HWY1 Update 6

Your Central Coast Treasure Map

Drive north up the coast with Santa Barbara in your rear-view and Big Sur in your sights, and you'll find yourself on the San Luis Obispo County Highway 1 Discovery Route. It's a grand tour of the verdant, sun-splashed heart of the Central Coast, where jaw-dropping vista points, world-class wineries, uncrowded beaches, charming towns and endless recreation await you at nearly every turn-off.

RAGGED POINT

SAN SIMEON

CAMBRIA

CAYUCOS

LOS OSOS & BAYWOOD PARK

ARROYO GRANDE VALLEY

AVILA BEACH

OCEANO

NIPOMO

EDNA VALLEY

Bob Jones Trail

Avila Beach’s “city-to-the-sea” Bob Jones Trail takes cyclists, joggers and hikers down a paved route cut through the lush green valley that runs along bucolic San Luis Obispo Creek. This easy trail gives you a little visual taste of everything: bridges across the creek, the Avila Beach Golf Course, the downtown area, and, finally, the Pacific Ocean. The trail parking lot is located on Ontario Road, a simple pull-off from Highway 1.

From October through February, Nipomo’s Monarch Dunes Butterfly Habitat comes alive with fragile-yet-vibrant black-and-orange beauty. Thousands of Monarch butterflies flock to this protected eucalyptus grove from 1,000-plus miles away to take refuge from the winters of harsher climes, charming and captivating visitors in the process. From Highway 1, head east on Via Concha Road. Turn right on Eucalyptus, then left on Kingston.

Monarch Butterfly Grove

SLO Wine Country runs alongside Highway 1 throughout San Luis Obispo County. Uniquely, grapes thrive nearer to the ocean than usual in this hilly wine region, which spawns cool-climate varietals (think Chardonnay and Pinot Noir). Take your pick of more than 30 local vineyards and pull off for a tasting. Then sober up with a hike up a verdant “morrow” (rock formation) such as Bishop Peak. From the top, you can see for miles. (Multiple locations)

Hiking & Wine Tasting

Montaña de Oro features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, and beautiful wildflowers every spring. Solitude and freedom — and epic views — abound in this craggy oceanfront state park. Hike or bike the 4.5-mile round-trip trail that ascends 1,347-foot Valencia Peak, or relax on the beach among the tide pools of Spooner’s Cove. To get there, take the Los Osos/Baywood Park exit from Highway 1 and follow the signs to Los Osos.

Montaña de Oro

You’ll find Cayucos Pier at the north end of Estero Bay. Its view of Morro Rock is excellent, but fishing is really the name of the game here — and you don’t need a license to get in on the fun. The waters around the pier yield frequent catches, often of remarkable variety: halibut, mackerel, flounder and more. From Highway 1, take Exit 285 for Cayucos Drive and head south for seven blocks. Turn left into pier parking when the road dead-ends.

Cayucos Pier

Between Morro Bay and San Simeon, Highway 1 runs through the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. This large plot of picture-perfect coastal wildland lies smack-dab in the middle of Cambria, splitting the town in two. A rustic respite that’s open to the public, the preserve is a self-contained ecosystem in which pine forests give way to beachfront bluffs. It’s chock-full of wildlife, visible along its many walking and biking trails. (Multiple entrances)

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

Observing elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas Rookery in San Simeon is a bucket-list must. Spend an afternoon with these lumbering-yet-majestic marine creatures for an unforgettable experience that’s by turns surreal, peaceful and downright funny. This is wildlife you have to see (and hear) to believe. Witness birthing and breeding in January and February. From Highway 1 heading north, turn left on Vista Del Mar Ave., then right on Hearst Drive.

Elephant Seal Rookery

Avila Beach is a perfectly picturesque Central Coast destination right off Highway 1: an oak-strewn oceanfront paradise with a low-key storybook-California vibe. This seaside town's on-the-sand wine tastings, picture-perfect biking trails and charming Victorian lighthouse make it another essential stop along the Golden State's iconic westernmost highway.

Avila Beach

Truly unique accommodations abound in Avila Beach. Options range from an ocean-view condo above an old-school grocery store to inns secluded in the trees and numerous beach cottages, plus hotels — from bungalow to boutique — right on the sand, and more. See your options.

Hike along secluded beaches and rugged cliffs on the exclusive Pecho Coast Trail (guided). Get your wildlife fix by visiting with the sublime marine creatures of the Central Coast Aquarium. Near the beach, hit the Promenade and stroll a lively-yet-quaint small-town downtown.

Food is always a joy in Avila Beach. You’ll find romantic garden bistros, chilled-out pizza joints, and high-end seafood restaurants located right on the pier. There are casual cafes and a bar-and-grill or two (or more) with friendly locals serving up classic dishes. So, what are you having?

Test your bravery by hiking down the epic Cliffside Trail, which starts outside the inn, drops you more than 300 feet, and spits you out on the exotic black sand of Ragged Point Beach. Climb back up and head toward Hearst Castle to see if you can spot any zebra — that’s right, zebra.

Like the inn, Ragged Point Restaurant is exclusive in its category, being the sole place to eat on the point. Fortunately, this long-standing restaurant offers fabulous California cuisine all day and a floor-to-ceiling glass dining room that will wow you with its cliffhanging vistas. Learn more.

If you want to spend the night on Ragged Point, there’s only one place to do it: Ragged Point Inn. Its rooms’ incredible views are a given, but you’ll also appreciate the inn’s gourmet dining, manicured grounds, artisan craft shops and waterfall-graced trail to the beach. Find out more.

Ragged Point, a.k.a. the gateway to Big Sur, enjoys a well-earned reputation among travelers as one of the best Highway 1 pit stops thanks to its grand views and A+ roadside nosh. But don’t motor off after the snapshots are taken and the car and stomach are refueled. Stay and experience unforgettable cliffside hiking, exotic wildlife and romantic accommodations.

Ragged Point

Hike to Piedras Blancas Light Station for a tour of this 144-year-old beauty. Learn about the delicate, fascinating local ecosystem at the Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay. Then catch fish off the pier and have a picnic or boogie-board at William R. Hearst State Beach.

Comfort food and mom-and-pop charm are the name of the game at most restaurants here. At Sebastian’s General Store, try one of the Central Coast’s best burgers, featuring prized Hearst Ranch grass-fed beef, and join the locals for wine tasting. So, what are you having?

Unfortunately, no one actually gets to stay at Hearst Castle anymore, but San Simeon plays host to a good number of overnight options at all price points, including hotels and vacation rentals with views of the rugged coastline and pristine beaches. See your options.

From down on the beach where the beloved elephant seals hang out to the top of the hill with that famous, opulent castle, San Simeon’s got the stuff of Central Coast legend. If those landmarks weren’t enough, this little burg also has a historic lighthouse, a partially preserved old west village, a winery and a smattering of quality places to eat and to rest your head.

San Simeon

Just north of Cayucos, get your hike on in Estero Bluffs Park and soak in the biodiversity of Estero Bay. Chill with the barnacles, mussels and other small seafarers in the tide pools along the park’s coastline. Check out historic buildings and get some R&R on Cayucos State Beach.

Cayucos has character, and so do its restaurants. A nautical theme prevails, with many eateries offering locally caught seafood. Multiple spots serve such fare. There’s even a chowder house. You’ll also find bistros, a smokehouse, a sausage place and more. So, what are you having?

From chateaus by the sea to modest, old-school motels in town to multi-level rentals on hillsides with stellar ocean views, lodging in Cayucos is abundant whether you want to spend a lot or a little. Either way, you can be sure you’re staying somewhere memorable. See your options.

Cayucos is the best little beach town no one’s heard of, and that’s a good thing. Thanks to its strong surfing roots and small-scale mid-century look and feel, classic Cayucos keeps 1950s/’60s California beach culture alive in spirit. This groovy waterfront wonderland boasts an expansive white-sand beach, an easygoing resort-town attitude and fun activities galore.

Cayucos

Rugged Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is the place for hiking and recreation in Cambria, with greenspace galore. Watch for orca and other marine mammals from shore on the Whale Trail in San Simeon State Park. Marvel at the Pacific Ocean and stroll the boardwalk at Moonstone Beach.

Cambria’s restaurants are various: mouth-watering bakeries, cafes, taquerias and bar-and-grills, plus organic/sustainable eateries, too. Fans of Italian cuisine will be happy to find no less than two proper Italian ristoranti and at least two additional pizza joints. So, what are you having?

Accommodations run the gamut here, with options to match just the kind of getaway you desire. You can choose from a cottage on a pine-wooded hillside, a chateau on the beach, a ranch villa on a sprawling estate, all manner of well-appointed inns and more. See your options.

“European-style hamlet in the pines” might not be what comes to mind when you think “coastal California.” Yet a surprise called Cambria awaits along Highway 1. With its tall trees, historic architecture and artsy-village vibe, this place could convince you it’s a Welsh seaside town. Warm beaches and craggy hiking will bring you right back to a Golden State of mind.

Cambria

Enjoy an otherworldly hike through El Moro Elfin Forest, with its pygmy oak woodland and rare plant life. Encounter shorebirds, ducks and Monarch butterflies at Audubon Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. Wander the serene beaches of Baywood Park Back Bay and enjoy the views.

From Mexican to Italian to Thai, the restaurants of Los Osos and Baywood Park have it covered. Dig old-school American-style cafes and ale houses? These towns have something to offer you. Into more refined fare, such as farm-to-table cuisine? It’s here. So, what are you having?

Quaint accommodations abound: a bay-front bungalow perched on a bluff, a cottage at the edge of the water, a farmhouse, or a golf course retreat nestled among grand old pine, cypress and eucalyptus trees. All are ideal places to settle in for a perfect sunset. See your options.

It’s where the mountains of gold meet the sea: scenic Los Osos and Baywood Park. These idyllic, directly adjacent small towns play host to a lively music and arts scene. Located on the southern end of Morro Bay, they’re also situated amid amazing parkland, offering some of California’s best hiking and biking trails, birdwatching, and coastal kayaking zones.

Los Osos & Baywood Park

NIPOMO

OCEANO

ARROYO GRANDE VALLEY

EDNA VALLEY

AVILA BEACH

LOS OSOS & BAYWOOD PARK

CAYUCOS

CAMBRIA

SAN SIMEON

RAGGED POINT

Take an Edna Valley Wine Country hike and find your inner calm. Walk the 2-acre Old Edna Townsite and see its five landmarks and signature wildlife: the blue belly lizards found in Bluebelly Barn. If you crave the waterfront, drive due east of Edna and dip your toes in Lopez Lake.

Markets and delis are popular around these parts. One in particular that merits special attention is the Gourmet Deli at Old Edna. Housed in a 110-year-old building, this deli is a busy wine trail snack stop that's beloved for its paninis, smoked meats, quiches and desserts. Find out more.

Multiple ranches offer accommodations in Edna Valley, and they’re a great place to stretch your arms and legs for a big relax. Or opt for a farmhouse, cottage, or hilltop guest house on a vineyard. You’re in for a serene, memorable stay no matter which you select. See your choices.

Like Arroyo Grande to the south, Edna Valley is pure wine country. Within it you’ll discover a number of wonderful wineries offering tastes of their signature chardonnays and pinot noirs. Local produce stands and a historic townsite add to the ambiance. This is about as pastoral as it gets along Highway 1, so take a deep breath of country air and enjoy the quiet breeze.

Edna Valley

Brave the historic Swinging Bridge above Arroyo Grande Creek, the only one of its kind in California. Visit the Arroyo Grande Farmers’ Market and say hi to the free-range roosters that roam the grounds. Check out the historic Huansa Townsite — the scenic drive alone is worth it.

Delis, cafes and country kitchens are plenty in the Village, a pedestrian-friendly historic section of the City of Arroyo Grande. Fare includes everything from Chinese to Italian to sustainable and beyond. You’ll also find saloons and taverns for a good night out. So, what are you having?

