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 Heading south from historic Monterey with its Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf you'll enjoy natural splendor and beautiful ocean views in Pacific Grove.
Next up the world famous 17-Mile Drive with such well known landmarks as The Lone Cyprus and Fanshell Beach. You'll have spectacular ocean views on one side and the emerald greens of golf courses including The Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill and the Pebble Beach Golf Links on the other.
 Stop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a Mecca for artists, writers and actors with quaint architecture, art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, or visit Mission Carmel or Carmel Valley, a pastoral river valley nestled into the Santa Lucia range and one of California's premier wine growing regions.
South of Carmel lies Big Sur, a 90 mile stretch of rugged, incredibly beautiful coastline stretching to San Simeon where Hearst Castle is located.
 California's first designated scenic highway, Highway 1, winds along flanked by the majestic Santa Lucia Mountains on one side and the often dramatic Pacific Coast and ocean views on the other.
Historic Bixby Bridge, Point Sur Lighthouse, the redwood forests of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, numerous beaches and the Esalen Institute are just a few of the many sights to see along the way.
 The road continues to hug the coast until you reach Morro Bay shortly before Highway One meets Interstate 101 at San Luis Obispo. One of California's oldest cities, the San Luis Obispo County Seat got its start when Father Junipero Serra founded Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in 1772.
Follow the links above to tour California's Central Coast. Learn about tours originating in San Francisco — including a day tour to Monterey and Carmel — in the column to the right. Use our CA Central Coast Hotel Search to book hotel rooms from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara.
Tour more exciting places on iNeTours.com including San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, the Wine Country, London, New York City, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Los Anglees and San Diego by following the links at the top of every page.
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