The West Coast version of the King's Highway, El Camino Real is an historic road that connected a series of Spanish missions hundreds of years ago. It starts in San Francisco, follows the coast down through Los Angeles and San Diego, then runs into Mexico, terminating in Mexico City. Much of El Camino Real is still in use today. US 101 between Los Angeles and Ventura runs on sections of it, and it can be exited from Interstate 5 on numerous points. Some sections have been renamed, but if you're driving up or down the west coast, and you see a bell hanging from a curved pole on the side of the road, you're most likely travelling on El Camino.

Most communities tend to have trendy stores on El Camino.