Things To Do

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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

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  • Biking Pacific Coast Highway 1

    Biking Pacific Coast Highway 1

    San Simeon
    An all-time favorite cycling route, Highway 1 offers spectacular views and challenging climbs with great restaurants, wineries and attractions along the way.
  • Solo Travel Highway 1’s Wide Open Spaces

    Solo Travel Highway 1’s Wide Open Spaces

    With the need for social distancing, there’s never been a better time to dream about your next party-of-one trip.
  • Preserves, Estuaries and Sanctuaries on Highway 1

    Preserves, Estuaries and Sanctuaries on Highway 1

    Avila Beach
    Find thousands of acres of protected open space, both on land and at sea. These estuaries, preserves, and sanctuaries are home to abundant wildlife.
  • Preserves, Sanctuaries and Secluded Pleasures along Highway 1 Stewardship Travel Logo

    Preserves, Sanctuaries and Secluded Pleasures along Highway 1

    Find your sanctuary (and preserve your sense of well being). If solitude and serenity is what you seek, allow SLO CAL to ease your mind as you stretch your legs. Dreamlike hills, untouched cliffs, vibrant wildlife and endless uncrowded beaches and hiking trails await travelers along pristine Highway 1. Finally:…
  • Travelers Tell Us The First Place They Want To Go, Once Travel Is Safe Again

    Travelers Tell Us The First Place They Want To Go, Once Travel Is Safe Again

    At this exact moment in time, no one really knows what travel will look like in the future. Or even when it will open back up. Will the quarantine lift closer to the Fourth of July or Labor Day? So much remains murky. All that…
  • Summer has arrived at SLO CAL’s State Parks and Beaches

    Summer has arrived at SLO CAL’s State Parks and Beaches

    Your guide to hiking, camping, surfing, fishing and more along Highway 1 Summer road trips are made of this! Pack the cooler with sandwiches and sodas, grab the camera and pull on your favorite hiking boots. The whole family is about to embark on a coastal adventure along…
  • Interesting Animal Encounters in California Stewardship Travel Logo

    Interesting Animal Encounters in California

    Interesting Animal Encounters in California Visitors come from all over the world to discover California’s inspiring landscapes and wildlife. California boasts more native species than any other state, and residents are passionate about protecting them, investing $30 million each year to conserve wildlife habitat. Discover wildlife in a variety of…
  • Martha Stewart Invites You to Hearst Castle’s Garden

    Martha Stewart Invites You to Hearst Castle’s Garden

    Visit These Four Gardens to Get Your First Taste of Spring's Bounty Wherever you are in the United States, here’s where to go to embrace the season’s best feature—freshly-bloomed florals.By Erica Sloan March 17, 2020Read the full article from MarthaStewart.com here In addition to the…
  • State Parks and Beaches of San Simeon

    State Parks and Beaches of San Simeon

    San Simeon
    Visit Hearst Castle along with its neighboring San Simeon state parks and beaches, and experience the very best of the Central Coast.
  • State Parks and Beaches of the Central Coast

    State Parks and Beaches of the Central Coast

    Highway 1
    From Ragged Point to Nipomo, you’ll find unspoiled beaches, quiet woodlands, marine protected areas, art, antiquities, and driveable dunes.
  • Top Places to go Foraging in the US

    Top Places to go Foraging in the US

    Top 6 places to go foraging in the US Our ancestors foraged to survive, but harvesting wild food became much less common after the advent of the grocery store. Fast forward to the present day: Americans want to know what’s in their food and where it’s coming from, and they’re…
  • 160 Kilometers of Enriching Coastal Adventures

    160 Kilometers of Enriching Coastal Adventures

    A bounty of exciting experiences await in coastal San Luis Obispo County. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Natural History Center This non-profit organization works to protect the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, a 30-kilometer stretch of the largest intact coastal dune ecosystem on Earth. Take a free, naturalist-led Stewardship Travel tour to learn about this fragile…
  • Seaweed Foraging Tours Stewardship Travel Logo

    Seaweed Foraging Tours

    Cayucos
    This is an intimate and educational experience that is always family friendly.
  • Bird Watching on the Central Coast

    Bird Watching on the Central Coast

    Los Osos
    Ideal climate, terrain, and proximity to the Pacific Flyway makes the SLO CAL stretch of Highway 1 one of the finest birding regions in the world.
  • Coastal Discovery Celebration Continues to Grow as Key Stewardship Travel Opportunity Stewardship Travel Logo

    Coastal Discovery Celebration Continues to Grow as Key Stewardship Travel Opportunity

    We all want more immersive experiences in our lives, especially when we travel. The new year should ring in less calendar obsession and bring more opportunities to lose ourselves in our surroundings. The Coastal Discovery Celebration offers just such an opportunity to unwind, expand and contribute to making our…
  • Choose Your Adventure

    Choose Your Adventure

    In a Pacific state of mind? Whether you choose to spend the bulk of your vacation under the water, on top of the water, or hiking, camping and exploring near the water—SLO CAL has your next coastal adventure on tap. Look no further than the seaside communities…
  • Gateway to Big Sur

    Gateway to Big Sur

    Ragged Point
    Big Sur represents the best of the West. As one of the nation’s top attractions, Big Sur sparkles with vast views of the Pacific.
  • Sea Otter Spotting Stewardship Travel Logo

    Sea Otter Spotting

    Morro Bay
    Cute, furry, and playful, Southern Sea Otters make their homes just offshore along the SLO CAL stretch of Highway 1. Sea otters are native to the north Pacific Ocean, with Monterey Bay, Big Sur, and the Central Coast as hubs of activity.