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Marine World

Exploring California's Central Coast

By Mark Smith

December 7^th, 2025

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.)

First stop: Cambria

We make a point of staying along Cambria's Moonstone Beach Drive; the ocean is just across the street, with a nice wooden walkway alongside it.

Fiscalini Ranch

One of our favorite Cambria hang-outs is Fiscalini Ranch, a large public walking preserve along the ocean.

The mornings here are typically a mix of fog and sun - cool and beautiful. Wooden walkways take you through grassy meadows and amongst the ice plant on the ocean cliffs, where you'll encounter just a few of the locals (unless it's summer).

We also climb dirt trails up into the trees, for a beautiful view of the coastline.

Harmony

In the tiny, artsy town of Harmony, just south of Cambria, you can watch glass blowers practice their craft. You can actually rent out the town for a day.

Or decide to get married in the town's chapel.

Then again, you could sample local red wines at the Harmony winery on the hill, and think it over first :-)

San Simeon

Up Hwy. 1 from Cambria is San Simeon, a teeny village that includes a post office, a store/deli, and an excellent wine-tasting spot (Hearst Ranch Winery) right on the water.

Walking out on the pier feels like being in the middle of the bay.

Hearst Castle

Up in the hills, just a few miles away from the calm, natural beauty of San Simeon, is the spectacle of Hearst Castle - an interesting insight into extraordinary wealth.

Slumber party

Just up from San Simeon is a protected Elephant Seal beach / rookery.

Elephant seals are huge, hearty creatures; they live in the open ocean for 8-10 months of the year, migrating up to 13,000 miles and sometimes descending a mile down into the darkness.

Think of what they must encounter during their time at sea:

-The true giants of our planet: Whales

-Run-ins with their main predators - Orcas and Great Whites

-The wreckage of ships and planes

-Great underwater valleys and mountains

-Huge storms at sea

-Above them, mammoth container ships; and below, strange creatures that exist only in the deep dark.

On a spring day such as this, they were here purely for rest and relaxation: To laze in the warm sun, shed their outer skin and grow a shiny new one, and rest up before heading back to sea.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Moving north: This reserve features one of our favorite hikes in California. The park entrance is just a few miles down Hwy. 1 from Carmel.

If you look very closely. you'll see a few hikers.

The miles of trails take you along the cliffs, so you get a close-up Pacific Ocean experience; they also immerse you in thick trees. Sometimes you get both at the same time.

Carmel Mission Basilica

Between the Point Lobos reserve and the town of Carmel is the Carmel Mission Basilica. Founded in 1771 by Father Junípero Serra, it was the 2nd mission established in California (San Diego being the first).

It's a very peaceful stop when traveling up or down the coast highway.

Monterey Bay Seals

Walking on the Old Monterey pier - definitely still a working pier, no fancy shops or restaurants here - we noticed a commotion out in the bay.

From afar it looked like groups of large black birds sitting on the surface - or the fins of sharks circling very slowly.

As we got closer, we realized it was a herd of seals - acting very oddly, as if they were performing yoga poses, or practicing a synchronized swimming routine.

Actually, they were just sleeping. Apparently seals can sleep "standing up" or "lying down" in the water with their heads alternatively just above / just below the surface, somehow managing their oxygen intake while snoozing.

Monterey Aquarium

The last stop on our central coast road trip was the Monterey Aquarium. It's got a fun vibe and a huge variety of marine life.

Just don’t call us “jellyfish”

As I learned at the aquarium, it's now gauche to call these creatures "jellyfish" - since technically they're not fish.

Not to put too fine a point on it - but they're not made of jelly either. In any case, they're now simply called "jellies."

It's remarkable for an organism with no brain, no heart, and no bones to have re-branded itself after more than 300 years of being mistakenly named.

Marketing students, take note.

Personally, I would have kept the original jellyfish name, which implied they at least had a structure that held them together.

A group of jellies is a __________

Anyhow: Despite being brain-free, jellies seem to do just fine. They reproduce, sense light, propel themselves, and stun other sea creatures and then eat them. And they are beautiful, always in graceful motion.