Central Coast California

02/08/2025

Cambria - An Underrated, Artsy City Hidden On California's Coast With Chic Walkable Charm Offers A Sleepy Escape

While driving along California’s famed coastal highway, stop at this small town to wander through the artsy downtown and appreciate its seaside charm.

01/19/2025

Pacific Grove - Called 'Butterfly Town USA' Is A Less Touristy, Authentic Central Coast California Haven

A destination where some of the world's longest living monarch butterflies spend winter is known as "Butterfly Town, U.S.A.," right on California's coast.

12/11/2024

The Best Road-Trip Worthy Restaurants Along California’s Central Coast | From the classics to the newcomers, where to dine from Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, and further south to Ventura

From the classics to the newcomers, where to dine from Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, and further south to Ventura

12/04/2024

2025 Big Sur Foragers Festival
Festival Dates: Friday, January 24th – Sunday, January 26th
Details: https://www.bigsurforagersfestival.org/

Big Sur Foragers Festival 2025 is excited to bring back its popular “Wild Foraging Walk and Talk” mushroom hikes. There will be 2 hikes of 30 people each on both Saturday and Sunday, January 25-26, 2025, 4 hikes total. Hikers will meet at 9:30 a.m. at The Big Sur Lodge in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (subject to change pending road and weather conditions) for a talk and display of wild mushrooms, then set off on guided hikes with our mushroom experts. Cost is $75 per hiker. NO REFUNDS.

Hikes will be led by mushroom experts Mark Gillespie, Anthony Gerbino, Todd Spanier, and Dr. Phil Carpenter. Lisa Haas, assisted by Maryia Crabbe, will provide an incredible display of local wild mushrooms and discuss identification, medicinal and culinary use, and many other interesting facts.
The Foragers Festival has traditionally served as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community's non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to continue to support the presence of local health care services in the Big Sur area.

For event details and venue information, visit
https://bit.ly/3V0Dyaa

Tickets available here:
https://bit.ly/3CE12hk

11/08/2024

Finding Sanctuary: The season of the California sea lion

Pictured here, sea lions crowd Sister City Park in Monterey, California.

California sea lions are in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary year round, and their population is increasing.

10/03/2024

Top 20 Hotels in Northern California: Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 ✨ Condé Nast Traveler readers rate the top hotels in Northern California, which is home to iconic nature—and hotels worthy of the views.

Condé Nast Traveler readers rate the top hotels in Northern California.

09/23/2024

Explore Culinary Carmel

From Carmel by the Sea:
Taste your way through Carmel-by-the-Sea's vibrant food and wine scene with 60 inspiring restaurants & 18 tasting rooms—all in our walkable village.

https://www.facebook.com/visitcarmel/videos/1612336552940928

09/09/2024

NOAA reaches key milestone in designation of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

Agency releases final environmental impact statement for West Coast sanctuary

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Agency releases final environmental impact statement for West Coast sanctuary

08/19/2024

San Carlos Beach in Monterey closed Monday due to sea lion crowd 🦭

"We want residents and visitors to be safe while visiting the coastline, and remind you to enjoy and watch the sea lions from a distance of at least 50 feet," said the city on a social media post.

Sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. People who harass, feed, capture or kill any marine mammal could face a hefty fine or even jail time, the city said.

The city of Monterey announced Monday that one of its beaches will be closed indefinitely due to a crowd of sea lions.

08/17/2024

SFGate covers Castroville food offerings all centered around the mighty artichoke.

"Thanks to its foggy microclimate, Castroville produces the majority of California’s artichokes. Around town, restaurants can’t help but pay homage to the state’s official vegetable."

The small Central Coast town of Castroville grows most of California's artichoke crop. Local restaurants can't help but cook up the veggie in all forms.

07/25/2024

The Moss Landing Street Fair looks like a lot of fun. ✨ This Sunday, July 28 from 8am to 4pm. $5 adults, kids under 12 free. 200 booths with antique, vintage, collectible, and artisan goods. Pluse plenty of food and drink.

07/15/2024

Coastside Guide: Preserving the Great Outdoors 🌲

Read how local groups have fought to preserve the land and character of the region

A long-time Half Moon Bay resident observed that if not for the efforts of local open-space advocates, the San Mateo County coast would resemble the over-developed coastlines of Southern California.

07/10/2024

Good luck booking these California campgrounds. Pictured here, Kirk Creek Campground near Big Sur

Summer is the season of exploring the great outdoors, but if you want to book a spot at one of California’s most picturesque campgrounds for a weekend getaway, you might be out of luck. In fa…

07/06/2024

A mother eagle arrives to feed her two, wild-hatched eaglets in San Simeon on California's Central Coast.

06/17/2024

The Pacific Coast of the United States is one of the most beautiful stretches of land in the entire world. From the lofty mountains of Olympic National Park in Washington State to the north to the renowned Big Sur coastline further south in California, this pristine region absolutely aches to be explored.

The Pacific Coast offers stunning landscapes and walkable towns, perfect for car-free exploration, from Washington's Olympic Park to California's Big Sur.

05/09/2024

The Sun, Wind & Wine Festival is coming up May 18

Your favorite growers and vintners pour some of the world's best Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sparklers and Syrah - all from the Santa Lucia Highlands at the 16th Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans Sun, Wind & Wine Festival.

wine tasting festival, gourmet food

04/30/2024

Point Lobos, Carmel, California

With "May gray" just around the corner, we have some gorgeous days in the forecast for the next week or so. Take advantage!

03/28/2024

A legendary point break known as "the Queen of the Coast," an elephant seal rookery near Hearst Castle, and one of the state's best waterfalls: the California Sun's guide to exploring the Central Coast.

The California Sun reached out to leading outdoor experts in each of nine California regions and asked the same question: If you had to name your absolute