Things to do in Central Coast California

Activities, attractions and tours

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park which includes landscape views and rocky coastline
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park which includes landscape views and rocky coastline
Yosemite Valley featuring mist or fog
Central Coast California which includes surfing, general coastal views and a sandy beach
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park showing general coastal views, landscape views and a sandy beach

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What to do in Central Coast California


Popular places to visit

Areas of Central Coast California

Panorama of Montecito with Pacific Ocean in the Background

Montecito

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Montecito. A stop by Miramar Beach or Butterfly Beach might round out your trip.

Montecito
Santa Barbara Aerial Panorama. Scenic shot of Pier and beach

Santa Barbara Beach

Santa Barbara Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights in the area like Stearns Wharf and MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation.

Santa Barbara Beach
urban landscape of the city of Santa Barbara, California ; Shutterstock ID 398939668

Downtown Santa Barbara

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Lobero Theater or Presidio Santa Barbara might round out your trip.

Downtown Santa Barbara
This is a small state park at the northern end of Santa Cruz' scenic West Cliff Drive and a little over a mile from the Boardwalk, wharf and Main Beach.  A couple of times a year you can see Monarch butterflies during their migration. They are not in the numbers of years past, but you'll still see some.

If you walk north towards the rocks during low tide you will find some amazing tidepools full of sea anenomes, sea urchins, starfish, crabs, hermit crabs, and all sorts of marine life. The tidepools are on a ledge, so the tide needs to be quite high

Westside Santa Cruz

Westside Santa Cruz is known for its stunning beaches, and with sights like Monterey Bay and Pacific Avenue, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Santa Cruz.

Westside Santa Cruz
Following highway 1 south out of Monterey you get views like this

Downtown Monterey

The beaches and seaside views are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Monterey. A stop by Golden State Theatre or Munras Avenue might round out your trip.

Downtown Monterey
View of Carmel Beach from Scenic Rd.

Golden Rectangle

If you're spending some time in Golden Rectangle, Carmel Plaza and Carmel Beach are top sights worth seeing.

Golden Rectangle