Central California Coast Beaches

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Central California Beach Resorts Tourism

The Central coast is located between Monterey and Ventura.

The biggest attraction in this area is the Big Sur.

The Native American Indians who once lived in this area were: Esselan, Chumash, Ohlone and Salinas tribes.

Wildlife in area: elephant seals, harbor seals, California sea lion, sea otter, Gray Whales from Dec. - March, dolphins, porpoises.

Things to do: Whale watching, bird watching, surf, sun bath, swim and play in the surf, picnic, hiking, diving, snorkeling, boating, fishing, biking, kayaking, seashell hunting, horseback riding, camping, golf, enjoy scenic views, visit galleries. shops, missions and museums. Rafting and canoeing are popular along the Russian River and Cache Creek. Mountain biking is popular in the Marin Headlands and Mt. Tamalpais near San Francisco. Here you will find many scenic trails.

The weather and climate is rainy in the winter. The temperature is cool however it is never freezing. Summer can get up to temperatures of 100 degrees. Fog is likely in the morning during the summer too.

On the Central coast of California are lakes, rivers, redwood forests and the San Francisco Bay. Within the area are the Napa and Sonoma Valley which is California's Wine country.

Along the coastline are coastal bluffs with beautiful views of the ocean and with easily reached beaches below.

Monterrey is  famous for the Aquarium.  The Monterey Bay Aqarium was built on the site of the city's largest Sardine cannery. Here you will find exhibits of sea otters, sea lions, jelly fish, tuna, turtles, and hammerhead sharks. They feed the fish and marine animals during the day when visitors can watch. There are also touch pools.  Monterey Hotels

Things to see in the Monterey Area

Near Carmel is the 17 mile drive which you enter from the North through the Pacific grove gate located off Sunset drive. The 17 mile drive goes through the Pebble Beach resort. Points of interest along the way: the Restless sea, bird view rock, point Joe, the Spanish Bay, the Lone cypress, Ghost tree, Seal Rock, Fanshell beach, Sunset Point, Cypress Point, Crocker Grove, Pescadero Point, Stillwater cove, Arrowhead Point, Moss Beach, Pebble Beach Golf course, harbor seals, sea lions, wildlife and more.

Carmel is an old seaside resort dating back to 1880. The town is located 5 miles south of Monterey. There are shops and galleries as well as a beautiful beach with white sand. Points of interest are: Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmel , Carmel Mission off hwy 1 south of town, museum, Point Lobos State Reserve also south of town on hwy 1, hiking trails, coves, sea lion point, Monterey Cypress trees, ocean views. Carmel-By-The-Sea Hotels

Big Sur is over 90 miles of coastline along hwy. 1. It stretches from Carmel to San Simeon. In this region are the Santa Lucia mountains which are the steepest coastal range in the US. Be aware that cell phones don't work here. The ranger station is located between Rocky Point (south) and Bixby Bridge (north).  Big Sur Hotels

Ventana Inn And Spa Big Sur California

Key Points of interest

South of Big Sur

Morro Bay

pismo beach picture

Pismo Beach Hotels

Avila Beach Hotels

California Beach Resorts near this area

San Luis Bay Inn Avila Beach California

San Luis Obispo

Santa Barbara has some fine beach which is south of the city. The area has a dry mild climate. Just North of Santa Barbara is the Chumash Painted Cave State  Historic Park which is a was painted long ago by Native Americans

Santa Barbara Hotels

 

Points of Interest:

Beaches near Santa Barbara

 

Nearby State Parks - campgrounds, picnic areas

South of Santa Barbara is Ventura.  Here you can catch a boat to the Channel Islands which is a great location for Whale watching.  Boats leave early. Here is the Channel Islands National Park which is a chain of islands in the Santa Barbara channel. You can camp and hike here. The Channel Islands National Park Visitors Center is located in Ventura off hwy 101. The Visitors center has an exhibit on Natural history and a lookout tower from which you can see the islands.

Channel Islands National Park is located on the Channel Islands which are off the coast from Santa Barbara to San Diego. There are a total of 8 islands. Five of these islands are within the National Park. They are Santa Barbara, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and San Miguel. The islands are nicknamed the California Galapagos because they contain many unique plants and animals native only to the Islands. The seas are rough around the islands. It is a good idea to make reservations for the boat ride on holidays, weekends and in the summer.

Things to do:

 

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