Page 136 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

HIKING BIG SUR, right; the Lone Cypress seen
from 17-Mile Drive in Monterey, below.
DRIVE
»
TOUR
Heritage & Culture
The inland region is dominated by agri-
culture—from the Salinas salad bowl to
Carmel Valley wines—while the coast is
home to fishermen, artists, surfers and a
booming tourism industry. Don’t think
the model of the easy-going Californian
only exists on Orange County beaches.
Whether it’s a chef from Carmel, an artist
from Santa Cruz or a farmer from
Soledad—all take time to enjoy Monterey
Bay and Big Sur.
Trace a beautiful path along the
California coast by starting on
HIGHWAY 1 and drive south, from
Santa Cruz through the
MONTEREY PENINSULA. Once you
pass CARMEL, you enter the 90-mile
stretch of California coastline
between Carmel and SAN SIMEON
called BIG SUR, shoehorned
between the ocean and the Santa
Lucia Mountains. The road twists
and turns along the wild coast, so
take your time and be sure to stop
and enjoy the view along the way.
Family Fun
No matter your age, you can’t go wrong at
the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, with rides
and entertainment for everyone. The Mon-
terey Peninsula is a wonderland for
families, with historic sites, accessible
beaches, Dennis the Menace Park, the Mon-
terey Bay Aquarium and a wealth of outdoor
activities. South through Big Sur, camping
options abound along the wild coast, and
the variety of hiking paths can lead you to a
pink-sand beach or a seaside waterfall.
Inland, get a look at California’s pre-state-
hood past and follow the California
Missions Trail along Highway 101.
134 2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
KERRICK JAMES/SEEMONTEREY.COM; JORG HACKEMANN/SHUTTERSTOCK. OPPOSITE: RICK K. WONG/FLICKR/CREATIVE COMMONS; BILL STRANGE/GILROY WELCOME CENTER