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2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 141 Heritage & Culture Many place names on the Central Coast remain from Native American tribes, as well as Spanish and Mexican settlers. The Cali- fornia missions and other well-preserved buildings still remain from pre-statehood Cal- ifornia. The Central Coast's inland region has a wealth of land for agriculture—from wine to olives—but farmers here are just as comfort- able 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. Family Fun The Central Coast is rich with adventure for families, including plenty of beaches and out- door 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. 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 . VINTAGE WINE PRESSES in Paso Robles, below; beach on San Miguel Island, Channel Islands National Park, right.