California Official Visitor's Guide 2009 - UK - (Page 26) california road trip Central Coast castles and beaches From beautiful San Francisco, drive south to sweeping ocean views, unique oceanfront towns Hearst Castle and much more GATEWAY AIRPORT: SFO, 14mi/23km: 4min south of downtown San Francisco 1 SFO San Francisco 880 580 San Francisco 1 17 Pacific 101 extremely rare California condor. www. nps.gov/pinn 1. San Francisco At the Ferry Building Marketplace on the Embarcadero, enjoy a culinary wonderland, with organic produce and excellent dining. In the Presidio, stretch your legs along the bay front from Crissy Field to Fort Point, under the Golden Gate Bridge. Downtown, check out over 200 stores at Westfield San Francisco. www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com 4. ventura (242mi/390km: 4hr). Head south to take a surfing lesson, go whale-watching (December to March is best), or catch a boat to the remote and beautiful Channel Islands national Park. www.ventura-usa.com 11 Santa 152 2 Gilroy Merced Cruz Monterey 152 25 10 Point Sur 146 9 Big Sur 3 PINNACLES NATIONAL 1 MONUMENT n Ocea 5 Los Angeles 99 145 HEARST CASTLE STATE HISTORIC MONUMENT 101 198 198 San Simeon 8 5 5. Santa Barbara (28mi/45km: 30min). Head back up the coast to visit this exquisite oceanfront city. Visit the lively pier, then check out the aquarium at the Ty Warner Sea Center. Enjoy ultra-fresh seafood (fried calamari is excellent) at The Endless Summer Bar-Café. www.santabarbaraca.com San Luis Obispo 7 Pismo Beach 6 N 1 58 2. Gilroy (80mi/129km: 1hr 25min). let the kids play at the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. For top brands such as Polo ralph lauren, visit Gilroy Premium Outlets. In July, the Gilroy Garlic Festival lays on food and entertainment to celebrate a local crop. www.gilroyvisitor.org 101 0 0 25 mi 5 Santa Barbara 4 Oxnard 6. Pismo Beach (96mi/154km: 1hr 35min). Stop at the California Welcome Center to ask about the “butterfly trees” at Monarch Butterfly Grove (late October to February) and for additional tips about coastal attractions, shopping and dining ideas. www.classiccalifornia.com CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK Ventura 101 3. Pinnacles national monument (47mi/76km: 1hr 5min). View spectacular scenery while hiking amid rock spires and caves, the remains of an ancient volcano. Keep binoculars handy to spy north America’s largest bird, the 7. San Luis Obispo SPOTLIGHT (11mi/17km: 15min). Visit low-key wineries in the rolling hills surrounding this relaxed university town. Its excellent restaurants include Café roma for Italian fare and the Firestone Grill (great tri-tip steak sandwiches). www.visitslo.com vertical cliffs plunging to the Pacific. Plan a stop at Point Sur lighthouse, spectacularly perched on a huge mound of volcanic rock jutting offshore. www.bigsurcalifornia.org 10. monterey (29mi/46km: 40min). Marvel at swirling sea life in floor-to-ceiling glass tanks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Stroll down Cannery row, made famous by author John Steinbeck, now a shopping district. www.montereyinfo.org 8. Hearst Castle/San Simeon (42mi/67km: 50min). Tour William randolph Heart’s lavish estate, with 165 rooms filled with artwork in palacelike buildings surrounded by gardens (guided tours only; book well in advance). www.sanluisobispocounty.com 11. Santa Cruz (43mi/70km: 50min). Brave the Giant Dipper rollercoaster and other rides at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, fronted by a wide and beautiful beach. For fun California fashions, visit surf shops and other boutiques lining the pretty Pacific Avenue. www.santacruzca.org TOTAL LENGTH OF DRIVE TOUR: Hearst Castle/San Simeon. Treat yourself to a tour of this spectacular complex, including the recently renovated neptune Pool. 9. Big Sur (65mi/105km: 1hr 20min). One of the world’s great drives and an American Scenic Byway, the Big Sur Coast Highway traces a thrilling route across nearly 697mi/1,222km Welcome Center SM 26 www.visitcalifornia.co.uk AlExA MIllEr http://www.nps.gov/pinn http://www.nps.gov/pinn http://www.ventura-usa.com http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com http://www.santabarbaraca.com http://www.gilroyvisitor.org http://www.classiccalifornia.com http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org http://www.visitslo.com http://www.montereyinfo.org http://www.sanluisobispocounty.com http://www.santacruzca.org http://www.visitcalifornia.co.uk
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