Page 53 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to California

The Los Padres National Forest stretches
across the scenic Coast and Transverse
ranges, and offers a wealth of opportuni-
ties for fishing, hiking, camping and
bicycling. Kayak among tide pools and kelp
forests where sea otters live in Morro Bay,
or just amble along miles of scenic
beaches, stop when you want to, and dig
your toes in the sand.
Heritage & Culture
Many place names on the Central Coast
remain from Native American tribes, as
well as from Spanish and Mexican settlers.
The California missions and other well-
preserved buildings still exist from before
1850, when California became a state. The
Central Coast’s inland region has a wealth
of land for agriculture—from the salad
bowl to wine to olives—but farmers here
are just as comfortable taking a quick trip
to the wide, sandy beaches during breaks
from the harvest.
DRIVE TOUR
Get more than a glimpse of the
Central Coast by driving south of
Big Sur on HIGHWAY 1 past the
small beach towns of
CAMBRIA, MORRO BAY and
PISMO BEACH. Be sure to stop
regularly to sample local
delicacies, whether caught from
oceanside piers or made by
hand in beach-town bakeries.
The highway cuts inland for a
short jog after San Luis Obispo,
but pops back to the beach
before approaching the Santa
Ynez Mountains and posh
SANTA BARBARA.
Family Fun
The Central Coast is a wonderland for fami-
lies, with historic sites, accessible beaches
and outdoor space, and water activities. See
underwater without diving at the Monterey
Bay Aquarium, or be a kid again at the Santa
Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Inland, get a look at
California’s pre-statehood past and follow
the California Missions Trail along Highway
101—always a good lesson for grade-
schoolers and adults alike. South through Big
Sur, the variety of hiking paths can lead you
to a pink-sand beach or a seaside waterfall.
View underwater life on a semi-
submersible tour in Morro Bay. Discover
how the ocean has shaped the history of the
Central Coast at the Santa Barbara Maritime
Museum. Go camping in the Channel
Islands or Los Padres National Forest. Even
picking your own berries at a local farm is
far more fun when you can smell the ocean
air and not hear the sounds of traffic.
2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 51