California’s Central Coast Offers Natural Beauty and an Attractive Lifestyle for Residents and Visitors

California became a state in 1850 shortly after the Gold Rush attracted adventurers and settlers to this distant land on the Pacific Ocean. Although new cities and commerce emerged in places like Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles by the 1880s, the five hundred mile stretch of the coastline between San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles was sparsely populated. The area had remnants of its Spanish colonial heritage along with majestic natural features. Today, the Pacific Coast Highway and Route 101 attract travelers interested is spending a day or two driving along the rugged coast and stopping at the interesting small cities and natural attractions there. This article mentions some of the highlights of visiting the central coast of California.

PLACES TO SEE ON THE CENTRAL COAST

If you drive north from Los Angeles, here are some places worth seeing:

Santa Barbara

The first major destination is the beautiful oceanside community of Santa Barbara. This city of approximately 90,000 residents is ninety miles from metropolitan Los Angeles. Santa Barbara describes itself as “a gentle crescent of California coast connecting breathtaking beaches, soaring mountains, verdant vineyards, elevated enclaves, and eclectic communities.” Santa Barbara has a Mediterranean climate because of its location between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and it is sometimes called the American Riviera. In the past, Santa Barbara’s business community included everything from oil producers, aircraft manufacturers, and silent film studios to military installations and farms. Now service industries, technology companies, tourism destinations, and institutions of higher learning industries provide a large share of the local economy. The community has embraced a luxury lifestyle featuring a wide variety of leisure activities such as boating and water sports, health and wellness centers, arts and cultural facilities, restaurants and wineries, and other amenities.

One notable characteristic of Santa Barbara is its Spanish heritage and the Mediterranean architecture of its buildings. Visited by several Spanish explorers in the 1600s and 1700s, missionaries and soldiers arrived in 1782 seeking to secure Spain’s claim to the region and promote Christianity. The Presidio of Santa Barbara and the impressive Santa Barabara Mission became the foundation of a small town. The architecture of the Mission also inspired city leaders after the 1925 earthquake to require all buildings in the city center to be constructed using Mission-style features including Roman, Spanish, and Moorish elements. Today, those structures and pleasant pedestrian streets have made the downtown a popular attraction full of restaurants, cafes, local shops, galleries, and cultural establishments. Many villas and private houses scattered around the hillsides have incorporated similar designs into their residences. There are spectacular views of the mountains and the city from Sterns Wharf and the Santa Barbara Pier.

Carmel by the Sea

Three and a half hours north of Santa Barbara is the quaint waterfront community of Carmel-By-The-Sea. The nearby Carmel Mission, built in 1770, was the first settlement in the area. It served as the administrative center of the Spanish missions for decades before the area entered a period of decline. In the early 20th century, however, the hillside above the beach of Carmel emerged as an artist’s colony where writers and painters built European style houses and eclectic cottages. Their legacy remains an essential part of Carmel’s’ charm and wide reputation as one of the most beautiful and romantic places to visit in the United States. The town describes itself as “a one square mile fairytale village full of inspired restaurants, wine tasting, boutique shops, art galleries, a white-sand beach, and stunning scenery -all within walking distance from your hotel or inn.” There are many refurbished motel and inn properties close to Ocean Avenue or on the adjoining streets. In addition, boutique hotels catering to younger travelers have opened in the village offering a more stylish stay for discerning guests.

The main street in Carmel is Ocean Avenue, a tree lined boulevard with a downward slope that extends from Route 1 to Carmel Beach and connects to side streets. There are numerous shops offering fashion boutiques, arts and crafts, books, and other specialties, flanked by gourmet restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. Carmel is proud of being a pet friendly community and there are several dog-oriented stores. The dining establishments are excellent, and the atmosphere of the village has managed to retain its bohemian tradition notwithstanding the influx of tourists, overnight visitors, and festivals such as car shows. Carmel Beach is a wide white beach with soft sand and driftwood that offers excellent views of nearby cliffs and the golf course at Pebble Beach, and on clear days it provides a view of dramatic Pacific sunsets.

Monterey

Farther along the Monterey Peninsula is the small city of Monterey that was an integral part of the California economy during the late 18th and most of the 19th century. Monterey was the capital of Spain’s California territory until the Gold Rush diverted the shipping trade and commercial activity to San Francisco. Nevertheless, the city used its port to create a thriving fishing and whaling industry, and it remained a market town for generations thereafter. The city center has been redeveloped but important parts of its history have been preserved and turned into modern attractions. These include:

Fisherman’s Wharf- The docks that once served fishing boats, whalers, and merchant vessels have been modernized into an entertainment district that focuses on seafood restaurants, family attractions, and light fare.

Cannery Row- Six blocks of the waterfront served as the centerpiece of more than twenty fish packing plants until the 1950s. Once a rough and tumble section of the city that employed 4,000 workers and featured bars and brothels, the industry declined after World War II. Memorialized in two John Steinbeck novels, the remaining buildings now serve as shops, clubs, and restaurants.

Monterey Bay Aquarium- The Monterey Bay Aquaraium remains one of the largest in the country and is the home to more than 550 species that are displayed in eighty-three large tanks and twelve galleries including an open sea wing. With everything from a kelp forest to sturgeons, seals to penguins, and sharks to turtles, this aquarium has attracted more than seventy million visitors since its opening in 1984.

Monterey State Historic Park- The interesting history of Monterey and California is the focus of a group of old buildings now known as the Monterey State Historic Park in the city center. These include an assortment of halls, homes, churches, and commercial sites where renowned citizens such as Robert Louis Stevenson lived and where major events such as the signing of the California Constitution took place.

Other Destinations on California’s Central Coast

There are other destinations on California’s Central Coast that travelers often enjoy if time allows for additional stops along the way. First, there is San Luis Obispo County which is located along the inland route of Route 101 in the heart of California’s other wine country. There are more than 250 wineries there. The area is also popular for farm-to-table dining establishments and outdoor excursions to see wildlife and birding. Second, the Big Sur State Park on Highway 1 offers dramatic landscapes such as the McWay Falls which flow into the Pacific Ocean and beaches filled with driftwood, seals, waves, and sometimes sandy sections. Third, Santa Cruz at the northern end of Monterey Bay has excellent swimming beaches. The oceanfront Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Amusement Park known for its lengthy boardwalk and an 118-year-old amusement park, provides families with kiddie rides, thrill rides, food, shopping, and an arcade.