Things To Do

Highway 1 Road Trip logo - links to homepage
Tidepool Children
Your ultimate guide to the best things to do along the iconic Highway 1. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the California coast, from the grandeur of Hearst Castle to lazy beach-side hamlets. Discover hidden gems, encounter diverse wildlife, and indulge in the region’s vibrant art and culture. Let this comprehensive resource be your compass for an unforgettable road trip adventure.

Featured Attractions

Activities

All Things to Do

Search
Destinations
Features
70 found
70 found
1
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Tide Pools and Sea Life of Cayucos

Cayucos

With 100 miles of Pacific coastline, our stretch of Highway 1 boasts abundant sea life including marine mammals, tide pools,…

WR Hearst State Beach
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
W.R. Hearst State Beach

San Simeon

William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach provides the scenery, sand, and surf for an ideal beach day on Highway 1. This…

Whale Photo by Danna Dykstra-Coy
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Whale Watching on Highway 1: Your Guide to the Whale Trail

Various

When it comes to whale watching, the Central Coast boasts an embarrassment of riches, especially along the Highway 1 Road…

Carrizo Plain Wildflowers
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Wildflowers on Highway 1

Cambria

Brittlebrush, poppies, bluebells, lupine, sand verbena, and evening primrose are just a handful of the incredible wildflowers that bloom on…

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Wine Country Biking

Arroyo Grande

The most scenic way to experience wine country is from the saddle of a bicycle. In the Edna Valley, enjoy…

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Audubon Sweet Springs Nature Preserve

Los Osos

Trails lead among Monterey Cypress and eucalyptus to two freshwater ponds, and around a salt marsh to the edge of…

Cayucos Estero Bluffs
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Be an iNaturalist with the Cayucos Land Conservancy

Cayucos

Did you know that the Cayucos Land Conservancy sponsors a Citizen/Scientist Project on iNaturalist to catalog all plant and animal…

Central Coast Aquarium, Avila Beach
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Big Fish, Little Fish at Central Coast Aquarium

Avila Beach

Join us for kids activities and storytime with hands-on interaction with tide pool animals and aquarium exploration.

Central Coast Aquarium, Avila Beach
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Central Coast Aquarium

Avila Beach

The mission of the Central Coast Aquarium is to cultivate a community dedicated to ocean stewardship. 

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
El Moro Elfin Forest Docent-Led Nature Walks

Los Osos

The Elfin Forest supports more than 200 species of plants, as well as 110 kinds of birds, 22 species of…

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Docent Nature Walk

Cambria

The Ranch is far from the largest of coastal ecosystems, but packs more biological diversity into a confined area than…

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Monthly Work Day

Cambria

The Ranch is far from the largest of coastal ecosystems, but packs more biological diversity into a confined area than…

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Free Online Trail Maps & Trail Work Volunteer Days

San Luis Obispo County

Visitors and local residents alike are invited to download free trail maps throughout the San Luis Obispo and the HWY…

Museum of Natural History
Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Museum of Natural History Morro Bay State Park

Morro Bay

The Museum features state-of-the-art interactive exhibits especially created for the Morro Bay site. 

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Nipomo Native Garden Volunteer Days

Nipomo

The site is in the final stages of being restored to a native botanical garden which will feature native plant…

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Paddle Back In Time to Historic Lighthouse

Avila Beach

Paddle back in time with professional kayak guides to the 125 year old fully restored and quite beautiful Point San…

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Pecho Coast Trail Docent Hikes to Point San Luis Lighthouse with PG&E

San Luis Obispo

The secluded beaches, rugged cliffs and broad coastal terraces of the Pecho Coast have been privately owned and inaccessible to…

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Point San Luis Lighthouse History Tours

San Luis Obispo

Docent-led Lighthouse tours arriving via the historic trolley are held every Wednesday and Saturday

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Rancho Nipomo Historical Dana Adobe Visit

Nipomo

A Living History Lesson

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Volunteer at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Natural History Center

Guadalupe

The Volunteer Program at the Dunes Center is crucial to its ability to fulfill its mission. 

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Walk Back in Time: Cambria Museum & Historic Buildings Self-Guided Walking Tour

Cambria

Visitors and locals alike enjoy the self-guided walking tour that visits 26 historic structures throughout the small and welcoming town.

Stewardship Travel for Good Logo
Watch the Sharks Feed at the Central Coast Aquarium

Avila Beach

Visit the shark tank during feeding time at the Central Coast Aquarium in Avila Beach for an unforgettable experience and…

Load More