#229 Avila Beach
Avila Beach served as the main port for San Luis Obispo when its first wharf opened in 1855. Today, it serves as a relaxing beach town on the Central Coast. Its charming small downtown feels like a piece of Americana with its architecture, shops and restaurants while a stroll on the pier will take you back to a simpler time.
#226 Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier
Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier is a sleepy fishing pier once located near the famous Pike Amusement Park in Long Beach which featured a roller coaster, bath house, arcades and entertainment. Echoes of the historic past can be remembered while strolling along the beach and bluff park trail. Look for the Lone Sailor Memorial Statue which looks out to sea in contemplation.
#225 Sandstone Peak
At 3,111 feet, Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. A moderate-strenuous 3 mile round trip hike takes you to one of the best vistas in Southern California. Malibu, the Channel Islands, Ventura and Santa Barbara can all be seen on a clear day. Once at the top, do not forget to sign and enjoy the log.
#222 Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve
Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve contains a beautiful series of trails along the central coast. Wildflowers bloom in the spring alongside dramatic sea cliffs with a protected seal rookery. Carpinteria or 'carpenter shop' in Spanish is named for the Chumash Native Americans who built wooden canoes here and used the naturally occurring tar for waterproofing.
#219 USS Iowa
USS Iowa is a museum at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro which opened on the 4th of July 2012. It preserves U.S. Navy Battleship BB-61 which served during World War II, Korean War and Cold War. Three presidents have been hosted aboard and President Roosevelt's Cabin exhibit is a highlight. The tour also includes several rooms, berths, bridges, decks and has wonderful volunteers revealing its history.
#218 Embarcadero
Morro Bay's Embarcadero takes you back to a simpler time along the Central Coast. Galleries, inns, shops and restaurants line the streets with iconic Morro Rock in the background while seals swim along the boats of the harbor. This charming and friendly village will invite you to stay for a day or a lifetime.
#215 Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park is a protected park in the San Joaquin Hills of Orange County. This Mediterranean climate provides home to coastal sage scrub, chaparral and grasslands as well as many mammal species including coyotes and hawks. Native American artifacts like rock shelters and stone tools have been traced from historic Juaneño tribes. The discovery of marine fossils from mammals, fish and birds make this an important area of study. Top of the World Overlook provides sweeping views of Laguna Beach and its coastal canyons.
#214 Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on Big Sur's Highway One is a jaw-dropping stretch of coastline. Julia Pfeiffer Burns was a pioneer woman of Big Sur and provided early tourists with food and lodging. The 80 foot McWay Falls drop directly to the beach and is one of the most photographed spots on the Pacific Coast.
#211 The Flower Fields
Each Spring, the coastal hills of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch burst with color. Fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus bloom from March to May and provide gorgeous views of the ocean. Frank Frazee cultivated 13 colors over the years from just red and yellow. He first planted his fields in 1933 and modeled them after his horticulturist neighbor Luther Gage. This local treasure continues every year and helps put Carlsbad on the map.
#210 Surfers Point Park
With its swaying palm trees framing the scene, Surfers Point Park is a great place for a beach stroll in Ventura. Between the Pier and Emma Wood State Beach, it is an inviting place where surfers flock and everyone is welcome.
