The only thing more iconic than California’s Highway 1 is driving it in a hot car born to hug its curves. The stars! The ocean! The bridges! The world’s tallest trees! After a year of lockdown, this classic coastal joyride is the covid-safe getaway we need. Except make it ’21, with a zero-emissions sports car tailor-made to do every mile justice—and no harm. Toyota’s 2021 hydrogen-powered Mirai is the ticket; the luxury vehicles of yesteryear would be intrigued.
To guide our trip, we turned to award-winning director and producer, Greg Yaitanes. If anyone knows that 400-mile stretch from star-studded Malibu to the techy Bay Area, it’s him. “Ideally, I’d spend several days enjoying this trip,” he says, “pulling over any time the view, landscape or light is especially beautiful. I take a lot of photos.” So grab your good camera and vamos! Adventure awaits.
The Rig
The Mirai literally turns air into electricity as you drive. Air from the grille meets hydrogen from the fuel tank in the fuel cell, where a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen makes electricity. Enough to get up to 402 miles* without a refill, something you can do in around five minutes.** Goodbye, plugs.
The Route
The trip’s broken up into three main legs, each with its own distinct feel. We’re starting in Malibu, where style and eco-consciousness are cannon. You’ll fit right in with your 20-inch wheels, enormous touch screen, and personalized ambient lighting. Feeling cheeky? Crank up the 14 JBL speakers (JBL® is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Inc.) to turn some heads, then watch them drool as they realize the only thing coming out of your exhaust is water.
Malibu
STAY: The Surfrider Hotel is a light, bright refurbished motel right across from the Malibu Pier, a renown surf destination. Relax in the evening on the guests-only rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the ocean.
EAT: Broad Street Oyster Co serves overstuffed lobster rolls, scrumptious fish and chips, and, of course, killer oysters.
Lily's Malibu in Point Dume makes the best, biggest breakfast burritos on Earth. Get extra green sauce for later—chances are you won’t be able to eat it all in one take.
DO: Solstice Canyon superblooms in the spring, sprouting camera-ready yellow flowers everywhere. Just be sure to check with the National Park Service for any trail closures ahead of time. A lowkey sunset walk on the beach in Point Dume is always magical year-round.
PRO TIP: “A cooler is always in the back seat keeping my favorite green tea and Fair Trade chocolate bars cold all day long,” Yaitanes says. A reliable, well-designed backpack is there, too, filled with an insulated flask, lip balm, hand sanitizer, lens wipes, and oil-free sunscreen for spur-of-the-moment hikes. “I also keep a multi-tool pocket knife around—the corkscrew being the feature that comes in the most handy at a picnic—and a quality flashlight is also a must-have.”
DRIVE #1: You’ve got sixty miles of smooth sailing on wide, oceanside roads and a bit of multi-lane highway from Malibu to the Santa Barbara area. Kick the Mirai into eco mode and cruise.
Montecito & Santa Barbara
Combining lush mountains and stunning stretches of coastline with a tranquil vibe, this area just south of Santa Barbara proper is a favorite getaway for stars and travelers alike.
STAY: San Ysidro Ranch. For a century, Hollywood heavy hitters have favored the cottages on these 500 historic acres nestled in the mountains overlooking the sea. Silver screen stars married here. Presidents honeymooned here. Now it’s your turn to have some fun, kid.
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DO: Visit Lotusland, a botanical garden that Polish opera singer and socialite, Madame Gonna Walska, spent 43 years creating. Then pack a picnic and head to the beautiful One Thousand Steps Beach for a breathtaking sunset. (Don’t worry, there are really only 150 steps.)
DRIVE #2: Once you leave Santa Barbara, switch to sport mode and keep both hands on the steering wheel. Windy, cliffy, and remote, this 200-mile stretch through Morro Bay and on to Big Sur is a scenic delight and a car wonk’s dream. The Mirai’s low stance and punchy rear-wheel drive will make the twisty turns exciting, while its color heads-up display will let you watch your speed and directions without taking your eyes off the road. This is key, because you do not want to miss your chance to see zebras while you cruise by unique castle grounds in San Simeon. Zebras! On the side of the road!
Morro Bay
The halfway point between LA and San Francisco, Morro Bay is a chill seaside hangout featuring a giant, 576-foot tall volcanic rock that sits at the mouth of the harbor.
EAT: Taco Temple is peak Mexi-Cali fusion, with huge portions and super fresh seafood. Order fish tacos FTW.
DO: Hike the Bluff Trail in Montaña de Oro State Park, an easy, 4.1-mile loop with gorgeous wildflowers, endless views, and excellent birdwatching.
Big Sur
The stunning scenery along this stretch of road is the stuff of legend. Switch your satellite radio to classical to evoke the Big Sur Marathon piano player, who sits atop Bixby Bridge to cheer runners at mile 13 as they race along Highway 1 to Carmel. [Note: Heavy rains washed out a 150-foot section of the 1 just south of Big Sur. It's expected to reopen early this summer so should you go before then, just hop onto the 101 for a quick detour.]
