In the south of San Francisco lies the Central Coast of California. It is famous as the most beautiful stretch of coast in the world. It offers everything from sandy beaches to delectable marine wildlife. It is actually a paradise. Here is a list of things to do on the Central Coast of California.
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Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
If you are crazy for waterfalls, just flock into state park. A 1.3 mile round trip overlook trail rushes from the parking lot to downhill towards the ocean. It passes through a tunnel underneath Hwy 1. Visitors come to take pictures of soft high McWay Falls that tumbles year-round over granite cliffs and drops into the beach or the sea depending upon the tide.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
The enormous aquarium is Monterey’s most enthralling experience. It stands on the previous site of the city’s largest sardine cannery. It features all kinds of aquatic creatures from gentle and tolerant sea star and creepy sea slugs to vibrant sea otters. The aquarium is much more than a striking assortment of glass tanks.
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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
This is the oldest beachfront amusement park of the West Coast. This boardwalk has a splendid old-school Americana ambiance. The scent of cotton candy blends with the salt air and the screams of kids hanging upside down on carnival rides all make it an amazing place to visit. Popular delight includes the Giant Dipper. It is a 1924 wooden roller coaster. Another attraction is 1911 Looff carousel. Both are National Historic Landmarks.
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Penny Ice Creamery
This artisan ice cream shop offers whacky flavors such as lemon, blueberry, bourbon and ricotta apricot. All these flavors are prepared with local, organic and wild harvested ingredients. Even ordinary old vanilla is exceptional that uses Thomas Jefferson’s original recipe.
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San Luis Obispo Farmers Market
The biggest and the best weekly farmers market of the country changes downtown SLO’s Higuera into a giant street party. Here you can enjoy overflowing veggie and fruit stands, music, smoking barbeques and free sidewalk entertainment.
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Point San Luis Lighthouse
Getting to this picturesque 1890 lighthouse is an adventure. Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant overshadow it. The cheapest way to reach it is through crumbled and rocking hiking trail. Join an afternoon trolley tour if you take it easy and ride out to the lighthouse. You can scrutinize an original Fresnel and genuine Victorian-period furnishings inside the lighthouse.
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Seymour Marine Discovery Center
This educational center for kids near Natural Bridges State Beach is part of UCSC’s Long Marine Laboratory. The exhibits of interactive natural science embrace aquarium and tidal touch pools. You can stare at the blue whale skeleton outside. This skeleton is the largest in the world.
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Monterey State Historic Park
Old Monterey is home to an amazing accumulation of 19th-century bricks and adobe buildings. It is run as Monterey State Historic Park. You can scrutinize dozens of buildings many with charismatic gardens. This is a must see in the list of things to do on the Santa Maria California beaches.
