Central Coast, Coastal geographic region in California, US.
Central Coast is a region in California stretching from the Monterey shoreline south to the Santa Barbara area. Rolling hills with grassland and grapevines alternate with valleys full of vegetable fields, while the road along the ocean passes steep cliffs and small coves.
Spanish friars founded a series of mission stations along the coast from the second half of the 18th century, introducing new farming methods and European animals. Native peoples were forced to abandon their way of life and move into the missions, which changed their culture deeply.
Many vineyards sit on hillsides and rely on morning fog rolling in from the Pacific to give grapes a long growing season. Small towns between the fields still show wooden ranch houses and Spanish-era stone buildings that now host farmers' markets and tasting rooms.
Larger towns along the coast are often only an hour or two apart and offer grocery stores, gas stations, and small hotels. Fog can be thick along the road, especially in the morning and evening, so it's wise to drive slowly and keep headlights on.
Some stretches of road along the coast pass through forests of giant redwood trees, their trunks outlined by fog rolling in from the sea. Further south, low palms and cacti grow on dry hillsides, showing how different the climate can be within just a few miles.
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