Things To Do

Home
Things To Do

Your ultimate guide to the best things to do along the iconic Highway 1. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the California coast, from the grandeur of Hearst Castle to lazy beach-side hamlets. Discover hidden gems, encounter diverse wildlife, and indulge in the region’s vibrant art and culture. Let this comprehensive resource be your compass for an unforgettable road trip adventure.

Featured Attractions

Hearst Castle

Cayucos Pier

Oceano Dunes

Piedras Blancas Lighthouse

Activities

Best Things to Do

Arts & Culture

Beaches

Biking

Fishing

Golfing

Hiking

Shopping

Surfing

Wildlife Viewing

Farmer’s Markets

Spas & Wellness

All Things to Do

225 results found.

View:

Standard Card

Mini Card

Best Restaurants & Dining in Avila Beach
Avila Beach
With sunshine, surf, sand, and salty air, Avila Beach feels a lot like a perfect, tucked-away paradise. Sweeten the deal — literally! — with delicious cuisine, and Avila Beach becomes downright irresistible. Fortunately for travelers of all tastes and budgets, Avila Beach offers some of the freshest dining around. Splurge…
Cayucos Picnic Co.
Cayucos
Choose a luxury picnic package & location then customize it with our add-on items to make your picnic unique! At Cayucos Picnic Co. we work with you to make your picnic special. From a surprise proposal on the beach with added rose petals and photographer to a “just because”…
Shopping in Avila Beach
Avila Beach
Avila Beach feels like paradise, and not only for its white sand beaches and other natural wonders — it’s a shopper’s paradise as well. Though downtown Avila Beach comprises just a few square blocks near the Avila Pier, these contain a wide assortment of storefronts. Deep into the…
Best Parks in Arroyo Grande and Edna Valley
Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande and Edna Valley Parks are a family friendly destination with plenty of safe, fun opportunities for kids or pets to run, laugh and play. Spread a blanket in the grass, explore rugged terrain, partake in friendly fieldsports, or hit the playground for an afternoon of exploration.
Tide Pools and Sea Life of Avila Beach
Avila Beach
Imagine a seaside community surrounded by a wealth of wildlife in its own habitat, and you’ve probably imagined a place like Avila Beach. The sound of waves crashing, birds singing, and seals barking is the soundtrack to any day spent here. All creatures great and small inhabit and…
Best Parks in San Simeon and Ragged Point
San Simeon
With their many miles of untouched coastline, beaches, forests — even a castle! — San Simeon and Ragged Point offer a wealth of spectacular family-friendly destinations. The parks here are wide-open for exploring and discovery. Ascend the “enchanted hilltop” of Hearst Castle to follow the footsteps of media…
The 10 Best Parks on Highway 1
In a land of natural splendor, it’s no surprise that the public has access to breathtaking, fun, and fascinating parks. On this special stretch of Highway 1, the wild and the wonderful conspire to bring kids and their grownups closer to nature — and to each other. Here,…
Fishing Lopez Lake
Arroyo Grande
Watch the morning mist lift off Lopez Lake as you cast your first line of the day. This 940-acre reservoir, nestled just 10 miles east of Arroyo Grande, offers something most fishing spots can’t: the perfect blend of productive waters and scenery that makes you forget about everything else. …
Fishing San Simeon & Ragged Point
San Simeon
Jagged cliffs, hidden coves and the steady rhythm of crashing waves: Welcome to fishing San Simeon and fishing Ragged Point. Here, catching fish is more than a pastime — it’s a thrilling introduction to the raw natural beauty of Highway 1. Every cast brings you closer to the coast: towering…
Surfing San Simeon to Ragged Point
San Simeon
Beyond San Simeon’s Highway 1’s well-known surf spots lies a coastline that feels like it’s been waiting just for you. From Big Sur’s southern swells to the hidden breaks near Ragged Point, peeling waves tuck into pristine coves, ready to reward those willing to explore. This is surfing as nature…
Tide Pools and Sea Life of San Simeon
San Simeon
The stretch of coastline along San Simeon sees some of the most diverse sea life of all of Highway 1. Here, whales spout and breach within full view of the San Simeon Pier at William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach. Dolphins’ dorsal fins dip in and out of the…
Best Restaurants in San Simeon and Ragged Point
San Simeon
Restaurants in San Simeon combine fresh Central Coast ingredients with locally-caught seafood, stunning Pacific Ocean views and a diverse array of cuisines. Enjoy a variety of flavors in San Simeon, including fresh-caught fare, farm-to-table, pub grub, Mexican dishes and more. Home to world famous Hearst Castle, a visit to San…
Best Parks in Cambria
Cambria
A good public park can add so much to a vacation along Highway 1. In Cambria, parks are destinations for flying kites, barbecuing burgers, and letting the kids (and dogs) burn off some steam. Most parks here include wide views of the Pacific Ocean, where sea otters, whales,…
Fishing Cambria
Cambria
Weathered bluffs, kelp-draped shorelines and the timeless pull of the tide: Welcome to fishing Cambria’s pristine waters. Here, casting a line is more than a pastime—it’s an invitation to join generations of anglers who’ve discovered that the best fishing spots aren’t always the most obvious. Every reel brings you deeper…
Surfing Cambria
Cambria
Located between two Highway 1 surf hotspots, San Simeon and Cayucos, Cambria’s surf scene sparkles as one of California’s hidden treasures. Local surfers cherish Cambria’s accessible waves and consistent surf conditions, particularly at Moonstone Beach. This pristine surf spot sits just a 12-minute walk from Cambria’s charming East Village,…
Best Places to Eat in Cambria
Cambria
With its relaxed small-town-by-the-sea vibe, Cambria welcomes diners to get cozy in a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, bakeries and wine tasting rooms. Here, you’ll find everything from casual to fine dining, seaside vistas to tucked away fireside tables for two.
Tide Pools and Sea Life of Cambria
Cambria
Along Cambria’s craggy, dramatic shoreline, witness the lives of thousands of tiny creatures in their watery habitat. These tide pools offer the opportunity for curious minds to discover a whole world of life at the ocean’s surface.
Sea Life of Oceano and Nipomo
Oceano
The stretch of Highway 1 between Oceano and Nipomo is some of the most beautiful and biologically diverse coastline in the state. Here, 15 miles of dunes make up one of the largest coastal dune systems in California.