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Monterey CA & Central Coast

From the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the sun-soaked beaches of Santa Cruz to charming Carmel and the fabulous Hearst Castle, discover things to do in Monterey, Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and the rest of the California Central Coast.

Summer visitors flock to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on the Fourth of July.

Oceanside fun, tasty eats, and California history converge in Santa Cruz.

Sun hides behind the trunk of an oak tree alongside a Paso Robles winery road

Experience a fun-filled road trip around Paso Robles, California.

Sunset over a marsh at Moss Landing State Park, California.

California's Highway 152 takes you through vast vineyards, towering redwoods, and coastal views.

Fort Point Historic Site beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

You don’t have to break your budget to enjoy the Golden State’s vibrant destination cities.

A view of the Monterey Bay Aquarium back deck along Monterey Bay.

California's Highway 1 reveals adorable otters, friendly towns, and fabulous local flavors.

A fairy-tale building in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Walk around this tiny coastal town to see storybook architecture brought to life.

Bixby Bridge at sunset along California's Highway 1 coastal highway, image

Pull over for the best eats along California's Central Coast.

Lone cypress on 17-Mile Drive near Monterey and Pebble Beach, California, picture

You’ll want to visit the favorites, just be sure to leave time for Monterey's hidden sweet spots.

McWay Falls in Big Sur, California in fall at sunset, image

Explore the coast on foot with these memorable hikes.

picture of the bright houses on the beach in Capitola

A charming coastal town near Santa Cruz offers shopping, sunshine, and dining with a view.

A purple sunset at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, California.

Adventuring in a home town can feel just as exciting as visiting a foreign land.

A tablecloth covers a picnic table at Montara State Beach.

Big views, stunning sunsets, and spontaneous live music? Alfresco dining never tasted so good.

panoramic sunset view over purple echium blooms and Marin Headlands, in foreground, as the towers of Golden Gate poke through enveloping afternoon fog with San Francisco skyline on horizon

When it's safe to travel for leisure, the Via team plans to hit these spots in California.

A couple sits on a beach at sunset in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Get to know the towns along the northern section of California's Central Coast.

Adirondack chairs at the edge of a pond at Wrath Wines, picture

The foothills east of the Santa Lucia Mountains offer natural splendor, and eateries worth a detour.

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