Interesting lodging can be found throughout the bucolic valley. Choices include a casita on an estate, a rural family home and a Victorian farmhouse. How does a coastal country retreat on some acreage strike you? How about a hilltop ranch with panoramic views? See your options.

Vino aficionados, take note: Arroyo Grande Valley is home to multiple can’t-miss wineries where you can sip award-winning varietals while gazing at the Pacific Ocean only a few miles to the west and rustic hills to the east. Everyone will love this place for its excellent walkable historic village and its nearby recreation, including a lake, a historic townsite and more.

Arroyo Grande Valley

Rent an all-terrain vehicle or drive your own 4X4 and go on an excursion to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, where you can enjoy some lively quality time tearing it up on the big sand. Are horses more your speed? Livery Stable provides equine rides on the beach.

Grab ribs or a burger from one of Oceano’s tasty burger joints (one is a 1950s-themed diner built into two railcars). Numerous Mexican eateries are ready with the taco fix. Or hit up a sustainable restaurant in nearby Grover Beach, minutes to the north. So, what are you having?

Oceano boasts a bevy of beachfront and beach-adjacent rentals, and they represent a baffling range of architectural styles; examples go from a handsome ‘80s contemporary split-level to a whimsical Swiss chalet. The town’s inns and hotels are also a delight. See your options.

So low-profile is tiny Oceano that you might not realize you’re driving through it on Highway 1. Heads-up: You’d regret missing it. This tucked-away treasure of a town boasts professional live theater, a railroad museum and more. But what makes Oceano extra-special are its rare beachfront sand dunes — and the fact that you can drive on them.

Oceano

Hit the links of California’s coastal highlands for a round of golf on a championship course with dazzling Pacific views at Monarch Dunes. Afterwards, go get your feet wet at Oso Flaco, a hidden state park with a lake and great birdwatching that’s just a stone’s throw from the ocean.

Nipomo’s got the edge on hearty fare, with a down-home southwestern-style American eatery, a few barbecue pits and burger joints, a Tex-Mex spot or two, and pizzerias. But don’t worry — there’s also a sushi place, an organic bistro and more. So, what are you having?

Stay somewhere both serene and unique while you relax in Nipomo: Consider a rental condo at a lush, elegant “golf resort” to tee off your vacation in style. Or try a villa, a cottage, a local rental home, or a room in a legendary bed and breakfast (all also very stylish spots). See your options.

It lies along Interstate 101, but Nipomo is a perfect taste of the Central Coast style you’ll discover on a Highway 1 road trip: a mix of laid-back charm, old-fashioned walkability, quirky novelty and serene beauty. Add in its old ranchero character and world-class golf courses, and tiny Nipomo becomes a big breath of fresh air, particularly if you’re visiting from L.A.

Nipomo

Explore this map to see some of the best destinations and pull-overs along the Highway 1 Discovery Route.

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Ragged Point: The Grand View No Central Coast trip is complete without a stop at Ragged Point, a.k.a. the Gateway to Big Sur. Halfway between L.A. and San Francisco, here natural beauty abounds. Cliffs cascade into foamy, crystal-blue water, and low-level clouds form offshore to cool the breeze. Stop for the vistas at Ragged Point Scenic View. You'll revel in the fact that such a place exists right up the road from L.A.'s concrete jungle.

San Simeon: Light the Way A visit to a historic lighthouse can result in some very shareable snapshots, and Pierdas Blancas Light Station provides the perfect scenic photo-op. Built in 1874 on a windswept point named after its white rocks, the light station shows its stalwartness in rugged brick construction and weathered outbuildings. Take an in-depth tour of the grounds and see the historic inner workings of the outpost.

Cambria: Coastal Wildlife Wonderland Looking for the perfect spot to spy sea life? Cambria’s Whale Trail has some of the nation’s best vantage points of the largest animal ever known to exist: the blue whale. Sea otters also frolic in the kelp beds offshore, and seabirds dive and feed. Just south of Hearst Castle, the trail features three telescopes, a visitors center and a gift shop run by a nonprofit that supports the area’s preservation efforts.

Cayucos: Stay for Awhile Packing as much charm as possible onto its hillside locale, Cayucos is the small-town beach resort you’ll never want to leave. But start with staying a night or two; this bucolic Estero Bay town offers a wide variety of lodgings. The Cass House Inn is an elevated B&B with five uniquely appointed rooms only blocks from the beach, and luxurious Wellspring Ranch offers a pastoral R&R-oriented getaway just for couples.

Los Osos: A Giant in the Forest Ever wish to be as tall and strong as a mighty oak? You can live that dream in Los Osos. Its Elfin Forest of El Moro is a fantastical place filled with small-scale-yet-fully-grown trees. This one-of-a-kind natural area’s specific climate conditions and soil content have birthed a grove of pygmy oaks that grow only 4 to 20 feet tall. Taking an easy 1-mile-loop hike through the forest will make you feel enormous in a good way.

Avila Beach: Taste the Sea Between Point San Luis and Fossil Point, the calm waters of Avila Beach first played host to a commercial fishing port. History continues today, with fresh seafood catches and tastes. The Olde Port Inn restaurant sits at the end of Hartford Pier and offers 360-degree ocean views, as well as fresh daily seafood and a casual vibe. If you’d rather whip up something yourself, check out the adjacent fish market.

Edna Valley: A Valley Wine Trail Take a famous Central Coast sip in a quaint locale in Edna Valley, located just four miles from the ocean. A designated American Viticultural Area, the valley is a cool-climate region specializing in California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. What’s good for the grapes is good for the guests: An overnight stay in Edna Valley reveals a crisp morning, perfect for hiking the area on easy-to-moderate trails.

Arroyo Grande Valley: Huasna Townsite Road California is rife with iconic scenic drives, but Huasna Townsite Road is quietly one of the best. Named after a land-grant rancho of old California, the farmland- and picket-fence-lined route will feel instantly familiar — it has been featured in countless car commercials and films. Going for a drive down this country lane will make you feel like you’re on the classic Great American Road Trip, no matter what your vehicle.

Oceano: Dunes of Golden State Glory Its Western-style main street is a fine example of small-town Americana, but what makes Oceano really special is found off the city grid: The Oceano Dunes National Preserve. On seaside sand dunes, visitors can enjoy a hike, take off paragliding, dig for clams, ride horseback, and even drive on the beach. The Oceano Dunes are the only place in the Golden State where you're permitted to do all of that on the sand.

Nipomo: Lake by the Sea A freshwater lake that’s a stone’s throw away from a massive ocean might seem like just an anomaly, but its seaside location is exactly what makes Oso Flaco Lake so remarkable. There you can explore the California dunes ecosystem from water-level boardwalks and see how wind-carved sands formed the ideal environment for water grasses and migratory birds just beyond the Pacific’s crashing waves.

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This is the “Discovery Route” portion of Highway 1, which snakes through San Luis Obispo County and is exceedingly road-trip-friendly. All you need to do is plot out some destination points before you embark. Fortunately, we’ve done that for you. Read on for a south-to-north guide to 10 definitive, must-stop Central Coast destinations along Highway 1.

Highway 1 is one of the most famed stretches of road on the planet. Busy Lincoln Boulevard at LAX is technically part of the fabled highway, but true coastal bliss lies far north of here. A drive up Highway 1 into the unspoiled Central Coast reveals a different California, where quaint towns and long stretches of rugged nature replace the light and sound of the endless Los Angeles metropolis.

Drive north on Highway 1 to experience California’s Central Coast at its most sublime and beguiling.

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

Ar ticle 1

Ar ticle 1

Paso Robles: A Wine Frontier A decade ago, this Central Coast locale wasn't on the wine trail map. Now the region is a major destination thanks to its massive AVA, where more than 60 varietals are grown and 200-plus wineries are stomping the grapes. Homey, unpretentious Paso Robles has a pioneering spirit and some very sophisticated wines — warm, dry days and cool coastal nights mean a big temperature swing that lends amazing depth to Bourdeauxs and Rhones.

Points North Trail As you leave Cambria, the next wine trail on your Central Coast grape jaunt could already be underway should you elect to embark upon this bucolic four-vineyard tour — and it’s recommended you do. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and aromatic white wines are all on the tasting menu, as are scenic beach views and loads more picturesque back country between Cambria and Templeton. So cruise, kick back and sip away.

Southern Charm Trail Head south out of Edna into Arroyo Grande Valley and embark on this easy four-winery tour, where you can treat your palate to vino that reflects the valley’s variety. From sparkling to Sauvignon Blanc, there’s much to try, and with the rustic, hilly surrounds and Pacific views, you’d be hard-pressed to find a sweeter ambiance in which to sip. A stroll through charming Arroyo Grande Village is icing on the cake.

Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley: The Coastal AVAs Two of the Central Coast’s most legendary wine regions, Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley, sit right next to each other in southern SLO County, both easily accessible by car from Highway 1. The regions are both U.S. Government-certified American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), meaning their wines are of distinction, possessing an identifiable geographic pedigree that could come only from one place. Grapes in the Coastal AVAs grow in unique conditions: a blend of sedimentary and volcanic soil atop sloping hillsides that catch vine-cooling sea breezes from the nearby Pacific. This translates into wine whose depth, minerality, color and taste you'll get only here. Though there are many area vineyards to visit, the easygoing and bikeable Edna Valley Backroads Wine Trail is recommended as a starting point for its five laid-back wineries, scenic rolling hills and excellent Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and more.

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In SLO County, Highway 1 is a veritable vino treasure trail for road-tripping wine enthusiasts. As it winds through jaw-dropping Golden State scenery, this legendary road brings you to the doorstep of Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley, both federally recognized American Viticultural Areas, then heads onward to beloved wine stronghold Paso Robles, with stops along the way.

The Central Coast is California's — if not the world's — next big wine country destination. Abounding with globally recognized must-taste varietals, it is home to hundreds of vineyards and brands. Some of the most notable are clustered in the crucial wine regions, cities, outposts and tasting rooms of idyllic San Luis Obispo County. And there's one road to take you to all of them.

In the heart of the Central Coast, Highway 1 takes oenophile road-trippers on an epic joyride of standout vineyards and unique wine regions.

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

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Wine, Beer & Food Festivals: Fun for All The Central Coast is blessed with a temperate year-round climate, breathtaking scenic outdoor spaces, and a burgeoning multi-region wine country making world-class varietals. SLO County’s got all that plus amazing craft breweries, distilleries, restaurants and tourist- and pedestrian-friendly small-town fun. Put it all together and what do you get? Festivals! An impressive variety of wine, beer and food fests occur throughout the calendar year along Highway 1. We're talking celebrations devoted to just about everything you could imagine, from the down-home to the epicurean: tequila, apples, strawberries, blended wines, German beers, the local olallieberry — even mac and cheese. You name it, there's a fest devoted to it happening here. Most all are family-friendly, and many offer a variety of activities, live entertainment and food options to keep everyone happy who's along for the ride.

NIPOMO

OCEANO

ARROYO GRANDE VALLEY

EDNA VALLEY

AVILA BEACH

LOS OSOS & BAYWOOD PARK

CAYUCOS

CAMBRIA

SAN SIMEON

RAGGED POINT

Drive north up the coast with Santa Barbara in your rear-view and Big Sur in your sights, and you'll find yourself on the San Luis Obispo County Highway 1 Discovery Route. It's a grand tour of the verdant, sun-splashed heart of the Central Coast, where jaw-dropping vista points, world-class wineries, uncrowded beaches, charming towns and endless recreation await you at nearly every turn-off.

to preview some of the best destinations and pull-overs along the Highway 1 Discovery Route.

Explore this map

Your Central Coast Treasure Map

Observing elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas Rookery in San Simeon is a bucket-list must. Spend an afternoon with these lumbering-yet-majestic marine creatures for an unforgettable experience that’s by turns surreal, peaceful and downright funny. This is wildlife you have to see (and hear) to believe. Witness birthing and breeding in January and February. From Highway 1 heading north, turn left on Vista Del Mar Ave., then right on Hearst Drive.

