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Kayak among tide pools and kelp forests where sea otters live in Morro Bay, or just amble along miles of scenic beaches and dig your toes in the sand. Heritage & Culture MORRO BAY Rock State Historic Landmark was formed 23 million years ago from the plug of a long-extinct volcano, above. The Miracle Miles for Kids run/walk, pictured here, occurs annually and benefits children and young people in need. The 10th anniversary event is scheduled for April 27. Nine Sisters, a chain of volcanic peaks. Take advantage of some sweet surf spots and catch the perfect wave. Head out from Santa Barbara on a whalewatching tour to see some of the largest mammals in the Pacific Ocean. On the Carrizo Plain, considered the largest single native grassland in the state, it's possible to see surface fractures of the San Andreas Fault. The Los Padres National Forest stretches across the scenic Coast and Transverse ranges, and offers a wealth of opportunities for fishing, hiking, camping and bicycling. DRIVE Family Fun The Central Coast is rich with adventure for families, including plenty of beaches and outdoor space, historic sites and water activities. 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. CA MONTEREY ● 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. 140 2013 travel guide to c al i fo r n ia ● CARMEL BIG SUR SAN SIMEON CAMBRIA MORRO BAY PISMO BEACH ● SANTA BARBARA Chewing gum of all kinds is celebrated in San Luis Obispo's BUBBLEGUM ALLEY, where masticators leave sticky contributions along both sides of the 40-foot lane. J. MCPHAIL; JILL BATTAGLIA TOUR Many place names on the Central Coast remain from Native American tribes, as well as Spanish and Mexican settlers. The California missions and other well-preserved buildings still remain from pre-statehood California. The Central Coast's inland region has a wealth of land for agriculture—from wine to olives—but farmers here are just as comfortable taking a quick trip to the wide, sandy beaches during breaks from the harvest. Even though Santa Barbara is the big city in the area, it has a relaxing vibe that would suffocate in a second in downtown Los Angeles.