Motorcycle Tour: Pacific Coast

Seattle stretches between the waters of Puget Sound and the shores of Lake Washington, framed by the snow-capped summit of Mount Rainier and the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. The heart of the Pacific Northwest and home to an unmistakable urban culture, it is a city that weaves together untamed nature, technological innovation and a creative soul built on music, coffee and markets. A visit often begins at the famous Pike Place Market, one of the oldest public markets in the United States, where fishmongers toss salmon across the stalls and where, in a discreet corner, the very first Starbucks coffeehouse was born. From here the eye travels to the Elliott Bay waterfront, alive with ferries, seafood restaurants and the great Seattle Great Wheel. Nearby rises the Space Needle, the futuristic tower built for the 1962 World's Fair, whose observation deck embraces the entire city; at its feet lies the Seattle Center, with the colourful Museum of Pop Culture designed by Frank Gehry and the Chihuly Garden and Glass, devoted to blown-glass sculptures. The neighbourhoods reveal different faces: Pioneer Square, with its red-brick Victorian buildings and art galleries; lively Capitol Hill, realm of nightlife and the independent scene; and the Chinatown-International District, home to the city's Asian communities. Culture lovers should not miss the Seattle Art Museum, while those seeking views can climb to Kerry Park, a prime spot to photograph the skyline with Rainier in the background. All around, nature is never far away: ferry trips to the Sound's islands, hikes in Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park, and tastings in the wineries of Woodinville Wine Country. A city of gentle rain and ever-changing skies, Seattle reveals itself on foot, coffee in hand, surprising visitors with its balance between metropolis and wilderness.

Ocean Shores stretches across a sandy peninsula along the Pacific coast of Washington State, a popular seaside resort surrounded by dunes and canals. The broad drive-on beaches, ideal for kite-flying and clam-digging, alternate with inland lakes and wildlife-rich nature reserves. The relaxed atmosphere draws families and lovers of the open sea. Ocean Shores is the ideal destination for those seeking windy beaches, coastal nature and tranquillity on the Pacific Northwest.

Newport is a lively seaside town on the central Oregon coast, where the Pacific Ocean meets rugged cliffs and windswept beaches. Its picturesque bayfront, alive with fishing boats, sea lions and seafood restaurants, is its beating heart. The town is home to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, among the most renowned in the country, and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, set within a natural reserve rich in seabirds and tide pools. Between seafood tastings, walks on the sand and gray-whale sightings offshore, Newport offers the genuine, wild atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest coast.

Crescent City faces the ocean in the far north of California, the last town before the Oregon border. It is the gateway to the Redwood National and State Parks, where the world's tallest sequoias rise among mists and ferns. The fishing harbour, the historic Battery Point lighthouse and the wave-beaten beaches make up a rugged, wild landscape. Crescent City is the ideal destination for those seeking monumental forests, Pacific coast and the primordial nature of northern California.

Fort Bragg faces the ocean along the rugged Mendocino Coast in northern California. The town is famous for Glass Beach, where decades of waves have polished glass fragments into colourful pebbles, and for the historic Skunk Train railway that winds through redwood forests. The Noyo fishing harbour, wind-beaten cliffs and coastal trails complete a wild and striking landscape.

Wrapped in the fog that drifts in from the bay and draped over steep hills facing the Pacific, San Francisco is one of America's most beloved cities, refined, rebellious and deeply cosmopolitan. Its symbol is the Golden Gate Bridge, the unmistakable red span reaching out towards the ocean, revealed and hidden by the morning mists. To walk the city is to be surprised by its rolling streets, still climbed today by the famous cable cars that scale the heights of Nob Hill and Russian Hill, offering sudden glimpses of the water. Along the Fisherman's Wharf waterfront the sea lions of Pier 39 bark and the air smells of sourdough bread and fresh crab, while offshore stands the island of Alcatraz, with its historic penitentiary reachable by boat. The charm of San Francisco lives in its neighbourhoods: the Victorian Painted Ladies around Alamo Square, the Chinese energy of Chinatown, the oldest and liveliest in America, the rainbow, activist streets of the Castro, and the bohemian ferment of Haight-Ashbury, cradle of hippie culture. At the city's core, Union Square buzzes with shopping and theatres, while the Civic Center and museums such as SFMOMA and the de Young reveal its cultured soul. Green spaces abound: the vast Golden Gate Park holds Japanese gardens, conservatories and trails down to the ocean. The dining scene is among the most innovative in the country, from fusion cuisine to the wines of the nearby Napa and Sonoma Valley and organic markets. From San Francisco it is easy to set out for California's national parks, the redwoods of Muir Woods and the Big Sur coast. Free, creative and swept by the ocean wind, San Francisco wins over anyone willing to be led by its hills and its suspended light.

There are several beautiful seaside locations along the way, such as Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and Capitola Beach. Monterey stretches along its namesake bay on California's central coast, where the nature of the Pacific puts on a show. Its celebrated Monterey Bay Aquarium, overlooking the old canning district of Cannery Row immortalised by John Steinbeck, ranks among the finest in the world. From here begins the scenic 17-Mile Drive, winding past wind-sculpted cypresses, cliffs and coastal mansions to Pebble Beach. Nearby, Carmel-by-the-Sea charms with its art galleries and white beaches, while the bay rewards visitors with sightings of whales, otters and sea lions. Between seafood cuisine and inland vineyards, Monterey is an invitation to experience the most authentic and wild side of California.

you set out to travel one of the best stretches of the exciting Pacific Highway 1, carved into the rock above the stormy ocean in 1937 and now one of the most beautiful scenic byways in the United States. You pass through the Big Sur area, with unmissable stops at the Bixby Bridge and Mc Way Falls. You then reach Morro Bay with the famous Morro Rock in the middle of its inlet, until you descend and reach Pismo Beach. Miles of golden sand and waves made for surfing define Pismo Beach, a lively seaside resort set along California's central coast. Famous for generations for its carefree summer atmosphere, the town centres on the historic pier reaching out over the ocean, a gathering point for anglers and sunset lovers. The broad sandy expanses are perfect for long walks, while the nearby Oceano Dunes invite off-road trails and outdoor adventures. Between November and February, groves of eucalyptus host thousands of monarch butterflies that overwinter here, creating a remarkable natural spectacle. Between a feast of fried clams, a visit to the wineries of nearby Edna Valley and a sunny day on the shore, Pismo Beach embodies the authentic, sun-drenched spirit of coastal California.

Along the Pacific coast, one encounters several iconic locations: beautiful Santa Barbara with its colonial remains and fashionable life; luxurious Montecito, home to many international jet set stars; Ventura, where one can stop to visit the beautiful old town and stroll along the pier that stretches out over the ocean; Malibu, long famous for its long sandy beaches, waves perfect for surfing, luxurious hillside villas, and wellness culture. Los Angeles, home to Hollywood, Disneyland, and Universal Studios, is the epitome of carefree living for visitors: year-round sunshine, palm trees swaying in the wind, movie stars with luxurious residences in the hills of Beverly Hills, stunning museums, avant-garde architecture, and surf beaches.