elegant chardonnays and pinot noirs coming out of this breezy coastal region. Mountain air, ocean winds and sandy, loamy soils are putting this landscape top of the pile for a fresh wave of cool-loving grapes and even cooler bins. Stretching from the Santa Lucia Mountains down to Monterey’s edges, the seaside terroir adds a touch of minerality to whites and a sweet cherry touch to reds. Make a day of it by heading inland to explore the tasting rooms of chocolate-box Carmel Valley Village. Our favourite is the family-run Boekenoogen Wines.