California Coast Introduction

California Coast Introduction

Location map

This is a combination of two trips; one up the coast from Santa Maria to Monterey to see the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the second up to Monterey on business followed by a vacation in and around Santa Cruz along with a side trip for one day up to San Francisco.

It's not a complete picture tour of the entire area; but does represent a fairly diverse selection of attractions along the central California coast.

I didn't see much along the coast on either trip because of fog. That's one problem taking that drive in the summer. The hot inland air draws the ocean air up the coastal range where it condenses into fairly thick fog.

In Monterey the Aquarium was the big attraction, although drives around the area resulted in a stop at the Carmel Mission where Father Serra is buried.

Around the Monterey Bay you'll find areas where begonias are king and in Santa Cruz itself the University of California at Santa Cruz runs an Arboretum you might want to visit if you have an interest in flowers from Africa and Australia/New Zealand.

Just outside Santa Cruz you will find a completely different world of redwood trees and a railroad that takes you though them.

Finally, if you have a day to spare in the area you can jog up to San Francisco, take the cable car around the city, and have a great dinner at Fisherman's Wharf.

Enjoy. And, if you crave more see the More Info page.

Now, drive up the coast...

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