Page 50 - 2024/2025 Travel Guide to CALIFORNIA
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  CENTRAL COAST
Endless, uncrowded beaches
TOP CITIES
Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Gilroy, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Cambria, Ventura, Lompoc, Solvang, Buellton, Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Simi Valley
INTERNATIONAL GATEWAYS
San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 62 miles (100 km) from Santa Cruz; 101 miles (163 km) from Monterey; Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 98 miles (158 km) from Santa Barbara; 192 miles (309 km) from San Luis Obispo
BY JILL K. ROBINSON
South of the San Francisco Bay Area, the coastal region from Santa Cruz through San Luis Obispo has views that rival the rest of the state. Within earshot of the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, this is where many Californians vacation, so it’s the ideal place to slow down and adopt an appreciation of the great outdoors and a laid-back lifestyle.
The three largest population centers of the Central Coast are Santa Cruz, the Monterey Peninsula and Santa Barbara. In historic Monterey, small-town Pacific Grove and fashionable artist retreat Carmel-by-the-Sea, there are beautiful beaches, performing and fine arts venues, outdoor pursuits, stylish shops, epicurean delights and an inland region known for wine and agriculture. Much of the same can be said of funky Santa Cruz, but away from the redwoods, the university town resembles a beachside play- ground, with its historic boardwalk and many surf spots. Santa Barbara lures travelers with its white Spanish-style buildings, red- tiled roofs, vast beaches, plenty of fine arts venues, bright boutiques, outdoor adventures, culinary tastes and an inland region (the Santa Ynez Valley, featured in the movie Sideways) known for wine and Santa Maria-style barbecue.
Even though the Central Coast region’s main highlight is indeed its coast, the varied geography and moderate climate ensure that
TOURISM WEBSITES
santacruz.org carmelcalifornia.com slocal.com
travelpaso.com visitoxnard.com venturacountycoast.com highway1roadtrip.com solvangusa.com discoverbuellton.com santamariavalley.com experiencepismobeach.com explorelompoc.com
POPULATION
2,242,000
CENTRAL COAST
seemonterey.com pacificgrove.org visitgilroy.com santabarbaraca.com morrobay.org visitventuraca.com visitsimivalley.com
48 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
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