William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach
Central Coast
Across from Hearst Castle, this bayfront beach is a pleasantly sandy stretch punctuated by rock outcroppings, kelp forests, a wooden pier (fishing…
Must-see attractions in Central Coast
Central Coast
Breathe easy at this organic estate vineyard reached via a pretty winding drive up into the hills. Known for Rhône varietals, the signature blends also…
Central Coast
Ramble along coastal grasslands and pocket beaches at this small state park, accessed from unmarked roadside pulloffs north of Cayucos. Look among the…
Monterey
On the grounds of the original Spanish fort, this specialized museum (of interest only to history buffs) looks at Monterey’s history from a military…
Central Coast
In Guadalupe, learn more about the 'Lost City of DeMille,' the ecology of North America's largest coastal dunes, and the mystical Dunites who lived here…
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Santa Cruz
The collections at this pint-sized museum include stuffed-animal mounts, Native Californian cultural artifacts and a touch-friendly tide pool that shows…
Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve
Central Coast
Five miles west of Guadalupe at Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve, enormous Egyptian-esque film sets from Cecil B DeMille's 1923 Hollywood epic The Ten…
Central Coast
A Central Coast wine pioneer, J Lohr owns vineyards in Napa Valley, Monterey's Santa Lucia Highlands and Paso's pastoral countryside. Knowledgeable staff…
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Central Coast
With a gray-whale sculpture out front, this small kid-oriented museum has old-fashioned exhibits about sea otters, coastal bird life, butterflies, the Big…
Central Coast
Husband-and-wife team produces ‘dam fine wine’ (the mascot is a beaver, get it?), including from custom-crushed and organic grapes. Outdoor vineyard…
Central Coast
Everyone's favorite irreverent winery, where Día de Los Muertos designs cover bottles of bold blends. Play billiards in the tasting room or a game of…
Monterey Museum of Art – Pacific Street
Monterey
Downtown, the MMA Pacific Street is particularly strong in California contemporary art and modern landscape painters and photographers, including Ansel…
San Luis Obispo
By the creek, this small gallery showcases the work of local painters, sculptors, printmakers and fine-art photographers, as well as traveling California…
Central Coast
Offers lofty vineyard views and tours of its wine caves every half-hour from 10:30am to 5pm. Sociable tastings run the gamut of white and red varietals…
Central Coast
Heading east from Gilroy on Hwy 152 toward I-5, Casa de Fruta is a commercialized farm stand with an old-fashioned carousel and choo-choo train rides for…
Monterey
Featured in John Steinbeck’s novel Tortilla Flat, this small granite prison was built in 1856. Over a century of use, not one prisoner ever escaped.
Central Coast
All that rich Rhône varietal wine-tasting, from Roussanne to Syrah, going straight to your head? An epicurean market cafe here serves lunch until 5pm…
Central Coast
Educational displays include a talking artificial tide pool that kids can touch and videos of deep-sea diving and a WWII-era shipwreck just offshore.
Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center
Central Coast
Just inland from Waddell Beach, Rancho Del Oso Nature and History Center has two kid-friendly nature trails, both open daily, through the marshlands.
Central Coast
Breathe deeply as you drive up the dirt road to this historic ranch that makes memorable Rhône blends – 'Controlled Chaos' is a perennial fave.
San Luis Obispo
Unpretentious, value-priced wines set among rolling hillsides, with vineyard tours ($10, including wine-tasting flight $20 to $40) by appointment.
Central Coast
Heading east of Santa Cruz to Capitola, New Brighton State Beach is a quieter place for a swim, paddle boarding or camping on a forested bluff.
Santa Cruz
Amble around this peaceful arboretum and picturesquely decaying 19th-century structures from Cowell Ranch, upon which the UCSC campus was built.
Central Coast
Anti-serious Old West saloon pours bold reds, including an outlaw ‘Ballistic’ Zinfandel and ‘Liquid Love’ dessert wine. No tasting fee.
San Luis Obispo
No-oak Chardonnay, barrel-selected Pinot Noir and bold estate Syrah, with artisanal cheese, charcuterie and chocolate pairings on weekends.
Monterey
Originally built as a lodging house and tavern in 1847, and used as a theater from 1850, this building is currently closed for renovation.
Santa Cruz
The La Selva Beach exit off Hwy 1, near Watsonville, brings you here, where you can have miles of sand and surf almost all to yourself.
Monterey
Along Cannery Row, stop at Steinbeck Plaza to soak up bay views and snap a photo of yourself with a bronze bust of the famous writer.
San Luis Obispo
Samples from six different labels inside an early-20th-century wooden schoolhouse, with two bocce ball courts outside.
Santa Cruz
With a good surf break and bathrooms, this pretty all-around sandy spot is further east of 26th Ave off E Cliff Dr.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Migratory birds are attracted to this mile-long stretch of sand bordered by a lagoon formed by the Carmel River.
San Luis Obispo
Boisterous tasting room pours different varietals from Edna Valley and Paso Robles, with a tiny gourmet deli.
Monterey
Open to the public, this fine adobe structure was originally built in 1847 by Scottish settler, David Wight.
Santa Cruz
Big beach with bonfire pits and a lagoon, good for kids and often fairly empty. It’s off E Cliff Dr.
San Luis Obispo
In a rust-colored barn tasting room, tipple hand-crafted, small-lot wines grown mostly organically.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
This roadside farmstand offers smoothies, soups and lets you harvest your own herbs in the garden.
San Luis Obispo
Small, family-run vineyard pours cult-worthy Pinot Noir inside a cozy brick tasting room.
San Luis Obispo
Sip Paragon Vineyard estate Chardonnay by panoramic windows overlooking fields of grapes.
Pinnacles National Park – East Entrance
Central Coast
The park's east entrance sits at the crossroads of Hwys 146 and 25.
Pinnacles National Park – West Entrance
Central Coast
The park's west entrance is reached via Hwy 146 from Soledad.