Elephant Seal Rookery

Between Morro Bay and San Simeon, Highway 1 runs through the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. This large plot of picture-perfect coastal wildland lies smack-dab in the middle of Cambria, splitting the town in two. A rustic respite that’s open to the public, the preserve is a self-contained ecosystem in which pine forests give way to beachfront bluffs. It’s chock-full of wildlife, visible along its many walking and biking trails. (Multiple entrances)

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

You’ll find Cayucos Pier at the north end of Estero Bay. Its view of Morro Rock is excellent, but fishing is really the name of the game here — and you don’t need a license to get in on the fun. The waters around the pier yield frequent catches, often of remarkable variety: halibut, mackerel, flounder and more. From Highway 1, take Exit 285 for Cayucos Drive and head south for seven blocks. Turn left into pier parking when the road dead-ends.

Cayucos Pier

Montaña de Oro features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, and beautiful wildflowers every spring. Solitude and freedom — and epic views — abound in this craggy oceanfront state park. Hike or bike the 4.5-mile round-trip trail that ascends 1,347-foot Valencia Peak, or relax on the beach among the tide pools of Spooner’s Cove. To get there, take the Los Osos/Baywood Park exit from Highway 1 and follow the signs to Los Osos.

Montaña de Oro

SLO Wine Country runs alongside Highway 1 throughout San Luis Obispo County. Uniquely, grapes thrive nearer to the ocean than usual in this hilly wine region, which spawns cool-climate varietals (think Chardonnay & Pinot Noir). Take your pick of more than 30 local vineyards and pull off for a tasting. Then sober up with a hike up a verdant “morrow” (rock formation) such as Bishop Peak. From the top, you can see for miles. (Multiple locations)

Hiking & Wine Tasting

Avila Beach’s “city-to-the-sea” Bob Jones Trail takes cyclists, joggers and hikers down a paved route cut through the lush green valley that runs along bucolic San Luis Obispo Creek. This easy trail gives you a little visual taste of everything: bridges across the creek, the Avila Beach Golf Course, the downtown area, and, finally, the Pacific Ocean. The trail parking lot is located on Ontario Road, a simple pull-off from Highway 1.

Bob Jones Trail

From October through February, Nipomo’s Monarch Dunes Butterfly Habitat comes alive with fragile-yet-vibrant black-and-orange beauty. Thousands of Monarch butterflies flock to this protected eucalyptus grove from 1,000-plus miles away to take refuge from the winters of harsher climes, charming and captivating visitors in the process. From Highway 1, head east on Via Concha Road. Turn right on Eucalyptus, then left on Kingston.

Monarch Butterfly Grove

Hit the links of California’s coastal highlands for a round of golf on a championship course with dazzling Pacific views at Monarch Dunes. Afterwards, go get your feet wet at Oso Flaco, a hidden state park with a lake and great birdwatching that’s just a stone’s throw from the ocean.

Nipomo’s got the edge on hearty fare, with a down-home southwestern-style American eatery, a few barbecue pits and burger joints, a Tex-Mex spot or two, and pizzerias. But don’t worry — there’s also a sushi place, an organic bistro and more. So, what are you having?

Stay somewhere both serene and unique while you relax in Nipomo: Consider a rental condo at a lush, elegant “golf resort” to tee off your vacation in style. Or try a villa, a cottage, a local rental home, or a room in a legendary bed and breakfast (all also very stylish spots). See your options.

It lies along Interstate 101, but Nipomo is a perfect taste of the Central Coast style you’ll discover on a Highway 1 road trip: a mix of laid-back charm, old-fashioned walkability, quirky novelty and serene beauty. Add in its old ranchero character and world-class golf courses, and tiny Nipomo becomes a big breath of fresh air, particularly if you’re visiting from L.A.

Nipomo

Rent an all-terrain vehicle or drive your own 4X4 and go on an excursion to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, where you can enjoy some lively quality time tearing it up on the big sand. Are horses more your speed? Livery Stable provides equine rides on the beach.

Grab ribs or a burger from one of Oceano’s tasty burger joints (one is a 1950s-themed diner built into two railcars). Numerous Mexican eateries are ready with the taco fix. Or hit up a sustainable restaurant in nearby Grover Beach, minutes to the north. So, what are you having?

Oceano boasts a bevy of beachfront and beach-adjacent rentals, and they represent a baffling range of architectural styles; examples go from a handsome ‘80s contemporary split-level to a whimsical Swiss chalet. The town’s inns and hotels are also a delight. See your options.

So low-profile is tiny Oceano that you might not realize you’re driving through it on Highway 1. Heads-up: You’d regret missing it. This tucked-away treasure of a town boasts professional live theater, a railroad museum and more. But what makes Oceano extra-special are its rare beachfront sand dunes — and the fact that you can drive on them.

Oceano

Brave the historic Swinging Bridge above Arroyo Grande Creek, the only one of its kind in California. Visit the Arroyo Grande Farmers’ Market and say hi to the free-range roosters that roam the grounds. Check out the historic Huansa Townsite — the scenic drive alone is worth it.

Delis, cafes and country kitchens are plenty in the Village, a pedestrian-friendly historic section of the City of Arroyo Grande. Fare includes everything from Chinese to Italian to sustainable and beyond. You’ll also find saloons and taverns for a good night out. So, what are you having?

Interesting lodging can be found throughout the bucolic valley. Choices include a casita on an estate, a rural family home and a Victorian farmhouse. How does a coastal country retreat on some acreage strike you? How about a hilltop ranch with panoramic views? See your options.

Vino aficionados, take note: Arroyo Grande Valley is home to multiple can’t-miss wineries where you can sip award-winning varietals while gazing at the Pacific Ocean only a few miles to the west and rustic hills to the east. Everyone will love this place for its excellent walkable historic village and its nearby recreation, including a lake, a historic townsite and more.

Arroyo Grande Valley

Hike along secluded beaches and rugged cliffs on the exclusive Pecho Coast Trail (guided). Get your wildlife fix by visiting with the sublime marine creatures of the Central Coast Aquarium. Near the beach, hit the Promenade and stroll a lively-yet-quaint small-town downtown.

Food is always a joy in Avila Beach. You’ll find romantic garden bistros, chilled-out pizza joints, and high-end seafood restaurants located right on the pier. There are casual cafes and a bar-and-grill or two (or more) with friendly locals serving up classic dishes. So, what are you having?

Truly unique accommodations abound in Avila Beach. Options range from an ocean-view condo above an old-school grocery store to inns secluded in the trees and numerous beach cottages, plus hotels — from bungalows to boutique — right on the sand, and more. See your options.

Avila Beach is a perfectly picturesque Central Coast destination right off Highway 1: an oak-strewn oceanfront paradise with a low-key storybook-California vibe. This seaside town's on-the-sand wine tastings, picture-perfect biking trails and charming Victorian lighthouse make it another essential stop along the Golden State's iconic westernmost highway.

Avila Beach

Take an Edna Valley Wine Country hike and find your inner calm. Walk around the 2-acre Old Edna Townsite and see its five landmarks and signature wildlife: the blue belly lizards found in Bluebelly Barn. If you crave the waterfront, drive due east of Edna and dip your toes in Lopez Lake.

Markets and delis are popular around these parts. One in particular that merits special attention is the Gourmet Deli at Old Edna. Housed in a 110-year-old building, this deli is a busy wine trail snack stop that's beloved for its paninis, smoked meats, quiches and desserts. Find out more.

Multiple ranches offer accommodations in Edna Valley, and they’re a great place to stretch your arms and legs for a big relax. Or opt for a farmhouse, cottage, or hilltop guest house on a vineyard. You’re in for a serene, memorable stay no matter which you select. See your choices.

Like Arroyo Grande to the south, Edna Valley is pure wine country. Within it you’ll discover a number of wonderful wineries offering tastes of their signature chardonnays and pinot noirs. Local produce stands and a historic townsite add to the ambiance. This is about as pastoral as it gets along Highway 1, so take a deep breath of country air and enjoy the quiet breeze.

Edna Valley

Enjoy an otherworldly hike through El Moro Elfin Forest, with its pygmy oak woodland and rare plant life. Encounter shorebirds, ducks and Monarch butterflies at Audubon Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. Wander the serene beaches of Baywood Park Back Bay and enjoy the views.

From Mexican to Italian to Thai, the restaurants of Los Osos and Baywood Park have it covered. Dig old-school American-style cafes and ale houses? These towns have something to offer you. Into more refined fare, such as farm-to-table cuisine? It’s here. So, what are you having?

Quaint accommodations abound: a bay-front bungalow perched on a bluff, a cottage at the edge of the water, a farmhouse, or a golf course retreat nestled among grand old pine, cypress and eucalyptus trees. All are ideal places to settle in for a perfect sunset. See your options.

It’s where the mountains of gold meet the sea: scenic Los Osos and Baywood Park. These idyllic, directly adjacent small towns play host to a lively music and arts scene. Located on the southern end of Morro Bay, they’re also situated amid amazing parkland, offering some of California’s best hiking and biking trails, birdwatching, and coastal kayaking zones.

Los Osos & Baywood

Just north of Cayucos, get your hike on in Estero Bluffs Park and soak in the biodiversity of Estero Bay. Chill with the barnacles, mussels and other small seafarers in the tide pools along the park’s coastline. Check out historic buildings and get some R&R on Cayucos State Beach.

Cayucos has character, and so do its restaurants. A nautical theme prevails, with many eateries offering locally caught seafood. Multiple spots serve such fare. There’s even a chowder house. You’ll also find bistros, a smokehouse, a sausage place and more. So, what are you having?

From chateaus by the sea to modest, old-school motels in town to multi-level rentals on hillsides with stellar ocean views, lodging in Cayucos is abundant whether you want to spend a lot or a little. Either way, you can be sure you’re staying somewhere memorable. See your options.

Cayucos is the best little beach town no one’s heard of, and that’s a good thing. Thanks to its strong surfing roots and small-scale mid-century look and feel, classic Cayucos keeps 1950s/’60s California beach culture alive in spirit. This groovy waterfront wonderland boasts an expansive white-sand beach, an easygoing resort-town attitude and fun activities galore.

Cayucos

Rugged Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is the place for hiking and recreation in Cambria, with greenspace galore. Watch for orca and other marine mammals from shore on the Whale Trail in San Simeon State Park. Marvel at the Pacific Ocean and stroll the boardwalk at Moonstone Beach.

Cambria’s restaurants are various: mouth-watering bakeries, cafes, taquerias and bar-and-grills, plus organic/sustainable eateries, too. Fans of Italian cuisine will be happy to find no less than two proper Italian ristoranti and at least two additional pizza joints. So, what are you having?

Accommodations run the gamut here, with options to match just the kind of getaway you desire. You can choose from a cottage on a pine-wooded hillside, a chateau on the beach, a ranch villa on a sprawling estate, all manner of well-appointed inns and more. See your options.

“European-style hamlet in the pines” might not be what comes to mind when you think “coastal California.” Yet a surprise called Cambria awaits along Highway 1. With its tall trees, historic architecture and artsy-village vibe, this place could convince you it’s a Welsh seaside town. Warm beaches and craggy hiking will bring you right back to a Golden State of mind.

Cambria

Hike to Piedras Blancas Light Station for a tour of this 144-year-old beauty. Learn about the delicate, fascinating local ecosystem at the Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay. Then catch fish off the pier and have a picnic or boogie-board at William R. Hearst State Beach.

Comfort food and mom-and-pop charm are the name of the game at most restaurants here. At Sebastian’s General Store, try one of the Central Coast’s best burgers, featuring prized Hearst Ranch grass-fed beef, and join the locals for wine tasting. So, what are you having?

Unfortunately, no one actually gets to stay at Hearst Castle anymore, but San Simeon plays host to a good number of overnight options at all price points, including hotels and vacation rentals with views of the rugged coastline and pristine beaches. See your options.

