Centrally Located
Pack the car and head north to these Central Coast destinations
Dubbed “The Original Road Trip,” California’s Central Coast is an eclectic visitors’ playground boasting 350 miles of world-class beaches, dozens of diverse state parks, imaginative annual festivals and hundreds of celebrated vineyards. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, fine wine and cuisine or an escapist cultural celebration, here are some Central Coast destinations well worth making the drive for this fall.
CARMEL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
A small city steeped in the arts, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a natural home for a cutting-edge indie film festival (Oct. 19-22) that has rapidly grown in both scale and reputation since its 2008 inception. Screening more than 125 films in beautiful settings throughout the quaint yet exclusive town, the fest attracted an estimated 24,000 attendees and filmmakers last year, including Oscar winners and next-bigthings. From the Filmmakers’ Beach Dinner, which returns this year, to singer-songwriter performances at the Music Café, there really is something for everyone – and it’s all a great excuse to visit one of the most stunning seaside settings anywhere.
MISSION LA PURISIMA STATE HISTORIC PARK
Offering a painstakingly preserved taste of mission life in the 1820s and surrounded by 25 miles of hiking trails across its 2,000 acres, La Purisima delivers a healthy dose of history. Though located close to Lompoc and Highway 1, the park feels distant in both time and space. Highlights include the restored multi-building mission itself, exhibits recalling the region’s indigenous Chumash people, plus scenic paths and a picnic area all secluded amid bucolic topography. There’s an active corral and weekend reenactments of 19th century life, from weaving to leatherwork. At $6 per car, the oft-overlooked La Purisima delivers an affordable culture/ recreation combo.
BIG SUR FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL
Big Sur is a rugged stretch of coastline famed both for its staggering natural beauty and more recently as a culinary destination. Since 2009, Big Sur Food and Wine has married the region’s wine and dining pleasures to its outdoorsy, adventurous spirit with events like “Hiking with Stemware” at the beautiful, beachside Rancho Rico (Nov. 4), and the “Magical Mystery Tour” (Nov. 2), which whisks guests away to some of the area’s most spectacular private properties for world-class wine and food tastings. Most of these are limited to small groups, so book ahead and start salivating!
MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, America’s largest protected ocean area, is a pristine natural treasure stretching 276 miles from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge to Cambria in San Luis Obispo County. Effectively an oceanic national park, the Sanctuary preserves 6,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean for our enjoyment, be that sailing, fishing, whale watching, kayaking, diving or just seaside picnicking. The Sanctuary’s conservation efforts protect the country’s largest kelp forest, 34 species of marine mammal, 94 types of seabird and nearly 350 fish varieties. Its state-of-the-art Exploration Center in Santa Cruz illuminates all this through enthralling interactive displays. SOLVANG FAERIEFEST The Danish-styled city of Solvang is whimsical year-round, but even more so during its charming Faeriefest on Oct. 14-15. Since 2012, this annual arts and music event has gathered dancers, musicians, artisans, storytellers and puppeteers into a celebration of the mystery, magic and beauty of the faerie realm. Amidst Solvang’s half-timbered homes and horse-drawn carriages, Faeriefest sprinkles pixies, princesses, gypsies and ancient warriors, plus heroes and villains from all over the world. Costumes are optional, but dressing will help visitors to get into the spirit (or should that be “spirits”?) of this one-of-a-kind event.