Getting Oriented

The Central Coast region begins about 60 miles north of Los Angeles, near the seaside city of Ventura. From there the coastline stretches north about 200 miles, winding through the cities of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, then north through the small towns of Morro Bay and Cambria to Carmel. The drive through this region, especially the section of Highway 1 from San Simeon to Big Sur, is one of the most scenic in the state.