Highway 1 along California’s scenic coastline is great place to spend a free day. But thanks to the growing number of breweries that dot the roadside, your journey might take considerably longer. Head south from San Francisco on the Cabrillo Highway (Highway 1 is known by several names, depending on where you are), and you’ll have at least 10 brewing destinations along the way.

1 First up, Half Moon Bay Brewing (http://hmbbrewingco.com) in Princeton-by-the-Sea, so you can probably guess what kind of views they have. The large restaurant and brewery, which looks more like a beachside cottage, offers indoor and outdoor seating — and even boasts a place to spend the night right next door, the Inn at Mavericks. Brewer James Costa is a Bay Area-brewing veteran, known for his hop-forward beers, though at Half Moon Bay, he makes a wide range, including many in bottles to take home.

2 In nearby El Granada, you’ll find a brand new nanobrewery: Hop Dogma Brewing (http://hopdogma.com). They’ve been relying on word of mouth to spread the news. Two homebrewing friends, Ethan Martini and Dan Littlefield, are making big IPAs, pale ales and other big beers — nine of them, with three more waiting in the wings, including a collaboration with Ale Arsenal, the San Carlos beer bar.

3 Some 25 miles down the road, in Pescadero, you’ll spot Highway 1 Brewing (www.highway1brewing.com) with its world-class views. Husband and wife team Jeff and Melissa Page have created an amazing little oasis with delicious comfort food and an inventive lineup of well-made beers.

4 Make a stop in Boulder Creek for a bite of excellent food and a sip of beer at the Boulder Creek Brewery & Cafe (www.facebook.com/bouldercreekbrewery).

5 In Santa Cruz proper, you’ll find six breweries scattered around this great beach town. Start with Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing (www.scmbrew.com), in the Swift Street Courtyard. This brewery makes only organic beers. There’s a cozy taproom right next door, filled with curiosities and conversation starters, and you can order food from Kelly’s French Bakery, around the corner.

6 Uncommon Brewers (www.uncommonbrewers.com) lives up to its name by brewing and canning some very distinctive beers. Founder Alec Stefansky uses everything from coriander, kaffir lime and lemon grass to bacon, poppy seeds, mushrooms and maple sugar to make his delicious organic beers. The brewery’s not open to the public — but you can find Uncommon beers throughout the Bay Area, including at the West End Tap and Kitchen (http://westendtap.com), which is across the alley from Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing.

7 Check out Santa Cruz Aleworks (www.santacruzaleworks.com) next. This production brewery recently added a delicious deli, which is open to the public daily. Brewer Marc Rosenblum learned his craft in England, and they’ve chosen a great, eclectic list of hot and cold sandwiches along with salads and wraps to pair with their three year-round beers and the rotating seasonal.

8 A few miles into the heart of Santa Cruz is the city’s oldest brewery, Seabright Brewery (www.seabrightbrewery.com), which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Enjoy great pub food and sample some of Jason Chavez’s wonderful beers, which include up to eight seasonal offerings.

9 Soquel — and Discretion Brewing — lies just south of Santa Cruz. One of the newer local brewpubs, they serve snacks and sweet and savory dishes, along with beer made by longtime Bay Area brewer Michael Demers, whose Discretion beers have won award after award in the short time they’ve been open.

10 And finally, Capitola’s Sante Adairius Rustic Ales (http://rusticales.com) are as unusual as their name. Every detail that owners Tim Clifford and Adair Paterno put into their brewery is unique and well thought out, with a lineup that includes amazing sour, wild, barrel-aged and Belgian-influenced beers.

And mark your calendar. Veteran brewer Dan Satterthwaite is set to open New Bohemia Brewing (www.nubobrew.com) on 41st Avenue in Santa Cruz later this year. Most people visit Santa Cruz for the sand, surf and sun, but you could easily spend all of your time enjoying the area’s many wonderful breweries and never worry about overtanning or getting wet — or at least, not in the ocean.

Contact Jay R. Brooks at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com. Read more at blogs.mercurynews.com/eat-drink-play.