From down on the beach where the beloved elephant seals hang out to the top of the hill with that famous, opulent castle, San Simeon’s got the stuff of Central Coast legend. If those landmarks weren’t enough, this little burg also has a historic lighthouse, a partially preserved old west village, a winery and a smattering of quality places to eat and to rest your head.

San Simeon

Test your bravery by hiking down the epic Cliffside Trail, which starts outside the inn, drops you more than 300 feet, and spits you out on the exotic black sand of Ragged Point Beach. Climb back up and head toward Hearst Castle to see if you can spot any zebra — that’s right, zebra.

Like the inn, Ragged Point Restaurant is exclusive in its category, being the sole place to eat on the point. Fortunately, this long-standing restaurant offers fabulous California cuisine all day and a floor-to-ceiling glass dining room that will wow you with its cliffhanging vistas. Learn more.

If you want to spend the night on Ragged Point, there’s only one place to do it: Ragged Point Inn. Its rooms’ incredible views are a given, but you’ll also appreciate the inn’s gourmet dining, manicured grounds, artisan craft shops and waterfall-graced trail to the beach. Find out more.

Ragged Point, a.k.a. the gateway to Big Sur, enjoys a well-earned reputation among travelers as one of the best Highway 1 pit stops thanks to its grand views and A+ roadside nosh. But don’t motor off after the snapshots are taken and the car and stomach are refueled. Stay and experience unforgettable cliffside hiking, exotic wildlife and romantic accommodations.

Ragged Point

Paso Robles Looking for the perfect spot to spy sea life? Cambria’s Whale Trail has some of the nation’s best vantage points of the largest animal ever known to exist: the blue whale. Sea otters also frolic in the kelp beds offshore, and seabirds dive and feed. Just south of Hearst Castle, the trail features three telescopes, a visitors center and a gift shop run by a nonprofit that supports the area’s preservation efforts.

Urban Wine Trail (San Luis Obispo) Packing as much charm as possible onto its hillside locale, Cayucos is the small-town beach resort you’ll never want to leave. But start with staying a night or two; this bucolic Estero Bay town offers a wide variety of lodgings. The Cass House Inn is an elevated B&B with five uniquely appointed rooms only blocks from the beach, and luxurious Wellspring Ranch offers a pastoral R&R-oriented getaway just for couples.

Morro Bay Wine Tasting Ever wish to be as tall and strong as a mighty oak? You can live that dream in Los Osos. Its Elfin Forest of El Moro is a fantastical place filled with small-scale-yet-fully-grown. This one-of-a-kind natural area’s specific climate conditions and soil content have birthed a groveof pygmy oaks that grow only 4 to 20 feet tall. Taking an easy 1-mile-loophike through the forest will make you feel enormous in a good way.

Pismo Beach Wine Tasting Between Point San Luis and Fossil Point, the calm waters of Avila Beach first played host to a commercial fishing port. History continues today, with fresh seafood catches and tastes. The Olde Port Inn restaurant sits at the end of Hartford Pier and offers 360-degree ocean views, as well as fresh daily seafood and a casual vibe. If you’d rather whip up something yourself, check out the adjacent fish market.

Avila Beach Wine Trail Take a famous Central Coast sip in a quaint locale in Edna Valley, located just four miles from the ocean. A designated American Viticultural Area, the valley is a cool-climate region specializing in California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. What’s good for the grapes is good for the guests: An overnight stay in Edna Valley reveals a crisp morning, perfect for hiking the area on easy-to-moderate trails.

Pacific Coast Wine Trail - (Cambria) California is rife with iconic scenic drives, but Huasna Townsite Road is quietly one of the best. Named after a land-grant rancho of old California, the farmland- and picket-fence-lined route will feel instantly familiar — it has been featured in countless car commercials and films. Going for a drive down this country lane will make you feel like you’re on the classic Great American Road-trip, no matter what your vehicle.

The Coastal AVAS A freshwater lake that’s a stone’s throw away from a massive ocean might seem like just an anomaly, but its seaside location is exactly what makes Oso Flaco Lake so remarkable. There you can explore the California dunes ecosystem from water-level boardwalks and see how wind-carved sands formed the ideal environment for water grasses and migratory birds just beyond the Pacific’s crashing waves.

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In SLO County, Highway 1 is a veritable vino treasure trail for road-tripping wine enthusiasts. As it winds through jaw-dropping Golden State scenery, this legendary road brings you to the doorstep of Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley, both federally recognized American Viticultural Areas, then heads onward to beloved wine stronghold Paso Robles, with stops along the way.

The Central Coast is California's — if not the world's — next big wine country destination. Abounding with globally recognized must-taste varietals, it is home to hundreds of vineyards and brands. Some of the most notable are clustered in the crucial wine regions, cities, outposts and tasting rooms of idyllic San Luis Obispo County. And there's one road to take you to all of them.

In the heart of the Central Coast, Highway 1 takes oenophile road-trippers on an epic joyride of standout vineyards and unique wine regions

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

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Ragged Point: The Grand View No Central Coast trip is complete without a stop at Ragged Point, a.k.a. the Gateway to Big Sur. Halfway between L.A. and San Francisco, here natural beauty abounds. Cliffs cascade into foamy, crystal-blue water, and low-level clouds form offshore to cool the breeze. Stop for the vistas at Ragged Point Scenic View. You'll revel in the fact that such a place exists right up the road from L.A.'s concrete jungle.

San Simeon: Light the Way A visit to a historic lighthouse can result in some very shareable snapshots, and Pierdas Blancas Light Station provides the perfect scenic photo-op. Built in 1874 on a windswept point named after its white rocks, the light station shows its stalwartness in rugged brick construction and weathered outbuildings. Take an in-depth tour of the grounds and see the historic inner workings of the outpost.

Cambria: Coastal Wildlife Wonderland Looking for the perfect spot to spy sea life? Cambria’s Whale Trail has some of the nation’s best vantage points of the largest animal ever known to exist: the blue whale. Sea otters also frolic in the kelp beds offshore, and seabirds dive and feed. Just south of Hearst Castle, the trail features three telescopes, a visitors center and a gift shop run by a nonprofit that supports the area’s preservation efforts.

Cayucos: Stay for Awhile Packing as much charm as possible onto its hillside locale, Cayucos is the small-town beach resort you’ll never want to leave. But start with staying a night or two; this bucolic Estero Bay town offers a wide variety of lodgings. The Cass House Inn is an elevated B&B with five uniquely appointed rooms only blocks from the beach, and luxurious Wellspring Ranch offers a pastoral R&R-oriented getaway just for couples.

Los Osos: A Giant in the Forest Ever wish to be as tall and strong as a mighty oak? You can live that dream in Los Osos. Its Elfin Forest of El Moro is a fantastical place filled with small-scale-yet-fully-grown. This one-of-a-kind natural area’s specific climate conditions and soil content have birthed a groveof pygmy oaks that grow only 4 to 20 feet tall. Taking an easy 1-mile-loophike through the forest will make you feel enormous in a good way.

Avila Beach: Taste the Sea Between Point San Luis and Fossil Point, the calm waters of Avila Beach first played host to a commercial fishing port. History continues today, with fresh seafood catches and tastes. The Olde Port Inn restaurant sits at the end of Hartford Pier and offers 360-degree ocean views, as well as fresh daily seafood and a casual vibe. If you’d rather whip up something yourself, check out the adjacent fish market.

Edna Valley: A Valley Wine Trail Take a famous Central Coast sip in a quaint locale in Edna Valley, located just four miles from the ocean. A designated American Viticultural Area, the valley is a cool-climate region specializing in California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. What’s good for the grapes is good for the guests: An overnight stay in Edna Valley reveals a crisp morning, perfect for hiking the area on easy-to-moderate trails.

Arroyo Grande Valley: Huasna Townsite Road California is rife with iconic scenic drives, but Huasna Townsite Road is quietly one of the best. Named after a land-grant rancho of old California, the farmland- and picket-fence-lined route will feel instantly familiar — it has been featured in countless car commercials and films. Going for a drive down this country lane will make you feel like you’re on the classic Great American Road-trip, no matter what your vehicle.

Oceano: Dunes of Golden State Glory Its Western-style main street is a fine example of small-town Americana, but what makes Oceano really special is found off the city grid: The Oceano Dunes National Preserve. On seaside sand dunes, visitors can enjoy a hike, take off paragliding, dig for clams, ride horseback, and even drive on the beach. The Oceano Dunes are the only place in the Golden State where you're permitted to do all of that on the sand.

Nipomo: Lake by the Sea A freshwater lake that’s a stone’s throw away from a massive ocean might seem like just an anomaly, but its seaside location is exactly what makes Oso Flaco Lake so remarkable. There you can explore the California dunes ecosystem from water-level boardwalks and see how wind-carved sands formed the ideal environment for water grasses and migratory birds just beyond the Pacific’s crashing waves.

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This is the “Discovery Route” portion of Highway 1, which snakes through San Luis Obispo County and is exceedingly road-trip-friendly. All you need to do is plot out some destination points before you embark. Fortunately, we’ve done that for you. Read on for a south-to-north guide to 10 definitive, must-stop Central Coast destinations along Highway 1.

Highway 1 is one of the most famed stretches of road on the planet. Busy Lincoln Boulevard at LAX is technically part of the fabled highway, but true coastal bliss lies far north of here. A drive up Highway 1 into the unspoiled Central Coast reveals a different California, where quaint towns and long stretches of rugged nature replace the light and sound of the endless Los Angeles metropolis.

Drive North on Highway 1 to Experience California’s Central Coast at Its Most Sublime and Beguiling

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

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Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley: The Coastal AVAs Two of the Central Coast’s most legendary wine regions, Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley, sit right next to each other in southern SLO County, both easily accessible by car from Highway 1. The regions are both U.S. Government-certified American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), meaning their wines are of distinction, possessing an identifiable geographic pedigree that could come only from one place. For the Coastal AVAs, that means grapes grown in a unique combination of sedimentary and volcanic soil atop sloping hillsides, which catch vine-cooling sea breezes from the nearby Pacific. Even cool nighttime fog affects the fruit. When these Edna or Arroyo Grande grapes are turned into wine, a unique depth, minerality and color results from those growing conditions. It’s a taste achievable only by winemakers in California's Central Coast. Wine tours abound here, with a laid-back and welcoming vibe.

For the Coastal AVAs, that means grapes grown in a unique combination of sedimentary and volcanic soil atop sloping hillsides, which catch vine-cooling sea breezes from the nearby Pacific. Even cool nighttime fog affects the fruit. When these Edna or Arroyo Grande grapes are turned into wine, a unique depth, minerality and color results from those growing conditions. It’s a taste achievable only by winemakers in California's Central Coast. Wine tours abound here, with a laid-back and welcoming vibe.

Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley: The Coastal AVAs Two of the Central Coast’s most legendary wine regions, Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley, sit right next to each other in southern SLO County, both easily accessible by car from Highway 1. The regions are both U.S. Government-certified American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), meaning their wines are of distinction, possessing an identifiable geographic pedigree that could come only from one place.

Cambria's Pacific Coast Wine Trail If Highway 1 is the mother road of SLO County wine country, then the back roads of Cambria are some of ma's most charmingly idiosyncratic offspring. Along these routes runs the Pacific Coast Wine Trail, with its six stops: one vineyard, one winery and four cellars. At each, you'll encounter a boutique winemaker whose handcrafted varietals highlight a singular individuality of taste and reflect a unique production style.

Core of the Coast Trail Spend two days in the Edna Valley and drink in the leisure along with the wine on this tour of tastes offered by eight historic vineyards, each contributing must-try varietals to the region’s wine identity. Not only will you familiarize yourself with boutique and pioneer wineries whose offerings might be new to you, but you’ll also enjoy on-grounds access and unparalleled vineyard views at many stops on this intimate trail.

Avila Beach Wine Trail The oceanfront promenade in Avila Beach is the conveniently walkable setting for a one-of-a-kind Central Coast wine tour focused on the region's smallest family-owned wineries. In the cellars and tasting rooms along this trail, you’ll often enjoy enlightening, intimate conversation with actual winery founders about their Temps, Burgundies, Barberas and Rhones. Both casual and esoteric wine fans should appreciate that.

