On the Central Coast - Special Advertising Feature

Sunset, July, 2003

Edge along the beautiful coastline from Monterey to Santa Barbara. Return via fertile Salinas Valley, the "Salad Bowl of the Nation."

* Driving distance: 641mi/1,045km

* Suggested time: several days

MONTEREY. Follow the "Path of History" to Fisherman's Wharf and the Custom House (part of Monterey SHP); then visit Cannery Row, immortalized by author John Steinbeck. The spectacular Monterey Bay Aquarium allows visitors to view intriguing exhibits about Monterey Bay, one of the richest marine environments in the world. Proceed west on Ocean View Blvd. to...

PACIFIC GROVE (3mi/5km). Drive beyond Lovers Point Beach and Park, then head into thc Del Monte Forest to Pebble Beach along the famed 17-Mile Drive. This route leads to...

CARMEL (17mi/27km). Stop at the many galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and specialty shops in this quaint village. At the edge of Carmel is Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, a restored piece of California's Spanish history. After a visit to the mission, walk on the white sands of Carmel Breach. A side trip up into Carmel Valley to 100-acre Saddle Mountain Recreation Park is a must. Return to Hwy. 1, then drive south to...

POINT LOBOS SR (4mi/6km). The 1,325-acre reserve features tall stands of cypress sheltering hidden coves. Continue on Hwy 1, California's first designated scenic highway, across the Bixby Creek Bridge, to...

BIG SUR (20mi/32km). A modern-day trading post. where local artists sell their works in village shops. Pfeiffer Big Sur SP contains the southernmost stand of coastal redwoods. Continue south to...

HEARST SAN SIMEON SHM (64mi/102km). Tour the 165-room Hearst Castle(r) and grounds. For reservations, call (800) 444-4445. Drive south on Hwy.1 to...

CAMBRIA (9mi/14km). This artists' colony in a pine valley is filled with inns and shops. Continue south on Hwy. I past tiny Harmony (pop. 18) to...

CAYUCOS (16mi/26km). The old Portuguese fishing community of Cayucos-by-the-Sea was founded in 1867 as a shipping point for dairy and beef products. Continue south on Hwy. 1 to...

MORRO BAY (6mi/10km). Recognizable by the enormous volcanic peak of Morro Rock, the westernmost of nine extinct volcanoes. Follow South Bay Blvd. toward Baywood Park and...

LOS OSOS (4mi/6km). The serene "Valley of the Bears" is the entrance to the 8,400-acre Montana de Oro SP. Drive Los Osos Valley Rd. west until it turns into Pecho Rd., which winds through the heart of the park. Follow Los Osos Valley Rd. east, then take Foothill Blvd. east past the famous Madonna Inn, a landmark hotel with 109 unique rooms, to...

SAN LUIS OBISPO (11mi/18km). San Luis Obispo Creek meanders through the shopping district and past Mission Plaza. In the heart of town stands the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in 1772. Continue south on Hwy. 101 to...

AVILA BEACH (11mi/18km). After a long day of driving, enjoy a refreshing walk along Avila Pier or visit the mineral springs nestled in the wooded hillside. Travel on to Shell Beach and...

PISMO BEACH (7mi/11km). With more than 19 miles of shoreline and beach, this city is noted for its ocean-side restaurants and a mild year-round climate. Follow Hwy. 1 south through Grover City and Guadalupe to Orcutt and...

LOMPOC (5lmi/82km). From May through August, Lompoc Rainbow Farms displays thousands of acres of brilliant petunias, poppies, and marigolds. This "Flower City" is also the site of La Purisima Mission SHP. Continue east on Hwy. 246 to Hwy. 101; at Buellton turn south on Hwy. 101 to reach...

SANTA BARBARA (54mi/88km). Be sure to visit Mission Santa Barbara, known as the "Queen" of the 21 California missions. El Presidio de Santa Barbara SHP, El Cuartel (Guard's House), and Canedo Adobe are part of the original Spanish fort. Also worth seeing are the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, which contains 65 acres of native plants, and 2,300-foot Stearns Wharf. Continue on Hwy. 101 to...

VENTURA (27mi/44km). Channel Islands NP can be easily visited from Ventura and Oxnard to the south. Visitor centers at Ventura Harbor and Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard tell the story of the five islands that make up the park. In Ventura or Oxnard, turn around and head north back up Hwy. 101. At Santa Barbara, take Hwy. 154 north, cross the Gold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge, and drop down into the vineyard-filled Santa Ynez Valley to reach...

SANTA YNEZ (57mi/93km). Founded in 1882, Santa Ynez was the principal stage stop between the valley and Santa Barbara. The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society Museum and Carriage House features eight rooms of exhibits and displays on the valley's colorful past. Travel west on Hwy. 246 to Alamo Pintado Rd., which leads north to...

BALLARD (3mi/5km). A turn-back-the-clock town sheltered by walnut groves and live oak trees. The Ballard School House, built in 1883, is still in operation. Return to Hwy. 246 west to...

SOLVANG (4mi/7km). Two-thirds of this delightful city's population are of Danish descent, and the town's windmills and bindingsvaerk walls, typical of Danish hamlets during the Middle Ages, are testimony to this heritage. Surrounding Solvang are many of the valley's 23 wineries and vineyards. Travel west on Hwy. 246 to Buellton. Then go north on Hwy. 101 to...