Why? It is spectacular, what I call "majestic". It's so impressive when you see the Pacific come crashing into the huge cliffs or on to the beaches. It's what Mother Nature is all about. For our honeymoon, my husband and I drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles along California Highway 1, which hugs the west coast much of the way. Actually, I was lucky as my husband did all the driving so I could just sit back and soak up the views.

The best thing: The scenery and openness of that coastal route. I also like the contrasts of the trip as a whole. It starts out with so much natural beauty and then goes on to take in the increasingly bizarre, like newspaper baron Randolph Hearst's ostentatious castle at San Simeon. It finally ends up in Los Angeles with Universal Studios and Disneyland. In other words, you're all over the board! But at least Disneyland is the original Disney theme park and what we from the States grew up with - so it has a special sweetness to the place.

My ideal day: It would be covering the stretch of journey that takes in Big Sur, Monterrey and Carmel, which is where Clint Eastwood was once mayor. Carmel is terribly peaceful and unspoiled. The food and local people are just terrific. And, of course, being California it means the weather is delightful as well.

My advice: I don't think people give the west coast credit for its magnificent sea food, but if you go, do try it. Also, along the way there are charming bed and breakfast houses you can stay in and the people who run them give you tips about where to go and what to see. Do your research to find the right places to stay - you can do it all on the internet now.

Getting there: United Airlines (0845 8444777) flies from London to San Francisco or Los Angeles from £424 return.