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Central California
Central California
Discover the Central Coast
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From the epic grandeur of Big Sur to the Mediterranean-style stretch of Santa Barbara coastline nicknamed “the American Riviera,” this region of picturesque hamlets, jagged sea cliffs, and rolling wine country has long attracted—not surprisingly—writers and artists mesmerized by its dreamlike beauty.
Monterey served as California’s first capital when the state’s first constitution was signed in in the coastal city in 1849.
Take the epic Highway One drive between San Francisco and Los Angeles to discover secret beaches and soaring cliffs along Big Sur, stroll a redwood trail, spy a sea otter at the incomparable Monterey Bay Aquarium, and sip Pinot Noir at sunset in the romantic Santa Ynez Valley.
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Courtesy of Visit California
10 Great Central Coast Restaurants
Sample the incredible bounty of this region—from Santa Barbara all the way to Pacific Grove
Named for the overnight train that served...
The creative force behind some of the state's coolest places to stay shares some Golden State recommendations
People to Know: Kenny Osehan
The creative force behind some of the state's coolest places to stay shares some Golden State recommendations
Although she has opened several uber-hip motels and inns throughout California, Kenny Osehan wouldn’t call herself a hotelier, per se. She’s more...
Courtesy of Visit California
6 Fantastic Outdoor Activities in the Central Coast
Mother Nature is the star of the show along the Central Coast, so make sure to get outside and play
Using an e-bike isn’t cheating—it’s far more...
Courtesy of Ventana Big Sur
5 Great Ways to Experience Highway 1
Discover your favorite way to take in this iconic drive through Big Sur and beyond
Now that repairs are complete, you can once again drive the legendarily scenic Highway 1 through Big Sur. With its redwood forests, towering...
Courtesy of Visit California
The Central Coast's Best Luxury Hotels
Spectacular views and extreme creature comforts play a starring role at these upscale properties
There’s a bit of the Wild West...
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Pull over along California’s classic road trip route for these essential spots
California’s coast-hugging Highway 1 is what dream drives are made of. The iconic roadway—which extends for more than 650 miles from Dana Point...
Doug Steakley/Getty Images
Courtesy of Visit California
Four Hidden Gems on the Central Coast
Make sure your next Golden State road trip includes stops at these destinations
California’s Central Coast offers travelers a truly iconic vision of...
Casa de Fruta Courtesy of Casa De Fruta
Casa de Fruta Orchard Resort
Part fruit stand, part theme park, this Central Coast stop is the perfect place to fill your belly
What started as a humble cherry stand in 1908 is now a massive roadside attraction, welcoming more than 3 million visitors each year. Located 40...
Courtesy of Visit California
Where to Go in Big Sur
Luxury hotels, iconic eateries, and outdoor activities steal the show in this breathtaking region
Ventana is Spanish for “window,” and this...
E+/Getty Images
Cambria
This village near Hearst Castle has its own kind of splendor
Charming Cambria is a village by the sea—not a beach town. Most people know it as the...
California’s Highway One Road Trip
Drive the Coast Highway to Ragged Point to discover artsy towns, unique lodgings, and California’s iconic castle
In a mere 60 miles, this Highway 1 road trip delivers wonderful diversions and...
5 Amazing Things to do in Santa Maria Valley
Head to northern Santa Barbara County to enjoy wine tasting, golf, and that famous barbecue
A perfect stop roughly midway between the Bay Area and Los Angeles, the Santa Maria...
With its nuanced food and wine scene, rich history and mellow vibe, San Luis Obispo (or as locals call it, SLO) is a Central Coast must-see. This college town has ranked in past surveys as one of the happiest cities in America.
Explore Mission Plaza...
Stay at the Ragged Point Inn & Resort were you can see what’s blooming as you stroll through the gardens, or work your way down the short but steep 1.2-mile round-trip Ragged Point Cliffside Trail to reach a secluded black-sand beach.
Courtesy of Alisal Guest Ranch Resort
Santa Maria Barbecue
Head to California’s Central Coast to try this distinctive regional cuisine at its source
The barbecue styles of Kansas City, Memphis, and Texas are well known around the U.S., but California’s Santa Maria Valley claims a...
Zachary Miller/Getty Images
Spotlight: Ventura County
Absorb the relaxed vibe of this classic California destination on the coast
When it comes to places in California that feel like one big outdoor playground, Ventura County, on the south end of the Central Coast, stands out...
San Luis Obispo’s Bubble Gum Alley is filled with more than 1.7 million pieces of bubble gum.
Blaine Harrington III/Getty Images
Spotlight: Santa Barbara
Mediterranean style magic and a perfect ocean breeze
Bougainvillea twining across red-tiled rooftops, birdsong mingling with the ocean breeze, islands and whale spouts on the horizon—...
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See a few amazing wonders of the sea first-hand
California is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. Each year, about 20,000 gray whales make an epic 6,000-mile journey between Alaska and Mexico—and then back again. These...
Michele W/Flickr
Kodiak Greenwood
Spotlight: Big Sur
Art and nature merge on this rugged coast, one of California’s most spectacular settings
Welcome to one of the world’s most unforgettable stretches of coastline. This roughly 90-mile-long stretch of redwood- and fog-trimmed waterfront...
Kodiak Greenwood
Spotlight: Monterey & Carmel
Romance e um mar azul grande
Envolto pelo Pacífico em três lados, a Península de Monterey ao mesmo tempo oferece...
Tai Power Seeff
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Come nose to nose with otters and more
The Monterey Bay Aquarium, an unparalleled facility with soaring, glass-walled...