STAY: The 100-year old Post Ranch Inn is a secluded 41-room hotel and spa overlooking the coast that hosts guided hikes and boasts incredible stargazing, thanks to its remote location far from city lights. Yaitanes recommends downloading a stargazing app pre-trip to aid your planet and constellation search here.
EAT: Iconic cookie and coffee stop Big Sur Bakery will stuff you full of savory and sugary goodness. Fuel up with a croissant in any flavor; you can’t go wrong.
VISIT: The Henry Miller Library is a small, wooden building nestled among 200-foot redwoods, right along Highway 1. Conceived as a gallery, performance, and workshop space, the library grounds are the perfect place to do nothing. In fact, that’s the tagline: Where Nothing Happens. Your passengers will never appreciate that panoramic moonroof as much as they will here.
DO: A hike to Soberanes Point in Garrapata State Park will let you test your smart phone’s HD slo-mo on some epic crashing waves. “The camera is so good now I don’t bring a dedicated camera,” Yaitanes says. “And my tablet is always nearby for photo editing.”
DRIVE #3: The final stretch features 150 miles of remote coast, some sinuous bits, some cruisey. Click on to ‘normal’ mode and relish the ride.
San Francisco
Winding streets, endless hills, crowds, and trolley cars. This city is alive and parking can be tough. But your Mirai has Intelligent Parking Assist*** and a Bird’s-Eye-View Camera with Perimeter Scan**** to help you nab that tight spot on a 20% grade like a champ.
STAY: The San Francisco Four Seasons—reopening in May—is steps to WIRED Brand Lab’s favorite museum, SFMOMA, an internationally-recognized collection of modern and contemporary art.
EAT: You can nosh on bivalves and sip wine a shell’s throw from where they were made at Tomales Bay. Or head to the Ferry Building at dusk to watch the the Bay Bridge Lights turn on, a 1.8-mile, 500-foot tall light sculpture that covers the western span in a magical glow. While you’re there, be sure to stop by Boulettes Larder to restock your cooler—or come back in the daytime to enjoy a fantastic breakfast or lunch overlooking the Bay. Be sure to get at least one dish of handmade pasta at Cotogna.
DO: No trip to San Francisco is complete without a drive down Lombard Street. The “crookedest street in the world” features eight switchbacks on a 27 percent grade down a single city block. The design is no fluke: It was built in the ‘20s to keep drivers from going too fast. Cameras out.
San Francisco Bay Area Day Trips
The Bay Area is famous for its diverse landscape, with mountains, ocean, vineyards, and rivers all close together. A scenic jaunt over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco will take you to incredible spots sure to satisfy your appetite for adventure—and wine.
PRO TIP: The topographical variety creates microclimates, which means you’ll never know how cold or hot it’ll be 20 miles from where you are. Translation: Bring layers. Lots of layers. “One of my favorite things about roads trips and traveling in my own car is that I can bring as much as I can fit into the trunk and backseat,” Yaitanes says. “The weather in California can easily change by 30 degrees in a single day and having shorts, t-shirts, jeans, a sweater, beanie and my leather jacket all an arm’s reach away is really nice.”
SURF: After following the twists and turns of Highway 1 up through Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais State Park, you’ll descend from the fog into world class surfing in Bolinas or Stinson Beach. Continue north on the 1 for oysters in Inverness before heading back to your hotel to rest up for another excursion.
DRINK: No trip to the Bay Area is complete without wine tasting. Head over the bridge to explore vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Counties—there are more than 800 to choose from. While in Napa, make sure to stop for an outdoor lunch in picturesque downtown Healdsburg.
Bon voyage!
This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Toyota Mirai.
*402 miles range only on XLE trim. 402 EPA-estimated total range rating for 2021 Mirai XLE vs. 2020 and 2021 competitors. Based on manufacturers' data as of 10/28/2020. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle’s condition and how/where you drive. See here.
**Fueling time varies with hydrogen fueling pressure and ambient temperature. Customers who lease a 2021 Mirai will receive complimentary fuel for three years or $15,000, whichever comes first. Customers who purchase or finance a 2021 Mirai through June 30, 2021 receive an additional three years to use the $15,000 of fuel. Complimentary fuel term begins as of card activation or 90 days after Mirai lease or purchase commencement date, whichever is earlier. Fuel card is nontransferable. The Mirai is a hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicle that must be fueled at hydrogen stations conforming to the latest Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) hydrogen fueling interface protocol standards or laws that may supersede such SAE standards. See here for current hydrogen fueling station locations.
*** The Intelligent Parking Assist system requires driver brake control. Always look around outside the vehicle and use mirrors to confirm clearance. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details.
**** The Intelligent Parking Assist system requires driver brake control. Always look around outside the vehicle and use mirrors to confirm clearance. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details.