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

Best Beaches in Central California

Avila Beach takes its independent spirit seriously. Situated near the ocean, hills and wine estates, the walkable village hosts galleries and boutiques to suit most any aesthetic whim. There’s so much to see and do in one place — and we haven’t even discussed the surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding or fishing off the pier (no license required). Avila Beach truly is the liaison between the sea and the woodlands and between the field and the vineyard. Spend a few days here and depart smitten with your surroundings and seduced by the sea air.

Avila Beach

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Montaña de Oro

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The beach belonging to the funky town of Cayucos blends sand, surf and sun for a classic California vibe. Kids will love the sizeable playground on this state beach, which also boasts tidepools and no-license fishing off historic Cayucos Pier. The waves near the pier offer some serious surfing thrills, and schools such as Cayucos Surf Company help newbies get in on the wave-riding action. Multiple casual restaurants line the shore, including the sea-worthy Schooner’s, with a wide range of comfy accommodations on offer. On-leash dogs are welcome on the beach.

Cayucos Beach

You’ll find this local favorite next to the town of Old San Simeon, across Highway 1 from Hearst Castle. Calm waters and a long coastline form a protected cove with picnic sites and grill stands. Kids will love playing in the sand while grown-ups stroll the pier and enjoy no-license fishing. Other activities include swimming, kayaking and sunbathing. The beach-adjacent Coastal Discovery Center offers exhibits about the shoreline, wildlife and local history. Fido can frolic leash-free to the left of San Simeon Pier (leash laws enforced to the right).

William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach

One of the best stretches of sand in Central California for beachcombing, Moonstone Beach encourages exploration by visitors of all ages. This beach is known for its smooth “moonstones,” as well as sea glass and driftwood. Waves can be large and strong here, often unsuitable for swimming or surfing, but adjacent Shamel Park offers parking, restrooms, a playground, gazebo, horseshoes, a playing field and a seasonal heated swimming pool. Dogs are not allowed on Moonstone Beach but are permitted on-leash in Shamel Park.

Moonstone Beach

The six miles of white-sand beach between Morro Rock and the Cayucos Pier make for a scenic and challenging walk in Highway 1 Discovery country. The Morro Bay Strand Day Use Area covers a section of that beach boasting ideal conditions for fishing, windsurfing and kite-flying. It’s also a popular training ground for joggers. With excellent facilities for picnicking, this stretch of beach delights visitors with a picturesque view of Morro Rock in the distance. Leashed dogs are allowed in the adjacent campground but not on the beach.

Morro Strand State Beach

Let your four-legged friend frolic on the sand and in the surf at this charming off-leash dog beach on Cayucos’ southern tip. This stretch of coastline offers something not just for pups but for the whole family, including wildflowers, tidepools, surfing, fishing, birdwatching and beachcombing — sand dollars are common finds here. You and your pup will also encounter beautiful views of Morro Rock here, not to mention free parking. (If your dog is aggressive or has a strong hunting instinct, please keep him or her on-leash or at home.)

Morro Bay Dog Beach

Part of a scenic state park, this remote and serene beach can be reached by hiking through grasslands along the bluffs. While several stretches of waterfront skirt the trail below, the most accessible of them sit in a sandy cove where Villa Creek meets the sea. Here you’ll find a great spot for tidepooling, whalewatching and birdwatching, and beachcombing. Or sit down and enjoy a well-earned meal at a picnicking spot on the bluffs or in one of the oceanfront coves. Parking is plentiful and easy to find along Highway 1 between Cayucos and Cambria.

The Beaches of Estero Bluffs State Park

Here you’ll encounter rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. Naturalists, backpackers, mountain bikers and horse lovers enjoy the solitude, freedom and wildlife-viewing available along the park’s trails. The best-known beach is Spooner’s Cove, across from the campground, with both primitive and equestrian campsites. Other spots with names like Sandspit and Hazard Canyon Reef should give you an idea of what this park has in store for adventurous beachgoers.

The Beaches of Montaña de Oro State Park

Visiting Morro Bay State Park opens a window on the Central Coast at its finest. Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the marina, hiking, golfing or watching wildlife ― all beneath a stand of majestic Monterey Pines. Morro Strand is a wonderful beach that doubles as a coastal frontage park. Trails around the strand abound for hikers and mountain bikers, and kayakers will love cruising around the bay (on-leash dogs are allowed on trails). When you’re ready for an indoor adventure, don’t miss the Natural History Museum, which has views of the ocean.

The Beaches of Morro Bay State Park

As thrilling as it is beautiful, the Oceano State Vehicular Recreation Area invites guests to drive their vehicles on the sand — from RTVs to SUVs. Other activities here include swimming, hiking, surfing, kite-flying and horseback riding. Visitors can also enjoy surf fishing or digging for famous Pismo clams. And don’t miss the boardwalk from the recreation area parking lot to the Monarch Butterfly Grove. Cross the freshwater lagoon adjacent to the grove for excellent bird watching. (Dogs are allowed on-leash only.)

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Beach

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

Best Beaches in Central California

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The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

The Best Beaches

Best Beaches in Central California

Thanks to pleasant weather and abundant agriculture, coastal San Luis Obispo County is a paradise of legendary farmers markets that are open every day year-round. You'll find not just produce, fish, meats and cheeses for sale, but also spices, honey, seedlings and flowers. Many markets offer more than just fresh fixings, with prepared food, live music and entertainment to keep you happy. So, grab your shopping bag or basket, stroll the stalls, talk directly to the farmer who feeds you, and find something flavorful and fun to snack on or take home and cook later.

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

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Visit Highway 1 Site

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Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

Arroyo Grande Farmers Market

Located at the footbridge of the Old Village of Arroyo Grande, this market is open for business Saturdays from noon to 2:30 p.m. year-round. Roosters roam and crow throughout the town’s City Hall parking lot, which hosts the market. In these bucolic creekside surrounds, you’ll find some of the freshest produce in the Golden State, see and hear talented local musicians play, and peruse the unique works on offer by a range of artists. Standout items at the Arroyo Grande Farmers Market include Asian vegetables, homemade jams and jellies, avocados, and a variety of fresh bakery items.

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This gem of a farmers market sets up shop in the charming town of Avila Beach each Friday afternoon from 4 to 8 p.m., April through September. The market runs along the Front Street Promenade, the town’s scenic, walkable main drag (and last street before the beach). The Avila Beach Farmers Market is best known for booths overflowing with fresh local produce, copious fresh-caught fish, delicious hand-crafted artisan foods and unique crafts. The town's many restaurants sell delightful local fare during market hours, and live entertainment brings the fun for kids of all ages.

Avila Beach Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

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This quaint, year-round seaside farmers market in idyllic Cambria takes place on Fridays from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (with closing time extended to 5:30 p.m. May through September). With its multitude of fruits, flowers, and vegetables grown on farms and orchards throughout Central California, Cambria Farmers Market encourages you to try a little bit of everything that makes the Central Coast so scrumptious. Pick from fresh baked goods, pies, BBQ, and more mouthwatering gourmet items. The market occurs in the parking lot of Cambria's Veterans’ Hall (1000 Main Street).

Cambria Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

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Visit Highway 1 Site

This particular farmers market reflects its hometown quite accurately, and we can sum both up with one phrase: They might be small, but they sure are mighty. Despite its compact size, Cayucos Farmers Market will doubtless impress you with its wide selection of quality consumables, gifts and more, from fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs and other dairy products to flowers and arts and crafts made by local artisans. The market is located in Cayucos' Veterans Hall parking lot (101 Cayucos Drive), with open hours from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Friday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Cayucos Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Visitors to this beloved agrarian outpost will discover dozens of products that transcend what they might have come to expect as "the typical farmers market fare" (i.e., fruit, vegetables and flowers). Don't miss the dried fruits, microgreens, homemade soups, goat's milk hand lotion, knitted caps and handmade jewelry on offer here. You'll also enjoy the market's live musical performances, which vary from one soloist to small groups and ensembles. The market, at 668 Santa Maria Avenue in Los Osos, runs Mondays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. year-round.

Baywood-Los Osos Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

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Visit Highway 1 Site

In the rustic ranch town of Nipomo, you can purchase all of the high-quality, California-fresh fruits and veggies that you'd expect to see at any self-respecting farmers market in this region. That's not what makes Nipomo Farmers Market special. It's the delightfully idiosyncratic array of succulents, olives, olive oil, chocolate, baked goods, and candles that you'll find when this little gathering of vendors opens up shop across from the Monarch Club at Monarch Dunes Golf Course (1645 Trilogy Parkway) each Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. year-round.

Nipomo Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

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The Central Coast boasts some of the best beaches in the U.S. and certainly some of the finest on the West Coast. What sets them apart? It's their miles of white sand — uncrowded and untouched — and the unbelievably scenic surrounds that frame each of these special stretches of coastline. It's their wide range, too: Visitors will find ideal beaches for sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, surfing, tidepooling, doggie fun and even dune-driving. No matter who you are, the beaches between Big Sur and Nipomo are sure to please.

Best Beaches in Central California

Visit Highway 1 Site

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Beach

Visiting Morro Bay State Park opens a window on the Central Coast at its finest. Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the marina, hiking, golfing or watching wildlife ― all beneath a stand of majestic Monterey Pines. Morro Strand is a wonderful beach that doubles as a coastal frontage park. Trails around the strand abound for hikers and mountain bikers, and kayakers will love cruising around the bay (on-leash dogs are allowed on trails). When you’re ready for an indoor adventure, don’t miss the Natural History Museum, which has views of the ocean.

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Located at the footbridge of the Old Village of Arroyo Grande, this market is open for business Saturdays from noon to 2:30 p.m. year-round. Roosters roam and crow throughout the town’s City Hall parking lot, which hosts the market. In these bucolic creekside surrounds, you’ll find some of the freshest produce in the Golden State, see and hear talented local musicians play, and peruse the unique works on offer by a range of artists. Standout items at the Arroyo Grande Farmers Market include Asian vegetables, homemade jams and jellies, avocados, and a variety of fresh bakery items.

Arroyo Grande Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

Visit Highway 1 Site

This gem of a farmers market sets up shop in the charming town of Avila Beach each Friday afternoon from 4 to 8 p.m., April through September. The market runs along the Front Street Promenade, the town’s scenic, walkable main drag (and last street before the beach). The Avila Beach Farmers Market is best known for booths overflowing with fresh local produce, copious fresh-caught fish, delicious hand-crafted artisan foods and unique crafts. The town's many restaurants sell delightful local fare during market hours, and live entertainment brings the fun for kids of all ages.

Avila Beach Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

Visit Highway 1 Site

This quaint, year-round seaside farmers market in idyllic Cambria takes place on Fridays from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (with closing time extended to 5:30 p.m. May through September). With its multitude of fruits, flowers, and vegetables grown on farms and orchards throughout Central California, Cambria Farmers Market encourages you to try a little bit of everything that makes the Central Coast so scrumptious. Pick from fresh baked goods, pies, BBQ, and more mouthwatering gourmet items. The market occurs in the parking lot of Cambria's Veterans’ Hall (1000 Main Street).

Cambria Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

Visit Highway 1 Site

This particular farmers market reflects its hometown quite accurately, and we can sum both up with one phrase: They might be small, but they sure are mighty. Despite its compact size, Cayucos Farmers Market will doubtless impress you with its wide selection of quality consumables, gifts and more, from fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs and other dairy products to flowers and arts and crafts made by local artisans. The market is located in Cayucos' Veterans Hall parking lot (101 Cayucos Drive), with open hours from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Friday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Cayucos Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visitors to this beloved agrarian outpost will discover dozens of products that transcend what they might have come to expect as "the typical farmers market fare" (i.e., fruit, vegetables and flowers). Don't miss the dried fruits, microgreens, homemade soups, goat's milk hand lotion, knitted caps and handmade jewelry on offer here. You'll also enjoy the market's live musical performances, which vary from one soloist to small groups and ensembles. The market, at 668 Santa Maria Avenue in Los Osos, runs Mondays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. year-round.