Apr 20 - Apr 23
April
Get ready for the Central Coast’s ultimate gathering of the culinary world. First launched in 2008, Pebble Beach Food & Wine is one of those...
Gina Sinotte
February
See an all-star lineup of top golfers and A-list celebrities take to the manicured, ocean-hugging greens at the AT&T Pebble Beach National...
Courtesy of Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Castroville produces 95 percent of the nation's artichokes. In 1948, Marilyn Monroe was crowned the town's first "Artichoke Queen."
June
So amazingly popular that it has had to move out of its namesake town 18 mile south to Monterey, the two-day Castroville Artichoke Food...
Laura Flippen
Central Coast Wine Country
Miles of coastline, sunny hills, relaxing wineries
Historic ranchlands, a romantic coast, country roads, stay-a-while towns, and grapes—lots and lots of grapes—make the...
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Follow celebrated routes to iconic vineyards and tucked-away surprises
With more than 4,000 wineries statewide, California lets you sample award-winning wines almost anywhere you go. These classic and up-and-coming wine roads—some too packed with wineries to tackle...
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Kid-friendly fun zones, special kids' menus & amazing wine for the grownups
Sure wine country is romantic, but now it’s a surprisingly great destination for families too, with a growing number of vineyards trading in elegant tasting rooms for kid-friendly fun zones that...
John/Flickr
Linda Tanner/ Flickr
Spotlight: San Luis Obispo County
Central California
The fertile stretch of San Luis Obispo County on the California coast, roughly halfway...
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Farm-fresh produce, culinary adventures
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini UFOs. Artisanal cheeses, golden-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers markets are...
Laura Flippen
San Diego is one of California’s sunniest destinations. This waterfront city is overflowing with exceptional dining and craft beer experiences, outdoor adventures, family fun, and great shopping. Explore diverse neighborhoods like Little Italy, the ...
Famous for grand-dame Victorians, classic cable cars, dynamic diversity, trend-defining, Michelin-starred cuisine, a beautiful waterfront, and a soaring crimson bridge, San Francisco, aka the “City by the Bay”, truly has it all and stands...
Doug Mangum
Spotlight: Channel Islands National Park
Travel by boat or plane to California’s “Galapagos” and one of America’s most remote national parks
Five islands off the Southern California coast comprise one of America’s most undeveloped—and utterly magical—national parks. Visitors can choose...
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Discover the awesome sports scene in the Golden State
With nearly twice as many professional teams as any other state, California is big league all the way. But the state’s sports scene goes far beyond football and baseball, with a diverse line-up of...
Christina Lauren/Flickr
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Beautiful locations, luxurious comforts
Get the starry nights, the campfire stories, the cozy sleeping bag, and all the best parts of camping in some of California’s most beautiful settings—but without the hassle of hauling loads of...
July
Vampires beware: the Gilroy Garlic Festival is one garlic-infused weekend that the creatures of the night may want to avoid....
Bill Strange Photography
Ken Lund/Flickr
Ventura County Wine Trail
Visit vineyards in coastal hills and communities
Sip your way along the Ventura County Wine Trail, where you’ll find nearly 20 wineries and tasting rooms in settings ranging from urban...
Courtesy of Visit Oxnard
Oxnard
Discover this hidden gem tucked between L.A. and Santa Barbara
Oxnard is where strawberries meet the sea. In this city, some 60 miles northwest of LAX,...
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Big-city-worthy events liven the sleepy Central Coast
Bookended by the big cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Central Coast may be known for its mellow pace, but the closeness of those major gateways bring big names to relatively small...
Courtesy of Monterey Jazz Festival
Kodiak Greenwood
Spotlight: Hearst Castle
Once the home of William Randolph Hearst, this stunning hilltop estate along the Central Coast is a marvel of opulence and engineering
Mansions are a dime a dozen in California, with movie stars and tech power brokers building palaces and adding wings, pools, and yoga pavilions...
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Check these amazing experiences off your bucket list
Kiss a beluga, see cool movie props, and learn about Walt’s secret hideaway on exclusive and behind-the-scenes tours at California’s theme parks and attractions. Here’s a roundup of worth-the-...
Michael Saechang/Flickr
Erik Pawassar
Spotlight: Pinnacles National Park
Hike up, down, over, and inside cliffs, caves, and crags at California’s newest national park
Hikers, rock climbers, and cave explorers find their happy place in the playground of burnished gold boulders and spires at the heart of...
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Old-fashioned fun in the Golden State
Historic oceanfront playgrounds, classic city-park charmers, boisterous adventures—smaller theme parks and attractions offer an array of ways to play. These smaller parks offer old-...
Tai Power Seeff
Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing
Solvang
A Danish stronghold makes a charming outpost surrounded by ranchlands and vineyards
Imagine a village where fresh-cut flowers and warm-from-the-oven pastries scent the air. Add gingerbread architecture, twirling windmills,...
Tai Power Seeff
Central Coast Missions
Visit some of California’s most beautiful missions to discover the state’s Spanish roots
Strung like Spanish pearls along an 824-mile trail from San Diego to Sonoma, California’s 21 historic missions offer a wealth of treasures, from...
Santa Barbara ranks in the nation’s top 20 counties for bicycle commuters, with nearly 5,000 residents commuting to work by bicycle.
California
A crimson bridge, cable cars, a sparkling bay, and streets lined with elegant Victorian homes—San Francisco is undeniably one of the world’s great cities. Located along...
California
California’s northeast corner is an outdoor-lover’s paradise, with safe-to-explore volcanoes, hushed forests, and trout-filled rivers. This is the place for blue-ribbon...
