California's Central Coast stretches roughly 270 miles, from Ventura to Monterey.
Over the years, Nancy and I have been drawn to that part of the state - beautiful, interesting, and between two giant metro areas, so it's usually less crowded.
When I was a young tadpole, my family frequently visited Carmel from our home in Oakland. I have very fond memories of those trips, rolling south down Hwy 101 in our big Mercury station wagon (complete with wood side panels; seat belts optional) and exploring Carmel on foot.
Then in 1969 my sister Marcy went off to UCSB - another reason to stop in Carmel on our way to Isla Vista.
Over the years, Nancy and I have also grown to love Santa Barbara, Cambria, Pacific Grove, and other ocean-side towns. On an April 2025 road trip alongside the Pacific Ocean, we came across some wonderful sights worth remembering.
(BTW you can read this article / view the photos by just scrolling down; or, tap a photo to see a larger version of it, then tap the "X" to re-join the story.)