A Highway 1 road trip along California’s Central Coast

The Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is a perfect stop for anyone traveling in a Jeep or other four-wheel-drive vehicle, or for RVers who like to bring along dirt bikes or ATVs. This drive-on beach, the only one of its kind in California, also offers primitive beach camping (reservations required) and hiking opportunities within its expansive dune system. Note that off-roading will be phased out here by 2024 after a recent decision made by the California Coastal Commission.

There is no shortage of chain hotels along the Pacific Coast Highway, but for a more boutique experience, consider staying at Avila Village Inn. The cozy 30-room hotel is situated along the Bob Jones Trail, an easy and scenic 3-mile walking and biking trail. Hotel amenities include bicycle rentals, private patios, and gas fireplaces in every room. For extra luxury, book one of the Hot Tub Deluxe Rooms, which come with a private outdoor hot tub.

Located right on the boardwalk in Avila Beach, a quaint coastal town surrounded by amazing scenery, this French restaurant offers a slightly more upscale experience than some of its more relaxed neighbors. Get a table on the patio, order a bottle of locally produced wine, and enjoy some excellent food with a front-row view of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean.

Morro Rock is impossible to miss when traveling along the coast through San Luis Obispo County. The 580-foot-tall volcanic plug sits on a tied island just outside of Morro Bay’s harbor. The area surrounding the rock is a state park open to visitors—including RVs up to 35 feet—or you can grab a bite on one of the harbor restaurant patios facing the coast and admire the rock from a distance.

Cayucos is a cute beach town nestled along the coast between Morro Bay and Cambria. Grab some freshly baked goods from local favorite Brown Butter Cookie Company and enjoy a sweet treat on the nearby pier with a view of the Pacific Ocean. You can’t go wrong with the original brown butter flavor—but if you’re feeling adventurous (or extra hungry), we recommend also stocking up on lemon sugar, chocolate chunk, and cocoa cookies.

What do you know about olallieberries? Genetically a mix between blackberry and raspberry, and developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the 1940s, it’s the primary berry grown at the Cambria farm owned by the Linn family. At Linn’s Restaurant, you can get a taste of the tart berry in everything from pie to cheesecake to pudding. The bicycle-crazy owner has decorated the place with vintage bicycles—including some famous ones that have appeared in movies. The food is delicious but be prepared for big portion sizes and make sure you save room for dessert.

Known locally as the “Poor Man’s Hearst Castle,” this bizarre house is perched on a hillside in Cambria. Art Beal earned the nickname “Captain Nitt Witt” from his neighbors after buying the lot in 1928 and spending the next five decades building his castle using found objects and trash, including abalone shells and empty beer cans. Current owner Michael O’Malley is a character himself, and gives guided tours of the house—today a California Historic Landmark—for a suggested $10 donation.

No trip to the Central Coast is complete without a visit to Hearst Castle. The opulent mansion can be spotted at its mountaintop location from the Pacific Coast Highway. While traveling through this area, also keep an eye out for zebras—a herd that once lived at Hearst’s private zoo still roams the land below the castle.