Baywood-Los Osos Farmers Market

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

TOP UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

BEST FARMERS MARKETS

Top Unique Experiences

Every twist, turn, pull-off and pit stop along the 101-mile stretch of Highway 1 that snakes through San Luis Obispo County reveals vast worlds in waiting. That’s why we call it the Discovery Route: It’s the secret treasure map to a fantasy-storybook version of California, replete with pristine shorelines, quiet forests, historic landmarks and charming small towns. Each step through these unique places leads to wonder, and every bite and sip uncovers riches to share. Read on to learn how you can take a deep dive into Highway 1 Discovery Route country with some truly unique experiences.

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

Hearst Castle

Perched imposingly atop a scrubby promontory on the east side of Highway 1 in San Simeon, the extravagant Hearst Castle has beguiled generations of visitors from around the world. Newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’s larger-than life and often idiosyncratic tastes are on full display here, as are his impressive collections of 14th- to 17th- century fine and decorative European art. No trip to the Central Coast is complete without a stop at this unforgettable castle, so don’t miss marveling at this truly one-of-a-kind place — it’s a Discovery Route tradition.

Located on the bay in San Simeon, the Coastal Discovery Center celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of the Central Coast. Interpretive displays and exhibits inside the center feature marine wildlife habitats, the whaling history of San Simeon Bay, the signs of a healthy watershed and more. There’s a replica of a Delta submarine used to discover wreckage from the area’s recorded 1,276 shipwrecks. The CDC also runs citizen science programs that encourage hands-on learning and data contribution, as well as guided tours that offer even more immersive experiences.

Coastal Discovery Center

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Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

Spanning less than one mile, the historic East Village district of Cambria tells the rich and fascinating history of this fascinating seaside hamlet amid the pines. Grab a guide from the Guthrie/Bianchini House (2251 Center Street), a historic home that now serves as the Cambria Historical Museum, and take yourself on a walking tour of 28 notable sites. You’ll learn about Cambria’s strong Azorean/Portuguese immigrant history, its whaling families and how a simple fence-line dispute in 1911 ended with a shotgun murder in front of Mozzi’s Saloon, which is still pouring drinks to this day.

Cambria‘s Historic East Village

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Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

The serene setting of Avila Beach seems at odds with the treacherous waters in its backyard, the San Luis Bay. In the days before satellite and radio, the Point San Luis Lighthouse guided countless seafarers to safety. It’s the last remaining of three two-story California lighthouses that were built from identical plans in a Prairie Victorian/Gothic architectural style. The U.S. Coast Guard operates the lighthouse today and welcomes visitors to tour its grounds and experience their stunning coastal views, to witness this historic landmark in operation, and to learn about the life and duties of a light keeper.

Point San Luis Lighthouse

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

The Oceano Train Depot was built in 1904 and was key to the development of south San Luis Obispo County, acting as a hub for all train and telegraph traffic, and mail distribution. Though it was retired in 1973, a band of train buffs volunteered to restore the building practically to its original condition. Now it’s a museum dedicated to both Oceano’s railroad history and to the surrounding community. Exhibits include special railroad equipment and tools, as well as a caboose from the Salt Lake Railway and a Southern Pacific Boxcar. The depot also hosts memorials and model train days.

Oceano Train Depot

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

BEST FARMERS MARKETS

TOP UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Visit Highway 1 Site

Thanks to pleasant weather and abundant agriculture, coastal San Luis Obispo County is a paradise of legendary farmers markets that are open every day year-round. You'll find not just produce, fish, meats and cheeses for sale, but also spices, honey, seedlings and flowers. Many markets offer more than just fresh fixings, with prepared food, live music and entertainment to keep you happy. So, grab your shopping bag or basket, stroll the stalls, talk directly to the farmer who feeds you, and find something flavorful and fun to snack on or take home and cook later.

Best Central Coast Farmers Markets

Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

In the rustic ranch town of Nipomo, you can purchase all of the high-quality, California-fresh fruits and veggies that you'd expect to see at any self-respecting farmers market in this region. That's not what makes Nipomo Farmers Market special. It's the delightfully idiosyncratic array of succulents, olives, olive oil, chocolate, baked goods, and candles that you'll find when this little gathering of vendors opens up shop across from the Monarch Club at Monarch Dunes Golf Course (1645 Trilogy Parkway) each Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. year-round.

Nipomo Farmers Market

Visit Highway 1 Site

Perched imposingly atop a scrubby promontory on the east side of Highway 1 in San Simeon, the extravagant Hearst Castle has beguiled generations of visitors from around the world. Newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’s larger-than life and often idiosyncratic tastes are on full display here, as are his impressive collections of 14th- to 17th- century fine and decorative European art. No trip to the Central Coast is complete without a stop at this unforgettable castle, so don’t miss marveling at this truly one-of-a-kind place — it’s a Discovery Route tradition.

Hearst Castle

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Located on the bay in San Simeon, the Coastal Discovery Center celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of the Central Coast. Interpretive displays and exhibits inside the center feature marine wildlife habitats, the whaling history of San Simeon Bay, the signs of a healthy watershed and more. There’s a replica of a Delta submarine used to discover wreckage from the area’s recorded 1,276 shipwrecks. The CDC also runs citizen science programs that encourage hands-on learning and data contribution, as well as guided tours that offer even more immersive experiences.

Coastal Discovery Center

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Spanning less than one mile, the historic East Village district of Cambria tells the rich and fascinating history of this fascinating sea-side hamlet amid the pines. Grab a guide from the Guthrie/Bianchini House (2251 Center Street), a historic home that now serves as the Cambria Historical Museum, and take yourself on a walking tour of 28 notable sites. You’ll learn about Cambria’s strong Azorean/Portuguese immigrant history, its whaling families and how a simple fence-line dispute in 1911 ended with a shotgun murder in front of Mozzi’s Saloon, which is still pouring drinks to this day.

Cambria‘s Historic East Village

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Spanning less than one mile, the historic East Village district of Cambria tells the rich and fascinating history of this fascinating sea-side hamlet amid the pines. Grab a guide from the Guthrie/Bianchini House (2251 Center Street), a historic home that now serves as the Cambria Historical Museum, and take yourself on a walking tour of 28 notable sites. You’ll learn about Cambria’s strong Azorean/Portuguese immigrant history, its whaling families and how a simple fence-line dispute in 1911 ended with a shotgun murder in front of Mozzi’s Saloon, which is still pouring drinks to this day.

Cambria‘s Historic East Village

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

Avila Beach

Los Osos & Baywood Park

Cayucos

Cambria

San Simeon

Ragged Point

Elephant Seal Rookery

PULL-OVERS

Hiking & Wine Tasting

Bob Jones Trail

Monarch Butterfly Grove

PULL-OVERS

LOCATIONS

Article 3

A Wine Lovers Paradise

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

ARTICLES

Top Unique Experiences

Best Whale Watching

Nipomo

Oceano

Arroyo Grande Valley

Avila Beach

Edna Valley

Los Osos & Baywood Park

Cayucos

Cambria

San Simeon

Ragged Point

LOCATIONS

Cayucos

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

If you don’t post snapshots with killer captions and clever hashtags on social media at key points throughout your trip, was it even worth the drive? Of course it was. But because Highway 1 is stocked with mile after picturesque mile of premium #vacay pic potential, we thought we’d share our insider knowledge with those of you who want to capture the most perfect of picture-perfect moments for your feed — or just for your family photo album. Read on for a list of must-shoot sites and attractions, from Nipomo to Ragged Point. Tag us #Highway1DiscoveryRoute to be featured in Highway 1’s Instagram gallery.

Visit Highway 1 Site

Perched imposingly atop a scrubby promontory on the east side of Highway 1 in San Simeon, the extravagant Hearst Castle has beguiled generations of visitors from around the world. Newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’s larger-than life and often idiosyncratic tastes are on full display here, as are his impressive collections of 14th- to 17th- century fine and decorative European art. No trip to the Central Coast is complete without a stop at this unforgettable castle, so don’t miss marveling at this truly one-of-a-kind place — it’s a Discovery Route tradition.

Hearst Castle

Top Unique Experiences Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Grab a photo of yourself, your beau and/or your crew while enjoying sips from a whole new world of wine in scenic Edna Valley. Visiting this rustic corner of primo Central Coast wine turf takes you back to a time when Highway 1 looked even more rustic, watched over by denizens of the pre-Millenial generations. (Many of them still watch over it!) Edna Valley and neighboring Arroyo Grande Valley are home to more than 30 inviting wineries that welcome you with their unpretentious and easygoing California vibes.

Edna Valley Wineries

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

The historic Dana Adobe in Nipomo is a great place to quite literally picture yourself in California history. Try this: Re-create a photo of William Dana and his beloved wife, Maria Josefa Carrillo, both of whom settled this land via a Mexican land grant, in front of their charming home. It still stands today, just waiting for you and your photo op. Let your snapshot transport you back to the time when the Central Coast was known as Alta California, belonged to our neighbors to the south, and was populated mostly by vaqueros (a.k.a. cowboys).

Nipomo’s Dana Adobe

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Once you’ve escaped L.A.’s traffic snarl via Highway 1 and pulled off in Oceano, park that commuter mobile, hop into a rental Hummer or ATV, and snap selfies while you cruise over the Oceano Dunes: 3,500 acres of rolling beachfront sand that you’re actually allowed to drive on. (Just please make sure you’re parked for the pics, OK?) When your fun-loving shots hit social media, your online friends will instantly understand your love of adventure. Hiking, surfing and fishing are other popular (and pic-worthy) options at this adult playground.

Oceano Dunes

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Q: What could be more delicious than picking your own ultra-fresh fruit straight from the tree in one of the greatest produce-producing regions in the world? A: Taking a selfie and posting it for all of your supermarket-bound friends back home to drool over, of course! The setting for this photo op is the Avila Valley Barn (actually a farm), with its highly photogenic pumpkin patches, apple trees and blueberry fields. An on-site petting zoo offers even more opportunities for photo posts … Just imagine how many likes a goat-cuddling photo could rack up.

Avila Valley Barn

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

This jaw-dropping and iconic Central Coast scenic wonderland provides the ideal background against which to strike a (yoga) pose and show off your moves for that essential serene/panoramic selfie with you as the centerpiece. In Montaña de Oro State Park, Highway 1’s singular beauty acts as the ultimate backdrop. There are many hikes that will lead you to that perfect mediation or yoga spot. Check out one of these great trails: Bluff Trail, Hazard Peak, Islay Creek and Oaks Peak. Happy "om"-ing — and happy social posting — to everyone.

Montaña de Oro State Park in Los Osos

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Catch a sunset photo at the Cayucos Pier with your best friend, human or otherwise. Doggos are more than welcome at this pier, which is a veritable canine paradise. You and Fido can take in the panoramic view of one of California’s finest beaches together with all the other dogs and dog lovers. This is the place to get that uber-adorable selfie of you and your pup chilling on your beach vacation — the kind of snapshot that hundreds of social media likes are made of. Don’t forget to grab your furry friend a sausage from the famous nearby smokehouse on your way out.

Cayucos Pier

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

If dogs aren’t your bag, then why not snap a selfie with a different kind of BFF: a 5,000 pound elephant seal? Catch them while you can at San Simeon’s Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. The creatures are easiest to meet there in late January, late April and late October, when they take up temporary residence. Visit in winter and you might even see a momma elephant seal give birth. Be careful and respectful, though: Shoot from a distance as you try to get your photo and expect her to be protective of her baby and her territory.

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon

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Visit Highway 1 Site

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Break your friends’ feed with a stunning scenic snapshot of the gateway to Big Sur from a pull-off atop Ragged Point. Big Sur represents the best of the West Coast, and this gateway is iconic (just like you). Big Sur spans over 70 miles along the Pacific Coast’s Highway 1. It draws millions of visitors each year with its National Marine Sanctuary and dramatic ocean views. If there’s anything California knows, it’s drama, so capture it with a panoramic photo of this natural marvel, and post that baby!

