Driving Highway 1: Van life from Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara

Описание: Ep. 410 - Our van life journey continues down California’s Central Coast, following the shoreline from Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara — and what unfolds is one of those days that reminds us why we chose this lifestyle in the first place. We started out with no real plan — just a full tank and a curiosity for what we’d find!

📍 THINGS TO DO (Featured in this episode)
Dinosaur Caves Park (Pismo Beach): In 1906, a developer built a small amusement area here featuring large concrete dinosaur sculptures positioned along the bluff near sea caves carved into the sandstone. Visitors paid admission to walk through the grounds and view the whimsical prehistoric figures overlooking the Pacific. Although the attraction eventually closed and the sculptures were removed, the nickname “Dinosaur Caves” stuck. Today it is a beautiful oceanside area with views of dramatic cliffs, rock formations, and wildlife.
Pismo Beach Pier: Stretching out over the Pacific Ocean in the heart of Pismo Beach, the pier is one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks. Originally built in the early 1900s and rebuilt several times due to storm damage, the pier today offers wide walking paths, sweeping coastal views, and a front-row seat to local surf culture.
Pismo State Beach Butterfly Grove: One of California’s most well-known overwintering sites for western monarch butterflies. Each year, from late October through February, thousands of monarchs cluster together in the eucalyptus trees to conserve warmth during their migration.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden: Showcases the diverse beauty of California’s native plants across a peaceful 78-acre landscape tucked into the foothills above the city. Focused on conservation, education, and the preservation of native species, the garden offers a tranquil space to experience the rich botanical heritage of California in a thoughtfully curated natural setting. We love that we can visit places like this, essentially for free, with the American Horticultural Society’s reciprocal program. Our annual membership, less than $70 a year, gives us free access to hundreds of gardens around the country!
Leadbetter Beach: We finished the evening scoring free parking and the perfect spot to make dinner with a beach and sunset view!

Driving Highway 1: Van life from Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara
FILM DATE: October 16, 2025

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👉 ABOUT US: We're Steve and Audra, a van life couple from South Florida who share a passion for cheap travel, nature, wildlife, DIY projects, and adventure! After about 2.5 years, we finished converting our 2019 Ford Transit high roof cargo van into a tiny home on wheels. We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. We invite you to follow along on our journey! If you have any questions, we’re happy to answer! Comment below or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram and we’ll respond as soon as possible. And please don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!

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MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS:
Boing 2 by magnuswaker -- https://freesound.org/s/540790/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Wooshs 01.wav by toyoto -- https://freesound.org/s/93757/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Light wooshes by florianreichelt -- https://freesound.org/s/447806/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Bike, Bell Ding, Single, 01-01.wav by InspectorJ -- https://freesound.org/s/484344/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Camera Shutter by ThompsonMan -- https://freesound.org/s/166500/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Camera Shutter by ThompsonMan -- https://freesound.org/s/166500/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Tabletop clock ticking, speed ramp down (followup) by ycbcr -- https://freesound.org/s/556991/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

seagulls and sea.wav by malg0isx -- https://freesound.org/s/559868/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0

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