Central Coast

Many communities along California’s Central Coast are known as artist enclaves, including Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea, which boasts of over 100 galleries in one square mile. Farther south, galleries stay open for monthly art walks in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Morro Bay. Hearst Castle, the legendary home of William Randolph Hearst and creation of renowned arts & crafts architect Julia Morgan lies about halfway between, at San Simeon.

From the wet winter/dry summer climes and craggy cliffs of Big Sur to the miles and miles of gently sloping, clean sand of year-round sunny Santa Barbara, the beaches of the Central Coast represent the huge variety of terrain you’ll find along the Pacific coast. Take a stroll and you’re liable to find surfers, Frisbee dogs, picnics, tide pools and even a sea lion if you’re lucky.

Sea otters, seals, and other marine creatures are the stars of this area of California, both in the wild along the Big Sur coast and at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium . Take a pontoon boat tour of the Elkhorn Slough Marine Reserve near Carmel for otters and migratory birds, tour the sand dunes in Pismo Beach or visit San Simeon's Hearst Castle . Sunny, breezy Santa Barbara is home to a zoo , an aquarium , a science center , a maritime museum , and the Stearns Wharf pier—not to mention a palm-lined waterfront bike path that connects almost everything. And for that requisite theme park visit, don't miss Gilroy Gardens .

How does one combine romance and golf? The answer is simple — head to the Central Coast. There is nothing more romantic than a drive down Highway 1 from Carmel through Santa Barbara and nothing stirs the passion of a golfer faster than the mention of golf along Pebble Beach and the Central Coast.

The scenic Highway One runs along the Central Coast, dividing the region’s options for outdoor activities roughly in two: ocean on one side, mountains on the other. Game refuges, land reserves, state parks and beaches provide lots of great opportunities for hiking, from the redwood forests near Monterey to the sand dunes of Pismo Beach. Pinnacles National Monument is a popular destination for rock climbers because of its spectacular volcanic formations.

The heavy visitor traffic that arrives along the Central Coast each year helps support thriving retail districts. There’s always something you can’t live without in Carmel-by-the-Sea’s more than 100 galleries, the beachside shops of Capitola, and Santa Barbara’s beautiful downtown with cobbled arcades, fountains, palms and bougainvillea — just to name a few main attractions.

Celebrity residents and the work-weary from around the state help fuel the busy spa scene along California’s Central Coast. Most notable is Esalen Institute in Big Sur, a place committed to helping visitors realise self-awareness and find a “deeper, richer, more enduring” way of life. You’ll find hugely popular resort spas in Big Sur, Monterey and Pebble Beach, and Carmel is home to several independent spas, including one that focuses specifically on lifestyle changes and weight loss.

California’s central coast wine country has been hailed as the next big thing. Not yet as popular as their northerly neighbours in Napa and Sonoma counties, tasting rooms in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, and Monterey wine-growing regions are not as crowded, making them some of California’s best-kept secrets for wine aficionados. For pairing with your Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, you’ll find plenty of California cuisine, thanks to the active organic farming community and innovative chefs along the coast.