The Gateway to Big Sur in Ragged Point

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Grab a photo of yourself, your beau and/or your crew while enjoying sips from a whole new world of wine in scenic Old Edna Valley. Visiting this rustic corner of primo Central Coast wine turf takes you back to a time when Highway 1 looked even more rustic, watched over by denizens of the pre-Millenial generations. (Many of them still watch over it!) Edna Valley and neighboring Arroyo Grande Valley are home to more than 30 inviting wineries that welcome you with their unpretentious and easygoing California vibes

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Grab a photo of yourself, your beau and/or your crew while enjoying sips from a whole new world of wine in scenic Old Edna Valley. Visiting this rustic corner of primo Central Coast wine turf takes you back to a time when Highway 1 looked even more rustic, watched over by denizens of the pre-Millenial generations. (Many of them still watch over it!) Edna Valley and neighboring Arroyo Grande Valley are home to more than 30 inviting wineries that welcome you with their unpretentious and easygoing California vibes.

Old Edna Valley Wineries

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

The historic Dana Adobe in Nipomo is a great place to quite literally picture yourself in California history. Try this: Re-create a photo of William Dana and his beloved wife, Maria Josefa Carrillo, both of whom settled this land via a Mexican land grant in front of their charming home that still stands today, just waiting for you and your photo op. Let your snapshot transport you back to the time when the Central Coast was known as Alta California, belonged to our neighbors to the south, and was populated mostly by vaqueros (a.k.a. cowboys).

Nipomo’s Dana Adobe

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Once you’ve escaped L.A.’s traffic snarl via Highway 1 and pulled off in Oceano, park that commuter mobile, hop into a rental Hummer or ATV, and snap selfies while you cruise over the Oceano Dunes: 3,500 acres of rolling beachfront sand that you’re actually allowed to drive on. (Just please make sure you’re parked for the pics, OK?) When your fun-loving shots hit social media, your online friends will instantly understand your love of adventure. Hiking, surfing and fishing are other popular (and pic-worthy) options at this adult playground.

Oceano Dunes

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Once you’ve escaped L.A.’s traffic snarl via Highway 1 and pulled off in Oceano, park that commuter mobile, hop into a rental Hummer or ATV, and snap selfies while you cruise over the Oceano Dunes: 3,500 acres of rolling beachfront sand that you’re actually allowed to drive on. (Just please make sure you’re parked for the pics, OK?) When your fun-loving shots hit social media, your online friends will instantly understand your love of adventure. Hiking, surfing and fishing are other popular (and pic-worthy) options at this adult playground.

Oceano Dunes

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

This jaw-dropping and iconic Central Coast scenic wonderland provides the ideal background against which to strike a (yoga) pose and show off your moves for that essential serene/panoramic selfie with you as the centerpiece. In Montaña de Oro State Park, Highway 1’s singular beauty acts as the ultimate backdrop. There are many hikes that will lead you to that perfect mediation or yoga spot. Check out one of these great trails: Bluff Trail, Hazard Peak, Islay Creek and Oaks Peak. Happy "om"-ing — and happy social posting — to everyone.

Montaña de Oro State Park in Los Osos

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

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Title

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

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Title

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

WILDLIFE VIEWING

TOP SHAREABLE MOMENTS

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

A Wine Lover 's Paradise

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

When it comes to whale watching, the Central Coast boasts an embarrassment of riches. Here, whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals and seabirds play within full view of the shoreline. To make the most of wildlife viewing, the Whale Trail organization has identified the best whale watching spots on the West Coast. Of those 100 Whale Trail sites, San Luis Obispo County contains a whopping 10. (That’s the most in one county along the entire California coast.) Six of those whale watching viewpoints stand along the Highway 1 Discovery Route.

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

If you happen to see flashes of black and white as you're driving along the pastures that line Highway 1 below Hearst Castle in San Simeon, fear not: You are not hallucinating. Pull off, park alongside the highway, and check out the zebras, which have been roaming free on the land since the Hearst Zoo shut down decades ago. They're out and about most frequently when the weather is warm.

Zebras at Hearst Ranch

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

A Whale Trail sign stands on the boardwalk next to Cavalier Oceanfront Resort at 9419 Hearst Drive. To get there, take Highway 1 north and turn left on Pico Avenue. Make another left on Hearst Drive and park at the resort. Head for the three telescopes available and keep your eyes peeled for a California gray, humpback or blue whale, any of which you might spot from this vantage point.

Cavalier Oceanfront Resort in San Simeon

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Whale watching represents just one of the many fun activities available at Shamel Park in Cambria (5455 Windsor Boulevard). The six-acre park offers access to Moonstone Beach and includes a seasonal swimming pool, children’s area and picnic facilities. California Gray Whale migration north starts in early spring through March and April, while migration south runs December through February.

Shamel Park in Cambria

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

In 1872, Captain James Cass began construction of the Cayucos Pier, which provided commerce throughout the coastal communities. Today, it remains a central landmark of the area, offering fishing, strolling, surfer-watching and scouting for dolphins, otters, seals and birds. Plus, from the pier, visitors get perhaps the best view of the annual infamous Polar Bear Dip on New Year’s Day.

Cayucos Pier

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

This park features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons and hills, including 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. Naturalists, backpackers, mountain bikers and equestrian enthusiasts enjoy the solitude, freedom and wildlife-viewing available along the park’s trails. The best-known beach is Spooner’s Cove. Comb the sand, explore caves and climb rocks, or simply enjoy a seaside picnic.

Montaña de Oro State Park in Los Osos

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

In addition to whale watching, Avila Beach offers galleries and boutiques in town and surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing off the pier. Spend a few hours at the Central Coast Aquarium, located in downtown Avila Beach, and marvel at its 75 different species of local marine life, including sea stars, decorator crabs, swell sharks, moon jellies, and, if you're lucky, a Giant Pacific Octopus.

Avila Beach

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

This is a prime spot for not just whale watching but also birdwatching, wildflower- spotting and digging for rare Pismo clams (provided you have the proper gear and permits). For bonus information on the Dunites, Pismo clams, Chumash culture and more, there’s a brand-new visitor center at the preserve with exhibits all about Oceano. This is surely California’s finest dune complex.

Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

TOP SHAREABLE MOMENTS

WILDLIFE VIEWING

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Break your friends’ feed with a stunning scenic snapshot of the gateway to Big Sur from a pull-off atop Ragged Point. Big Sur represents the best of the West Coast, and this gateway is iconic, just like you. Big Sur spans over 70 miles along the Pacific Coast’s Highway 1. It draws millions of visitors each year with its National Marine Sanctuary and dramatic ocean views. If there’s anything California knows, it’s drama, so capture it with a panoramic photo of this natural marvel, and post that baby!

Top Shareable Moments Along Highway 1

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

Break your friends’ feed with a stunning scenic snapshot of the gateway to Big Sur from a pull-off atop Ragged Point. Big Sur represents the best of the West Coast, and this gateway is iconic, just like you. Big Sur spans over 70 miles along the Pacific Coast’s Highway 1. It draws millions of visitors each year with its National Marine Sanctuary and dramatic ocean views. If there’s anything California knows, it’s drama, so capture it with a panoramic photo of this natural marvel, and post that baby!

The Gateway to Big Sur in Ragged Point

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

If you happen to see flashes of black and white as you're driving along the pastures that line Highway 1 below Hearst Castle in San Simeon, fear not: You are not hallucinating. Pull off, park alongside the highway, and check out the zebras, which have been roaming free on the land since the Hearst Zoo shut down decades ago. They're out and about most frequently when the weather is warm.

Zebras at Hearst Ranch

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

A Whale Trail sign stands on the boardwalk next to Cavalier Oceanfront Resort at 9419 Hearst Drive. To get there, take Highway 1 North and turn left on Pico Avenue. Make another left on Hearst Drive and park at the resort. Head for the three telescopes available and keep your eyes peeled for a California Gray, Humpback or Blue Whale, any of which you might spot from this vantage point.

Cavalier Oceanfront Resort in San Simeon

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

Whale watching represents just one of the many fun activities available at Shamel Park in Cambria (5455 Windsor Boulevard). The six-acre park offers access to Moonstone Beach and includes a seasonal swimming pool, children’s area, and picnic facilities. California Gray Whale migration north starts in early spring through March and April, while migration south runs December through February.

Shamel Park in Cambria

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

In 1872, Captain James Cass began construction of the Cayucos Pier, which provided commerce throughout the coastal communities. Today, it remains a central landmark of the area, offering fishing, strolling, surfer-watching, and scouting for dolphins, otters, seals and birds. Plus, from the pier, visitors get perhaps the best view of the annual infamous Polar Bear Dip on New Year’s Day.

Cayucos Pier

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

In 1872, Captain James Cass began construction of the Cayucos Pier, which provided commerce throughout the coastal communities. Today, it remains a central landmark of the area, offering fishing, strolling, surfer-watching, and scouting for dolphins, otters, seals and birds. Plus, from the pier, visitors get perhaps the best view of the annual infamous Polar Bear Dip on New Year’s Day.

Cayucos Pier

Visit Highway 1 Site

Wildlife Viewing Along Highway 1

In addition to whale watching, Avila Beach offers galleries and boutiques in town and surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing off the pier. Spend a few hours at the Central Coast Aquarium, located in downtown Avila Beach, and marvel at its 75 different species of local marine life, including sea stars, decorator crabs, swell sharks, moon jellies, and, if you're lucky, a Giant Pacific Octopus.

Cayucos Pier

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Hike the Black Swift Falls Trail at the Gateway to Big Sur

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Saddle up on a Clydesdale for a scenic ride in Cambria

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Cambria's serene, scenic Moonstone Beach boardwalk

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Take a coastal hike at Cambria's Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Let the doggo run in the sand on Morro Bay State Beach

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Los Osos-Baywood is a hidden Central Coast gem

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Avila Beach is a traveler's 'perfect paradise'

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Edna Valley is the heart of Central Coast wine country

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Outdoor adventures abound in Oceano and Nipomo

PULL- OVERS

VIDEOS

Oceano & Nipomo: Revelry & Recreation

Edna Valley: Wine With a View

Avila Beach: A Traveler's Paradise

Los Osos-Baywood: A Hidden Gem

Morro Bay State Beach: Dogs Rule

Fiscalini Ranch: An Oceanfront Hike

Moonstone Beach: A Bucolic Boardwalk

Cambria: A Place to Ride Clydesdales

San Simeon & Ragged Point: Black Swift Falls

Highway 1: An Epic Road Trip

Oceano & Nipomo: Revelry & Recreation

Edna Valley: Wine With a View

Avila Beach: A Traveler's Paradise

Los Osos-Baywood: A Hidden Gem

Morro Bay State Beach: Dogs Rule

Fiscalini Ranch: An Oceanfront Hike

Moonstone Beach: A Bucolic Boardwalk

Cambria: A Place to Ride Clydesdales

San Simeon & Ragged Point: Black Swift Falls

Highway 1: An Epic Road Trip

Visit Highway 1 Site

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Highway 1 takes you on the road trip of a lifetime

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: San Simeon and Ragged Point, the gateway to Big Sur

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Saddle up on a Clydesdale for a scenic ride in Cambria

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Cambria's serene, scenic Moonstone Beach boardwalk

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Take a coastal hike at Cambria's Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Take a coastal hike at Cambria's Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Los Osos-Baywood is a hidden Central Coast gem

Visit Highway 1 Site

Avila Beach is a traveler's 'perfect paradise'

Visit Highway 1 Site

Video: Video: Edna Valley is the heart of Central Coast wine country

Black Swift Falls

A Place to Ride Clydesdales

An Oceanfront Hike

A Bucolic Boardwalk

Revelry & Recreation

Wine With a View

A Traveler's Paradise

A Hidden Gem

Dogs Rule

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

Hearst San Simeon State Park: Stunning Scenery & Elephant Seals With its coastal bluffs, clear views of the ocean and rugged shore, and easy access to nearby Point Piedras Blancas and its Elephant Seal Boardwalk, this park might be able to claim the title of Ultimate Central Coast Experience. An easy 3.3.-mile trail runs through parts of the San Simeon Natural Preserve and includes scenic overlooks, rest-stop benches and interpretive panels with information on wildlife and habitat.

