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Central Coast (California)

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The Central Coast of California is a region that remains calm and tranquil. Between the Bay Area's high-tech hassles, and the megalopolis of Southern California, the Central Coast provides nice beaches, beautiful Spanish missions, and a more peaceful way of life.

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  • Pinnacles National Monument - Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement.
  • Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area - Portraying Africa, the Amazon, and the old west? That's talent! Combining the scenic and the imagination play a big role in the movies and at this national park! Close to Hollywood, with beaches, grasslands, canyons, and oak woodlands, this coastal mountain range has star quality! Explore a rare, diverse landscape inspiring preservation and creativity

[edit] Understand

The Central Coast includes some of the classic tourist country of California--particularly the scenic version of the drive (or train ride) from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The Spanish colonialists traveled along the Central Coast--roughly on the route of Highway 1--and created missions at Santa Cruz, San Juan Bautista, Carmel, Soledad, Jolon, San Miguel,San Luis Obispo, Lompoc, Solvang, Santa Barbara, and San Buenaventura (Ventura). Depending on what you count as Central Coast, the area has about half of the state's missions.

Much of the Central Coast is agricultural, with an emphasis on crops that flourish in relatively cool, coastal climates--such as artichokes and strawberries. In recent years, land has increasingly been converted to grape growing, especially in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. The Santa Barbara County wine country was made famous, or infamous, in the movie Sideways. Fishing was once an important part of the regional economy, but has receded greatly. There is still oil production off the coast of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, but activity is greatly below previous levels.

Tourism is a critical industry, particularly on the Monterey Peninsula and around Santa Barbara. The temperate Central Coast has also been known as a retirement area, particularly for people from Los Angeles.

Population in the Central Coast is concentrated in a series of small-medium sized cities, only two of which exceed 100,000. The cities include Monterey, fast growing Salinas (a few miles inland), Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara. Santa Cruz city and county are sometimes considered part of the Central Coast, but they have become increasingly tied to Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County), which many Santa Cruzans commute to. Ventura County, at the southern end of the Central Coast, is classified by the Census Bureau as part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and commuter train service to LA is available.

Given its relatively small population (about 2 million of California's almost 37 million), the Central Coast has a large number of colleges. There are University of California branches at Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara, each of which strongly shapes the character of its city. California State Polytechnic Institute--Cal Poly--is the mainstay for the city of San Luis Obispo. There are newer state colleges at Ventura and at Fort Ord, a converted military base in Monterey County.

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The Central Coast's main artery is US Highway 101. The two-lane Highway 1 is the slower, more scenic option as it winds slowly (sometimes very slowly if there is any traffic at all) down the entire Central Coast coastline.

[edit] Get around

From Salinas to Ventura is more than 300 miles, so getting around can be quite a proposition. The main artery of the Central Coast is undoubtedly US 101--now a freeway virtually its entire length. 101 connects San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Oxnard with Los Angeles. The Monterey Peninsula is a few miles to the west. Outside of the Monterey Peninsula there are few towns of any size off 101, Lompoc in Santa Barbara County is an exception.

The rail route essentially follows 101, or, more accurately, 101 was built along the pre-existing rail corridor. There is only one train a day--the often unreliable Coast Starlight--the covers the whole corridor. The Pacific Surfliners to Los Angeles and San Diego go as far north as Paso Robles in northern San Luis Obispo County, there is more service from Santa Barbara south. Amtrak Thruway buses cover gaps in train service. Greyhound serves Santa Cruz, Salinas, King City, Paso Robles, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, and Oxnard (but not Ventura), connecting to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

There are commercial airports near Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and (the largest) Santa Barbara, there are no flights within the Central Coast, only flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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Visitors can tour the National Steinbeck Center, a fun, creative museum that explores the life and works of author John Steinbeck in Salinas.Just a few steps from the National Steinbeck Center sits John Steinbeck’s boyhood home, The Steinbeck House. Another visitor attraction is Wild Things, located on the Vision Quest Ranch. Wild Things is home to a number of animal "movie stars" and over 100 other wild and exotic animals.The Harvey Baker House, thought to be the oldest standing structure within the Salinas City limits, is close by and also available for tours.Monterey County is a world-renowned wine region, with more than 40,000 acres planted in premium wine grapes. Samples of Monterey County wines are also available at A Taste of Monterey in Oldtown Salinas. As a major retail center, Salinas brings shoppers from all over the Central Coast to its chain stores and boutiques. The Salinas Auto Mall, Northridge, Westridge, Harden Ranch Plaza, Santa Rita Plaza and Sherwood shopping centers cater to shoppers with a variety of needs. Oldtown Salinas draws antique lovers and a specialty gift clientele. The nearby Monterey Peninsula is home to a number of Central Coast highlights including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17-Mile Drive, Cannery Row and downtown Pacific Grove. A new addition to Salinas is the Twin Creeks golf course, offering players world class golf and pristine scenery. Twin Creeks is a 9-hole course, consisting of four par four holes and five par threes. It offers a 31-par challenge with a 30-station night lighted driving range, practice green, and practice sand bunker. Salinas Fairways is another golfing option in the city limits, and both courses give the golfer a chance to experience the joy and challenge of Central Coast golf at very affordable prices.
Further south along HWY 101, be sure to visit San Simeon State park. Home to the Hearst Castle, this state park is full of activities. Several tours are offered and each provides a distinct view of the beautiful grounds.

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