98 2 0 1 7 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A
B Y J I L L K . R O B I N S O N
S
outhern California may get prime beach town attention, but it's
California's Central Coast region that has it all, except for the crowds
vying for each sandy square foot. The string of small beach towns
that line the coast south of Big Sur to Santa Barbara are the perfect place to
learn to chill-out like a local, get some fun and sun, escape the hustle and
bustle, and sample some of the best food and wine in California.
The Santa Barbara area is the Central Coast's largest population center,
and it lures travelers with its white Spanish-style buildings, red-tiled roofs,
vast beaches, plenty of fine arts venues, bright boutiques, outdoor adven-
tures, culinary tastes and an inland region (the Santa Ynez Valley, featured
in the movie Sideways) known for wine and Santa Maria-style barbecue.
Visitors to the area can see hulking elephant seals at Piedras Blancas,
relax in the sleepy beach towns of Cayucos and Morro Bay, tour hilltop
Hearst Castle, or find some fun in college-town San Luis Obispo. The old-
fashioned piers of Avila Beach and Pismo Beach are ideal spots to take a
tasty meal break with a view of the Pacific Ocean. Ventura's Mission San
Buenaventura is the last of the California missions founded by Junípero
Serra. The oceanside town is also a gateway for adventures in Channel
Islands National Park, considered "California's Galápagos," with tide pools,
kelp forests and unique flora and fauna species.
Even though the Central Coast region's main highlight is indeed, its
coast, the varied geography and moderate climate ensure that there are
S.BORISOV/SHUTTERSTOCK
.
OPPOSITE:
N.MINTON/SHUTTERSTOCK
;
SAN
LUIS
OBISPO
COUNTY
CVB
CENTRAL
COAST
TOP CITIES
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Morro Bay,
Cambria, Ventura, Lompoc, Solvang, Buellton, Pismo Beach,
Santa Maria, Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme
INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX),
98 miles (158 km) from Santa Barbara;
192 miles (309 km) from San Luis Obispo
TOURISM WEBSITES
sanluisobispocounty.com
santabarbaraca.com
travelpaso.com
morrobay.org
visitcambriaca.com
visitventuraca.com
venturacountycoast.com
lompoc.com
solvangusa.com
visitbuellton.com
santamariavalley.com
classiccalifornia.com
POPULATION
1,542,000
CENTRAL COAST
Endless beaches without the crowds