Cambria: Home to Three Wonderful Coastal Hikes Cambria State Marine Park, an offshore wildlife refuge south of San Simeon Point, features 5.3 miles of protected coastline that's a top beachfront hike for nature lovers. On Cambria's northern tip, Fiscalini Ranch Preserve offers a dramatic mile-plus-long ocean-bluff path that heads inland from the rocky coast. To the south, Moonstone Beach's meandering mile-long boardwalk is a treat to trot.

Harmony Headlands State Park: Valleys to Bluffs to the Sea This park is 784 acres of pure, unadulterated Golden State bliss located between Cayucos and Cambria, and its trail takes visitors through the best of it. The hike, an easy-to-moderate walk along a gradual 4.5-mile lollipop loop, crosses a coastal valley and gradually ascends to ocean bluffs with killer views. Then, it descends 135 feet to a coastal footpath that runs along the rugged seaside.

Cayucos Discovery Loop: The Only Urban/Coastal Hike Classic California beach town Cayucos has something for hikers both coastal and urban, and it's all on the same trail. In this case, the trail is an easy walkable loop that includes a legendary fishing pier, a beautiful beach, many historic buildings and Main Street, with its fresh seafood restaurants, antique stores and genuine Old West tavern. Many other charming points of interest will divert you along the way.

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

Estero Bluffs State Park: Gorgeous Sunsets & Sea Creatures Galore With its flat, open trails of two to three miles, this park offers an easy hike for almost anyone. You'll be treated to expansive views of the bay, with Morro Rock in the distance, and a craggy yet delightful coastline of tide pools and offshore waters beloved by otters and harbor seals. Sunsets are spectacular here. The adventurous can access the ocean by scrambling down a trail near San Geronimo Creek and walking along the water.

Morro Strand State Beach: The Ultimate Beachfront Hike When you're craving some waterfront relaxation, park at either end of the beach and simply start strolling on the sand. This three-mile walk is coastal frontage the whole way, so it's certainly the easiest hike on our list — less a hike and more a stroll on the beach that's a walk in the park. (Hint: If you start from the Cayucos Pier and walk toward Morro Rock, it's a six-mile round trip all on wide-open white-sand beaches.)

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

Morro Bay State Park Marina Peninsula Trail: Wondrous Natural Habitats This easy 0.7-mile trail is actually a boardwalk that winds through a variety of the park's lagoons and natural bay habitats. You'll encounter the estuary, the sandspit, the mud flats and the salt marsh, plus scenic views of Morro Rock (which is, in fact, a volcanic plug). This is a good hike for photographers, who will love the scenery, and birdwatchers, who will thrill to the pristine marsh's thriving avian population.

Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve: Ancient Forest of Small-ish Trees This storybook spot offers three easy trails, each leading guests along a pleasant jaunt through shady groves of 800-year-old pygmy-style coast live oaks whose squat stature translates to a canopy much lower than that of the average forest. Here you might feel you're a giant strolling some corner of Middle-earth. Los Osos Creek, Chumash and Oak View Trails all loop through the park; hikes range from 0.75 to 1.5 miles.

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

Point Buchon Trail: Stunning Cliffs & Awesome Vistas Our next trailhead begins where the Montaña de Oro State Park line ends to the south. Point Buchon Trail travels across grassy bluffs that overlook a rugged shoreline with mesmerizing cliff formations, minimal elevation change and excellent views. The trail is 3.4 miles from end to end. A 1.3-mile loop at the outset offers a shorter option, or use the loop to trim the out-and-back hike to 6.25 miles.

Oceano Dunes & Oso Flaco Lake: Your Own Adventure Bipedal exploration of the geologically unique Oceano Dunes State Recreation Area reveals a serene, hikeable landscape where you can forge any trail you wish — and give your calves a great workout. Or, take it super-easy on the Oso Flaco Lake Trail, a level two-mile round-trip boardwalk stroll over birdlife-filled Oso Flaco Lake and across the sand to a remote, serene beach and a scenic viewpoint over the dunes.

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

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The fact that these trails are on public land is one big plus. They're also low-impact, and most folks of average mobility — kids to grandparents — could walk them without much sweat. The coastal hikes are so-called for their close proximity to the sea (some are beach hikes) or for their dazzling scenic views of the Pacific. Regardless, each is its own unique and unforgettable experience.

As it cuts north through San Luis Obispo County, Highway 1 offers a seemingly endless array of dazzling wining, dining, entertainment and R&R options. But once you've had your fill of fun, food and vino, you'll be delighted to learn how easy it is to get some seriously scenic recreation: Just head to one of 12 state parks along Highway 1 and hit the trail for a truly amazing coastal hike.

Take a deep breath of fresh, clean Central Coast air and get ready to hike the Golden State's greatest outdoors in one of 12 state parks along Highway 1.

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

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Ar ticle 3

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

Ragged Point: The Grand View No Central Coast trip is complete without a stop at Ragged Point, a.k.a. the Gateway to Big Sur. Halfway between L.A. and San Francisco, here natural beauty abounds. Cliffs cascade into foamy, crystal-blue water, and low-level clouds form offshore to cool the breeze. Stop for the vistas at Ragged Point Scenic View. You'll revel in the fact that such a place exists right up the road from L.A.'s concrete jungle.

San Simeon: Light the Way A visit to a historic lighthouse can result in some very shareable snapshots, and Pierdas Blancas Light Station provides the perfect scenic photo-op. Built in 1874 on a windswept point named after its white rocks, the light station shows its stalwartness in rugged brick construction and weathered outbuildings. Take an in-depth tour of the grounds and see the historic inner workings of the outpost.

Cambria: Coastal Wildlife Wonderland Looking for the perfect spot to spy sea life? Cambria’s Whale Trail has some of the nation’s best vantage points of the largest animal ever known to exist: the blue whale. Sea otters also frolic in the kelp beds offshore, and seabirds dive and feed. Just south of Hearst Castle, the trail features three telescopes, a visitors center and a gift shop run by a nonprofit that supports the area’s preservation efforts.

Cayucos: Stay for Awhile Packing as much charm as possible onto its hillside locale, Cayucos is the small-town beach resort you’ll never want to leave. But start with staying a night or two; this bucolic Estero Bay town offers a wide variety of lodgings. The Cass House Inn is an elevated B&B with five uniquely appointed rooms only blocks from the beach, and luxurious Wellspring Ranch offers a pastoral R&R-oriented getaway just for couples.

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

Los Osos: A Giant in the Forest Ever wish to be as tall and strong as a mighty oak? You can live that dream in Los Osos. Its Elfin Forest of El Moro is a fantastical place filled with small-scale-yet-fully-grown. This one-of-a-kind natural area’s specific climate conditions and soil content have birthed a groveof pygmy oaks that grow only 4 to 20 feet tall. Taking an easy 1-mile-loophike through the forest will make you feel enormous in a good way.

Avila Beach: Taste the Sea Between Point San Luis and Fossil Point, the calm waters of Avila Beach first played host to a commercial fishing port. History continues today, with fresh seafood catches and tastes. The Olde Port Inn restaurant sits at the end of Hartford Pier and offers 360-degree ocean views, as well as fresh daily seafood and a casual vibe. If you’d rather whip up something yourself, check out the adjacent fish market.

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

Edna Valley: A Valley Wine Trail Take a famous Central Coast sip in a quaint locale in Edna Valley, located just four miles from the ocean. A designated American Viticultural Area, the valley is a cool-climate region specializing in California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. What’s good for the grapes is good for the guests: An overnight stay in Edna Valley reveals a crisp morning, perfect for hiking the area on easy-to-moderate trails.

Arroyo Grande Valley: Huasna Townsite Road California is rife with iconic scenic drives, but Huasna Townsite Road is quietly one of the best. Named after a land-grant rancho of old California, the farmland- and picket-fence-lined route will feel instantly familiar — it has been featured in countless car commercials and films. Going for a drive down this country lane will make you feel like you’re on the classic Great American Road trip, no matter what your vehicle.

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

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This is the “Discovery Route” portion of Highway 1, which snakes through San Luis Obispo County and is exceedingly road-trip-friendly. All you need to do is plot out some destination points before you embark. Fortunately, we’ve done that for you. Read on for a south-to-north guide to 10 definitive, must-stop Central Coast destinations along Highway 1.

Highway 1 is one of the most famed stretches of road on the planet. Busy Lincoln Boulevard at LAX is technically part of the fabled highway, but true coastal bliss lies far north of here. A drive up Highway 1 into the unspoiled Central Coast reveals a different California, where quaint towns and long stretches of rugged nature replace the light and sound of the endless Los Angeles metropolis.

Drive north on Highway 1 to experience California’s Central Coast at its most sublime and beguiling.

The Road Trip of a Lifetime

Ar ticle 3

Ar ticle 3

Edna Valley: A Valley Wine Trail Take a famous Central Coast sip in a quaint locale in Edna Valley, located just four miles from the ocean. A designated American Viticultural Area, the valley is a cool-climate region specializing in California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. What’s good for the grapes is good for the guests: An overnight stay in Edna Valley reveals a crisp morning, perfect for hiking the area on easy-to-moderate trails.

Arroyo Grande Valley: Huasna Townsite Road California is rife with iconic scenic drives, but Huasna Townsite Road is quietly one of the best. Named after a land-grant rancho of old California, the farmland- and picket-fence-lined route will feel instantly familiar — it has been featured in countless car commercials and films. Going for a drive down this country lane will make you feel like you’re on the classic Great American Road trip, no matter what your vehicle.

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

Video: Highway 1 takes you on the road trip of a lifetime

An Epic Road Trip

Video: Highway 1 takes you on the road trip of a lifetime

LOCATIONS

PULL- OVERS

ARTICLES

BEST OF

VIDEOS

Your Central CoastTreasure Map

RAGGED POINT

Drive north up the coast with Santa Barbara in your rear-view and Big Sur in your sights, and you'll find yourself on the San Luis Obispo County Highway 1 Discovery Route. It's a grand tour of the verdant, sun-splashed heart of the Central Coast, where jaw-dropping vista points, world-class wineries, uncrowded beaches, charming towns and endless recreation await you at nearly every

SAN SIMEON

CAMBRIA

Explore this map to see some of thebest destinations and pull-overs alongthe Highway 1 Discovery Route.

CAYUCOS

LOCATIONS

LOS OSOS &BAYWOOD PARK

PULL- OVERS

VIDEOS

EDNA VALLEY

AVILA BEACH

BEST BEACHES

BEST FARMERS MARKETS

ARROYO GRANDEVALLEY

TOP UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

OCEANO

TOP SHAREABLE MOMENTS

NIPOMO

WILDLIFE VIEWING

Ar ticle 3

Visit Highway 1 Site

Highway 1's Top Coastal Hikes

Take a deep breath of fresh, clean Central Coast air and get ready to hike the Golden State's greatest outdoors in one of 12 state parks along Highway 1.

As it cuts north through San Luis Obispo County, Highway 1 offers a seemingly endless array of dazzling wining, dining, entertainment and R&R options. But once you've had your fill of fun, food and vino, you'll be delighted to learn how easy it is to get some seriously scenic recreation: Just head to one of 12 state parks along Highway 1 and hit the trail for a truly amazing coastal hike.

The fact that these trails are on public land is one big plus. They're also low-impact, and most folks of average mobility — kids to grandparents — could walk them without much sweat. The coastal hikes are so-called for their close proximity to the sea (some are beach hikes) or for their dazzling scenic views of the Pacific. Regardless, each is its own unique and unforgettable experience.

Read More