Central Coast

From AGHSReunions

The Central Coast of California consists of seven coastal counties, covers 300 miles of coastline, and 14,333 square miles of varied landscape. The seven counties include, from north to south, Santa Cruz County, Santa Clara County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, and Ventura County.

The region can be further divided into the Northern Central Coast and the Southern Central Coast, with the dividing line being in San Luis Obispo County. Generally speaking, most people in Monterey County consider themselves part of Northern California, and those in San Luis Obispo County associate themselves more with Southern California. Despite that, both halves feel a strong identity with the Central Coast, often greater than their north-south connection.

The Central Coast is extremely diverse in scenery. California Highway 1 runs the entire distance, and provides breathtaking views of the coastal scenery. US Highway 101 parallels Highway 1 inland, running through some of the best agricultural and vineyard land in the nation. Beaches range from rocky strips among craggy cliffs, to broad white expanses on which you can drive your vehicles. The rich farmland produces vegetables, fruts, and wine grapes. Along with the grapes, the region has many wineries making it a friendly, but serious, competitor to the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley wine region farther north. There are a half-dozen mountain ranges, several large lakes, rolling plains, and plenty of tourist attractions.

Some of the more famous local attractions include the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Hearst Castle, Morro Rock, the Danish community of Solvang, and Stearns Wharf. There are 12 Spanish Missions in the region (Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Juan Bautista, Carmel, Soledad, San Antonio, San Miguel, San Luis Obispo, La Purísima, Santa Inés, Santa Barbara, and Ventura).

While there are no particularly large cities in the region, the bedroom communities that surround the larger cities combine their economic power to create an area that is rich in economic potential. However, most of the cites and towns have strict growth limits designed to limit urban sprawl and avoid overtaxing the local water supplies and other natural resources. The pace of life on the Central Coast is slower than in either of the urban centers of the San Francisco Bay Area to the north or the Greater Los Angeles Area to the south.

The various communities take pride in their history, hold local festivals that are well attended by community members, and have a sense of neighborliness that is common to rural areas.

External links

• California Travel & Tourism Commission
• Wikipedia article
• The American West Travelogue
• Beach California
• Central Coast Birding Trail
• Central Coast Golf Trail
• Central Coast Tourism
• Pelican Network ecotourism reference site
• Sierra Club of California