Central Coast Itinerary – PCH & Santa Lucia Mountains

The north end of the Santa Lucia Range is Carmel but Monterey is a great starting point.

Stay in Pacific Grove for a long term visit.

Day One: Monterey

Monterey is home to one of the most impressive tourist attractions, the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Located on Cannery Row, the aquarium is home to more than 35,000 animals and plants. Other popular attractions include the Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the breathtaking Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. And definitely make sure you take the time to enjoy the unforgettable 17-Mile Drive (Carmel-by-the-Sea), where you’ll see stunning views of the coastline, the famed Pebble Beach golf course, and have access to gorgeous beaches in Pebble Beach.

Day Two: Big Sur south into north San Luis Obispo County

The Santa Lucia Range is never more than about 10 miles from the Pacific, but it comes right down to the ocean in Big Sur. Bixby Bridge is an icon for Big Sur and the California coast.

Walk thru the tunnel under PCH (Hwy 1) to see 1 of only 2 California waterfalls that actually dump into the Pacific, McWay Falls. Also, save time for a short tree-covered walk to the beautiful Pfeiffer Beach.

Getting hungry? Try a casual meal at the Cafe Kevah in Nepenthe, right off Hwy 1.

You’ll get a combination mountain/coastal view to remember!

There are many other Big Sur spots to experience, but you’ll need more time!

The inland, eastern part of the Santa Lucia Range (here) borders the Salinas Valley (Hwy 101). The map below shows the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH in purple) on the western side of the valley, but Hwy 101 is another road trip!

At the end of Big Sur is Ragged Point. There’s even a piece of beautiful artwork there to let you get one last look at the Big Sur coast. The Santa Lucia Range still follows the coast south thru San Luis Obispo County but doesn’t have that dramatic drop off into the Pacific Ocean

Day Three: Paso Robles to the Santa Barbara County Line

Continue south along the coast. Pass Cambria and take Hwy 46 (near Harmony, pop. 18) inland to get back to the Santa Lucia Range. Continue to Paso Robles on the eastern side of the Santa Lucia Range. Pickup Hwy 101 and take it south past Atascadero. As you go down Cuesta Grade to San Luis Obispo, you’ll pass back to the western side of the Santa Lucia Range. *Fun Fact re Cuesta Grade: Since ‘cuesta’ means ‘slope’, the translation is: “slope slope” which recalls the Italian restaurant in “Mickey Blue Eyes” named “The La Trattoria” or “the the trattoria”. You haven’t seen that Hugh Grant movie???

Your road trip from SLO continues back to the coast thru Pismo Beach, then south thru Arroyo Grande. The southern border of San Luis Obispo roughly follows the Santa Maria River backward from the ocean staying north of Guadalupe. When it reaches the confluence of the Cuyama River and the Siquoc River just southeast of Santa Maria (see the green star below), this border then follows the Cuyama River north (splitting the Twitchell Reservoir) then east. The SLO County border leaves the Cuyama river and goes to the SE corner of SLO County. (Don’t ask me how they decided on that 4 (or 5?) county “corner”!)

That’s the end of my “Virtual Central Coast Tour of the Santa Lucia Range”!

Of course, you could continue on Hwy 166 east past New Cayuma… Turn north toward the Carrizo Plain National Monument and the Temblor Mountains. On your left will be the Caliente Mountains. Exit north through California City and then head home (west) thru the La Panza Mountains and Santa Margarita. Now pickup SR 101 north to Atascadero and take SR 41 thru (you guessed it!) the Santa Lucia Range down to the coast to Morro Bay and Los Osos. Your ‘home base’, right??? All 4 SLO County mountain ranges!