For our purposes, we’re defining the Central California coast to be north of Santa Barbara and south of San Jose, which can be full of fun.
How long to stay?
Many people who drive up the coast do so in a single day, which is how we mostly do it ourselves (assuming Highway 1 is open). You’re prone to missing something when doing that, so the question you should ask yourself is how much do you want to explore? Spending at least a night somewhere along the path (be it in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, or elsewhere) could make this more of a true destination.
What we did in Central California
Pismo Beach
We’ve always thought of Pismo Beach as that “secret” beach that no one talks about in California. That’s likely due in part to its relatively obscure location that makes it difficult to get to. However, don’t assume that this means it won’t get crowded here–it absolutely does get crowded–as everyone in the area seems to congregate at the excellent beach.
The quality of the sand at Pismo Beach is excellent, and perfect to make sand castles. The beach is quite long and it’s fairly flat, which is also good if you want to run along the beach or play some sports by the waves.
When you’re done with the beach, check out the nearby Monarch Butterfly Grove. We didn’t see many when we were here in March, but that’s because the monarch season is October through February. In other words, we just missed it. Still, it’s good for a nice walk any time of the year.
Morro Bay
Just a bit further north from Pismo Beach is Morro Bay, known for its rather large volcanic plug (called Morro Rock). It almost feels like wherever you are in the city, you’ll have a view of the rock. That’s not fully true if you’re in the city, but it is quite easy to see the rock.
There are two trolleys that roll around town that cost only $1 if you’re here during summer. They won’t take you close to the rock, but it will take you around town and offer you a chance to explore this cute community. If you like the thought of stopping off at coastal communities on a drive up north, this is a great place to stop. There are boat tours, water activities, and outdoor hikes waiting for you here.
I’m not sure many people these days know about William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper mogul. His influence, not just within media but within politics too, was felt all throughout the country. He was always enamored with the castles in Europe and how you could just stumble across one in the countryside. That inspired him to build Hearst Castle.
To get up close and see the castle, you’ll need to go as part of an organized tour. There are tours designed to give an overview of the property and those that specialize in specific rooms. Or, if you want something more personal, you can arrange a private tour. All tours start in the main lobby at the base of the mountain and then you’ll take a bus up the steep mountainside to the castle.
Despite being here three times, I’ve always just done the Grand Rooms Tour, which is great for first-timers. That’s because the first time I went by myself, then I followed it up by going with Jenn, and finally we came here with other family. Each time, I was with first-timers, so I took one for the team by taking the same tour. No matter how often I come up here, it’s always impressive and beautifully maintained.
Big Sur
This is it. Big Sur and the region around is what everyone wants to see when they drive along Highway 1. Plenty of coastline and pure nature as it smashes along the rocks. This part of the road, you’ll want to drive with the windows down (and top down if you’re in a convertible) and soak in the views. The roads are winding, which makes it a fun drive. There is a road closure along Highway 1 roughly 40 miles south of Carmel, allegedly scheduled to open March 2026, roughly 40 miles south of Carmel. So, the only way to visit while the closure is in place is from the north.
This part of California has a little bit of a Hawaii feel to it. Not because of the beaches but because people will park on the side of the road at various points along the highway. If you’ve been to Hawaii along, say, the road to Hana, you’ll know what I mean.
The beautiful coastline isn’t the only thing you’ll see along the path. You’ll also have moments where you’re driving through the trees and also pass by cute towns. Pictures can’t do it justice, this is just something you’re going to have to see on your own.
I’m tempted to make the argument that this is one of the best aquariums on the west coast of the United States. There are plenty of exhibits, including the best jelly exhibit we can think of, There might not be a dolphin show, like in Atlanta, but what it lacks in glitz, it makes up for with authentic beauty. This aquarium has impressive habitats like its kelp forest and sea otter displays. You’ll find it at the end of Cannery Row, which is itself a nice place to walk around in Monterey.
Just be prepared to pay for visiting the aquarium–it’s currently $65/adult and $50/child. I don’t know about you, but aquariums are becoming quite the luxurious expense.
We always like stopping off here whenever driving up the coast. Why? Well, it has a lot of food seafood and is a casual spot, making it perfect for just a short pick-me-up along the way. Giovanni’s Fish Market is at the end of the Embarcadero, which is a nice place to also do some shopping or admire Morro Rock.
