Page 123 - 2014 Travel Guide to California

the San Andreas Fault. Both regions are
havens for hikers, bikers, climbers,
campers and birdwatchers.
Wine lovers won’t have much chance
to miss Napa and Sonoma, with a wealth
of quality vineyards in this region. From
Carmel Valley to the Monterey River
Road, there are more than enough award-
winning wines to go around.
With such rich and varied geography,
it’s a blessing that the wonders of Mon-
terey Bay and Big Sur are laid wide open
for residents and visitors to appreciate
them. Whether your preference is a
charming urban escape, camping under
the stars, fresh regional cuisine, world-
famous wines, getting active outdoors or
a leisurely beachcombing stroll—all can
be found here, and nobody’s rushing you.
City & Town
Downtown Santa Cruz is between the
city’s vibrant beach attractions and the
mountains, where redwood groves
embrace the University of California at
Santa Cruz. Monterey’s Fisherman’s
Wharf is just steps from the city’s historic
buildings that date from the 18th and 19th
centuries—before California was part of
the United States. Made famous by John
Steinbeck’s eponymous novel, Cannery
Row has morphed from a fishing center
to a bustling street with shops and ocean-
view restaurants. Steinbeck’s hometown,
Salinas, is a working-class agricultural
city, known as the “Salad Bowl of the
World.” Carmel, a hedonist retreat born as
an artist village, is home to stylish shops,
exquisite dining and top-notch art.
»
MUST
SEE,
DO
» Historic Fun Ride two National Historic
Landmarks, the Giant Dipper and the Looff
Carousel, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
› beachboardwalk.com
» California Condors Get a close-up view of
soaring California condors from the High Peaks
trail of Pinnacles National Park.
› nps.gov/pinn
» Monterey’s Historic District Find Old
Monterey’s adobes and gardens from the Spanish
and Mexican eras, scattered between Fisherman’s
Wharf and modern buildings.
› seemonterey.com/monterey-adobes_list
» Dead Central Get a colorful look at exhibits
from the Grateful Dead Archive, on display at the
University of California Santa Cruz McHenry Library.
› library.ucsc.edu/grateful-dead-archive/about
» Wild Coast Cruise Highway 1 along the majestic
Big Sur coast, where the sky touches the sea.
› bigsurcalifornia.org
INSIDER’S
»
TIP
FISHING from the historic Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, above;
seascape along Highway 1, opposite.
The best views of some
spectacular surf moves are from
the cliffs overlooking Steamer
Lane, near THE SANTA CRUZ
SURFING MUSEUM. Grab a spot
by the railing and watch top-
notch surfers get some sweet
rides, and then head on in to the
museum to see the best in Santa
Cruz surfing history.
santacruzsurfingmuseum.org
2014 T R AV E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 121