Page 101 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

plenty of treats for visitors to enjoy.
Whether your preference is digging for
clams, surfing the perfect wave, strolling
Mediterranean-style village streets, sam-
pling fresh regional cuisine and
world-famous wines, or lazing on the
beach and watching the changing tide, it’s
all right here on the Central Coast—and
there’s enough for everyone.
City & Town
South of Big Sur, the coastline is dotted
with a necklace of small beach towns.
Cambria’s galleries and antique shops
perch on pine-forested hills above the
ocean. Laid-back Cayucos is an old-school
beach retreat with a surf break and fishing
pier near the main drag. Morro Bay’s land-
mark, an ancient volcanic peak emerging
from the ocean floor, stands at the
entrance to a beautiful estuary.
Tucked between the ocean and the Santa
Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is often
called the “American Riviera” because of its
Mediterranean climate and red-roofed
buildings. Head inland to artist enclave Ojai
to unwind and take in the “pink moment”
sunsets—the color of cotton candy.
MORRO ROCK at Morro
Bay, left; Vina Robles
Vineyards & Winery,
bottom; Butterfly Beach at
sunset in Santa Barbara,
opposite.
SPECIAL
»
EVENTS 2017
WINTER WINE CLASSIC Jan. 21, Santa Barbara californiawinefestival.com
SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Feb. 1-11, Santa Barbara sbiff.org
SAN LUIS OBISPO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL March 14-19, San Luis Obispo slofilmfest.org
TASTE OF SOLVANG March 15-20, Solvang solvangusa.com
PASO ROBLES WINE FESTIVAL May 18-21, Paso Robles pasowine.com/events/winefestival.php
CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL May 20-21, Oxnard strawberry-fest.org
I MADONNARI May 27-29, Santa Barbara imadonnarifestival.com
LOS OLIVOS JAZZ & OLIVE FESTIVAL June 3, Los Olivos jazzandolivefestival.org
SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION June 23-25, Santa Barbara solsticeparade.com
SAN BENITO COUNTY SADDLE HORSE SHOW & RODEO June 23-25, Hollister
sanbenitocountyrodeo.com
GOLETA LEMON FESTIVAL Sept. 16-17, Goleta lemonfestival.com
EPICURE.SB Oct. 1-31, Santa Barbara santabarbaraca.com
»
MUST
SEE,
DO
» Spanish History Get a glimpse into Santa
Barbara’s origins with a visit to Mission Santa
Barbara, known as “Queen of the Missions.”
› santabarbaramission.org
» Paso Robles Vineyards The fastest
growing wine region in California isn’t Napa or
Sonoma. Paso Robles recently added 11 sub-AVAs
(American Viticultural Areas) to distinguish the
differences in terroir in its entire growing region.
› pasowine.com
» Pink Moment Look to the east for the setting
sun’s reflection on the bluffs of the Topatopa
Mountains in Ojai for a brilliant pink sunset.
› ojaicity.org
» Nitt Witt Ridge Offering a fun contrast to
the immaculately curated mansion of Hearst
Castle, Cambria’s Nitt Witt Ridge is a castle-like
creation of driftwood, abalone shells and a variety
of funky treasures.
› visitcambriaca.com
» Volcanic Sister Walk out to the base of
Morro Rock, one of a series of volcanic plugs
known as the Nine Sisters of San Luis Obispo
County, in Morro Bay.
› morrobay.org
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 99