A regular choice for us to get is their clam chowder. It’s loaded with plenty of flavor, chunky potatoes, and plenty of clam. Aside from that, we’ve also gone with any fried food with chips (not just fish), which is plenty crispy. They do have non-seafood too, which works if you have someone in your party who doesn’t care for seafood. Just watch out for seabirds hovering around.
Cambria is located between Morro Bay and Hearst Castle. If you happen to be in the area for lunch or dinner and want a sit-down place to check out, Linn’s Eats is a nice spot to try out. Think of it as American comfort food. There will be lots of carbs, so it’s best if you come hungry, but it’s a cute place with some delicious food.
They’re perhaps best known for their desserts. which are indulgent. You’d be remiss if you ate a meal here and didn’t try out at least one dessert. Overall, this spot is better than your average diner.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very cute coastal town. You can think of Carmel-by-the-Sea as a town within a town (a.k.a. Carmel). It’s the name for the downtown area of the city, which always felt like the quintessential coastal community to us. Flaherty’s Seafood, right in the heart of the downtown area, fits with that same description. It has great seafood with plenty of flavor, and we’ve been hoping to return the next time we’re in the area.
The restaurant also lives rent free in our minds, but not for obvious reasons. It’s a place where we saw a lady at another table approach the waiter to complain about the calamari because it had both legs and rings. She only wanted the rings because the legs are disgusting to her. Surprisingly, the waiter handled it professionally and found a way to accommodate her when it would be so easy to instead chide her. But it helps with the positive vibes we feel about the place.
Where we stayed along the Central California coast
Looking for an excellent Marriott property along the Central California coast? Vespera Resort might just interest you. It’s located right on the beach, which is perfect if you want to relax or play. In fact, the location is so good that it’s walkable to much of the city. The rooms and decor really add to that feeling of being at a beach destination with heavy emphasis on the color white.
If you have some 85k free night certificates (or can top off some 50k certificates with points), it’s worth a visit to check it out. Getting here might be tough if you’re coming in from out of town (fly into Santa Barbara and then drive 90 minutes north). But if you have plans already on driving the coast, this is a great place to stop off at in the middle of your drive.
We’ve said quite a bit about our time at the Alila Ventana Big Sur. In truth, we fell in love with the property during our brief three-night stay here. Waking up and stepping outside to stretch your legs in the middle of a forest is divine. There’s nothing more that I love than the smell of the trees first thing in the morning.
Feeling hungry? The good news is that all meals are included with your room rate, even when booked on points. On top of that, all meals are excellent with superb service. It will cost you extra for alcohol with your meal, but that’s honestly a small price to pay for a top-notch meal.
And, yes, there are excellent activities at the hotel. There aren’t quite as many free activities as you’d want, but no one said this hotel was going to be cheap. For all the luxury, expect to spend a princely sum to stay here. It’s upwards of $2,000/night for a base room, or a pretty consistent 45,000 Hyatt points/night (Category 8). It’s hard to say that the cash price is worth it, but the points price definitely is.
Now this is a resort! We last stayed here when it was 25,000 Hyatt points/night (Category 6) and now it’s a Category 8. In some ways, we’re not surprised that it went up in price, but, then again, with the excellent Ventana Big Sur nearby, the pricing here seems a bit inflated. While the default room at Carmel Valley Ranch only allowed enough room for the adults, I used a suite upgrade award to bump us up into a room that fit all of us.
The resort is a fantastic place to spend some outdoor time. You’ll find some hiking trails around the property. There’s also a free shuttle that will take you to other parts (like to the pool). That shows you how spread out the resort is.
They also have animals on property that you can meet. Just take it from young Alex, who loved grooming the farm animals.
If the Carmel Valley Ranch were a Category 7 again, we’d be tempted to come back. It’s hard for us to give the recommendation to come here as a Category 8. It’s a good place to relax–just not quite so good that it should be one of the most expensive properties in the world for Hyatt points.
You might not initially expect to find an Intercontinental hotel out in Monterey, California. In fact, it’s easy for us to forget the hotel exists despite having stayed here before. It’s in an excellent part of town, walkable to most places you’d want to go in Monterey. Rooms are nice, which probably puts it as one of the nicer hotels in town. We wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s true luxury, but we’re more than willing to come back.
If you’re looking for a good deal staying here on points, I’d avoid the summer, which can see prices above 100,000 IHG points/night. Instead, consider the shoulder months where room rates might be half the price but the weather still is nice enough to do what you want.
What do you like to do along the Central California coast?
