California Vacation Guide 2015 - 124

CENTRAL COAST

Point Lobos

EVENTS

Central
Coast
SPRING
California Strawberry
Festival, Oxnard.
Bonkers for berries?
Get your ﬁll, plus live
music, carnival rides,
and food booths
serving up classics
(chocolate-dipped
strawberries) and
surprises (strawberry
pizza!). MAY 16-17
SUMMER

TRIP
IDEA

Hidden Gems of the
Central Coast

STAY-A-WHILE BEACH TOWNS, WORLD-CLASS WINE COUNTRY,
AND UNFORGETTABLE COASTAL PARKS-THIS DRIVE HAS IT ALL.

1

1hr12min). Shop for antiques,
relax with a craft beer at Anacapa Brewing Company, then
head over to Lure Fish House
for the ultra-fresh, mesquitegrllled catch of the day.
OJAI (22mi/35km; 29min).
Bike all the way to the
beach on the Ojai Valley Trail.
Treat yourself to goodies made
from local citrus, like delectable
lemon ricotta tarts at Knead
Baking Company.
SOLVANG (66mi/106km;
1hr20min). Get a taste (literally) of America's Little Denmark
with warm aebleskiver, sold all
over town. See antique racers
at Solvang Vintage Motorcycle
Museum, and sample local wine
country without leaving your
stool at The Good Life cellar.
LOS OLIVOS (6mi/9km;
11min). Savor house-cured
bacon at Sides Hardware and
Shoes restaurant, sip craft beers
at Figueroa Mountain Brewing
Co., and end on a sweet note
with wine-infused trufﬂes at
Stafford's Famous Chocolates.

2

3

4

124 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

5

LOMPOC (27mi/44km;
32min). Choose from 20
wineries specializing in Pinot
Noir and other varietals in the
scruffy-chic Lompoc Wine
Ghetto. Tour California's most
fully restored mission at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park.
ORCUTT (21mi/34km;
23min). Taste a Central
Coast tradition: oak-ﬁred Santa
Maria barbecue at Far Western
Tavern. Cool off with a cone of
Mexican chocolate at Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab.

6
7

SAN LUIS OBISPO

(40mi/64km; 38min). Relax
with an award-winning vintage
and stellar view on the patio at

CARMEL
PASO ROBLES
101
5
CAYUCOS
SAN LUIS OBISPO
ORCUTT
LOS OLIVOS
LOMPOC
1
OJAI
SOLVANG

VENTURA

Los
Angeles

Chamisal Vineyards, or hike up
volcanic Bishop Peak. Pair local
wines with seafood at Ciopinot.
CAYUCOS (19mi/30km;
20min). Meander secluded
beaches at Estero Bluffs State
Park. Order up savory smoked
salmon tacos at Ruddell's
Smokehouse.
PASO ROBLES (27mi/43km;
37min). Catch concerts at
mission-style Vino Robles Amphitheatre, where artists from Crosby,
Stills & Nash to Weezer perform.
Taste peppery small-batch olive
oils at Pasolivo Olive Oil.
CARMEL (119mi/192km;
1hr54min). Look for sea
otters and seals swimming in
crystal-clear coves at Point
Lobos State Natural Reserve,
or take your dog for a romp on
pooch-friendly Carmel Beach.
You can both enjoy yappy hour
at pet-friendly Cypress Inn.

8

9

10

TO SAN FRANCISCO:
122mi/197km; 2hr3min

More ideas at
visitcalifornia.com

Monterey Jazz Festival
FA L L
Monterey Jazz
Festival, Monterey.
For nearly 60 years,
this prestigious
event has showcased
the jazz world's
best. Come here for
music on eight stages,
workshops and
panel discussions,
and foods from all over
the globe. SEP 18-20

More at
visitcalifornia.com

THOMAS J. STORY/SUNSET PUBLISHING; R. COLE THOMPSON

START: LOS ANGELES
VENTURA (65mi/104km;

California Mid-State
Fair, Paso Robles.
With winemaker nights,
performances by national country and rock
acts, and livestock
and equestrian shows,
the so-called "Biggest
Little Fair Anywhere"
celebrates both the region's traditions and its
changing landscapes.
JUL 22-AUG 2
http://www.visitcalifornia.com http://www.visitcalifornia.com http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Vacation Guide 2015
