What to do in Central Coast California, CA

Activities, attractions and tours

A coastal landscape with rocky cliffs, dense green vegetation, and a calm sea.
A wooden bridge with a stone marker in a forested area.
A beach with surfers in the water and one walking with a surfboard.
A coastal landscape with a sandy beach, ocean waves, and a mountainous backdrop.
A coastal landscape with purple flowers and a cliff overlooking the ocean at sunset.

Places to Visit in Central Coast California

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in Central Coast California, California while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best Central Coast California attractions from NZ$51, making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group Central Coast California tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over 24 of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular Central Coast California. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

Activities


  • find price illustration

    Explore activities

    Explore thousands of experiences from activities and attractions to day tours and transfer.
  • calendar shield illustration

    Book with ease

    Skip the line- book tickets online in minutes to top attractions with free cancellation on many activities.
  • trophy illustration

    Treat yourself

    Members save % or more when you book activities.

Top places to visit

1. Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium showcases more than 35,000 animals and plants across 550 species. You’ll discover all kinds of local wildlife here, including fish of all sizes, invertebrates, mammals and plants.
Learn more
A circular glass structure with a blue center and a patterned exterior.

2. Carmel Beach

Carmel Beach is a long stretch of soft, white sand in Carmel, a picture-perfect town just 15 minutes’ drive south from Monterey. Steady swells make this a popular destination with surfers, swimmers and kayakers. Rent a kayak and paddle out across the kelp beds. Bring a wetsuit, as the water is often cold except in the heat of summer.
Learn more
A sandy beach with waves crashing onto the shore, a rocky outcrop, and a person walking.

3. 17-Mile Drive

Gaze at dazzling mansions and barking sea lions along 17-Mile Drive, a privately owned stretch of road that winds between Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach. This exclusive seafront drive hugs the wild, craggy coastline, passing great cypress trees, rocky coves, sandy beaches and undulating golf courses.
Learn more
A rocky coastline with a prominent tree on a cliff overlooking the sea.

4. Cannery Row

Discover the leisure attractions along the historic street of Cannery Row. Once a thriving and rather smelly sardine-canning district, today this strip of coast offers fun for the whole family. Peruse the specialty shops and art galleries, dine in seafood restaurants, take the kids to Monterey Bay Aquarium and enjoy watersports in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Learn more
A coastal pier with restaurants and a palm tree.

5. Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular waterfront area that played a major role in the development of Monterey. After serving as a busy port toward the end of the 19th century, it is today a diverse district that draws crowds with its seafood restaurants, lively bars and souvenir shops. Admire the excellent views of the ocean in this old-world harbor.
Learn more
A boardwalk with shops, including a candy store and a fish market.

6. Pismo Beach Pier

Pismo Beach Pier is an extended wooden platform that runs from the heart of its eponymous stretch of sand. It offers spectacular views of the undulating terrain that makes up the Pismo Preserve. Breathe in the salty air and feel the spray from the ocean waves as you stand at the end of the pier.
Learn more
A coastal city at sunset with a pier extending into the ocean, a lit-up waterfront, and a backdrop of mountains.

What to do in Central Coast California


Stay near popular Central Coast California attractions


 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 


 

Day trip destinations from Central Coast California

Explore a world of travel with Expedia