KOOKY COOL ON THE COAST
Quirky attractions to make your next road trip more memorable
California’s Central Coast is a region of breathtaking beaches, charming towns and bucolic rural vistas. Yet amid the traditional tourist attractions you can find some decidedly unusual offerings, many of them right at the roadside. Here are a few Central Coast oddities worth parking the car for, be it for five minutes or an entire weekend.
Bigfoot Discovery Museum, Felton
Located on Highway 9 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Bigfoot Discovery Museum is a labor-of-love project devoted to both the mythical Pacific Northwest “Bigfoot” (evidence of which has been reported nearby) and other mystery primates worldwide. Run by lifelong Bigfoot scholar Michael Rugg, this modest facility combines lighthearted edutainment and claimed “proof” of the creature’s existence (including the famed 1967 Patterson-Gimlin footage on a continuous loop), plus all manner of pop-culture memorabilia and Sasquatch-related merchandise.
The Victorian Mansion, Los Alamos
Nestled next to U.S. 101 in little Los Alamos, the Victorian Mansion makes an eccentric base for exploring of the surrounding wine country. Located on the town’s sole commercial strip, amongst hip antique stores and galleries, this six-suite “theme” B&B is a converted 1864 mansion moved plank-by-plank from nearby Nipomo in 1980. The painstakingly detailed themed suites (“Roman,” “Gypsy,” “French,” “Egyptian,” “’50s” and “Pirate”) include “hidden” TVs and bathrooms, hand-painted murals and huge hot tubs.
Ostrich Land, Buellton
This novel ostrich and emu ranch offers interaction with African and Australian wildlife less than a mile off the 101. Ostensibly a mini zoo for the world’s two largest birds, Ostrich Land goes further by letting visitors feed its inhabitants and selling fresh eggs, ostrich meat and related products ranging from emu oil to feather dusters. It’s an afternoon destination in itself or a memorable stop en route to the Danish-influenced attractions of nearby Solvang.
San Carlos Cathedral, Monterey
For a convenient historical pit stop, the Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, close to downtown Monterey, is California’s oldest continuously functioning church and its longest-surviving stone building. Founded in 1770 and completed at its present location in 1794, the sandstone structure marries Spanish Colonial-style architecture with exotic Moorish flourishes to striking effect. America’s smallest cathedral, San Carlos is a serene yet welcoming retreat within walking distance of Monterey’s bustling Fisherman’s Wharf.
Gaviota Wind Caves, Goleta
Some 33 miles from Santa Barbara on U.S. 101, Gaviota State Park is an oceanside magnet for campers, surfers, anglers and divers. But even passing picnickers have time to enjoy its otherworldly “wind caves,” accessible via a robust 2.5-mile hike. Sculpted by the area’s potent winds over countless millennia, these dramatic, curvaceous formations recall L.A. County’s Vasquez Rocks. The mostly shadeless hike ascends about 600 feet but is well worth the effort.
Giant Chessboard, Morro Bay
Part of Morro Bay’s quaint Centennial Parkway, the Giant Chessboard is one of only two such outsized incarnations of the popular game in the U.S. On Saturday afternoons, Morro Bay Chess Club hauls out chess pieces weighing up to 40 pounds for games, and the board can be reserved for a small fee on weekdays (call 805.772.6278 for details). Regular-sized chess tables and benches adjacent to the Giant Chessboard create a unique seafront chess community.
Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo
No roundup of Central Coast curios would be complete without the Madonna Inn. Every one of this faux-Alpine motel’s 110 rooms has its own theme and design, with evocative names like “Cloud Nine,” “Old Mexico” and “Caveman.” But there’s much more to this supremely kitschy creation, which has been featured on “The Bachelor” and “The Simpsons.” With its restaurant, spa, pool and gym, horseback riding, hiking and biking, the Madonna Inn is a destination unto itself.