This is the main area of California, as the name implies. It comprises the San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Central California is also home to the picturesque views of the Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey Bay coastal regions. These scenic coasts provide visitors with a variety of outdoor activities, historic and cultural tours, wine tasting, and fine dining.
Some visitors enjoy beach hopping between the different coastlines, and others prefer camping. This region has something for every kind of tourist, at any age, to enjoy.
Read below for our list of best and most fun things to do in Central California
The 92 Most Popular Things To Do In Central California, California
92. Monterey State Historic Park
4.8 (6 reviews)
Location: 20 Custom House Plaza Monterey CA
Tel: 831 649 2907
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
91. Panorama Trail
5.0 (9 reviews)
Location: Glacier Point Road Yosemite Village CA
90. Cook’s Meadow Loop
4.2 (10 reviews)
89. John Muir Wilderness
4.8 (10 reviews)
Location: Lakeshore CA
Tel: 760 873 2400
Web Address: https://fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/
88. Cathedral Peak
4.8 (12 reviews)
87. Cathedral Lakes
4.9 (13 reviews)
86. Chilnualna Falls
4.9 (16 reviews)
85. Four Mile Trail
5.0 (17 reviews)
84. Ansel Adams Wilderness
4.3 (19 reviews)
Credit: Dcrjsr, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Lee Vining CA
Tel: 559 877 2218
Web Address: http://fs.usda.gov/
83. Mist Trail
4.7 (24 reviews)
Credit: JCRPannie, License, Wikimedia commons
82. Monterey Museum of Art
4.7 (28 reviews)
Location: 559 Pacific Street Monterey CA
Tel: 831 372 5477
Web Address: http://montereyart.org/
81. Thousand Island Lake
5.0 (31 reviews)
80. Roaring River Falls
4.8 (32 reviews)
Credit: David Prasad, License, Flickr
79. Upper Yosemite Falls
4.9 (41 reviews)
Credit: Anushasekar2005, License, Wikimedia commons
78. Lembert Dome
4.9 (42 reviews)
77. North Dome
5.0 (43 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
76. Giant Forest
4.9 (50 reviews)
Credit: LGalcan, License, Wikimedia commons
75. Mist Falls
4.9 (53 reviews)
Credit: Tiffany Zheng, License, Wikimedia commons
74. Nevada Fall
4.9 (54 reviews)
Credit: Ken Lund, License, Wikimedia commons
73. General Grant Grove
4.8 (57 reviews)
Credit: Niagara66, License, Wikimedia commons
72. Tokopah Falls
4.8 (58 reviews)
71. Clouds Rest
4.9 (71 reviews)
Credit: siamesepuppy, License, Wikimedia commons
70. Horsetail Fall
4.8 (73 reviews)
Credit: Wcwoolf, License, Wikimedia commons
69. Sand Dollar Beach
4.7 (82 reviews)
68. Juan Bautista De Anza Historic Trailhead
4.6 (83 reviews)
Credit: Jensen Bunnell, Google Maps
Location: Old Streetage Coach Rd. Closed to Vehicluar Traffic San Juan Bautista CA
Tel: 510 817 1323
Web Address: http://nps.gov/juba/index.htm
67. Cannery Row
4.6 (104 reviews)
Credit: Dick Rowan, License, Wikimedia commons
66. Tuolumne Meadows
4.7 (130 reviews)
Credit: Almonroth, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 7943 Willow Street Wawona CA
Tel: 209 372 0200
Web Address: http://nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/tuolumne.htm
65. Henry Miller Memorial Library
4.6 (147 reviews)
Location: 48603 CA 1 Big Sur CA
Tel: 831 667 2574
Web Address: https://henrymiller.org/
64. Vernal Falls
4.9 (155 reviews)
Credit: Meburian, License, Wikimedia commons
63. Bridalveil Fall
4.7 (163 reviews)
62. Mirror Lake
4.3 (173 reviews)
Credit: Indikawiki, License, Wikimedia commons
61. Rainbow Falls
4.8 (174 reviews)
Credit: TheTrainingAtheist, License, Wikimedia commons
60. Taft Point
4.9 (175 reviews)
Credit: Warren jacobson, License, Wikimedia commons
59. Crystal Cave (Sequoia National Park)
4.4 (187 reviews)
Location: Three Rivers CA
Tel: 559 565 3341
Web Address: https://nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/crystal-cave.htm
58. Sentinel Dome
5.0 (193 reviews)
57. Fresno Art Museum
4.5 (202 reviews)
Credit: David Prasad, License, Flickr
Location: 2233 N First Street Fresno CA
Tel: 559 441 4221
Web Address: http://fresnoartmuseum.org/
56. Tenaya Lake
4.9 (229 reviews)
Credit: Timwilgibson, License, Wikimedia commons
55. Hume Lake
4.8 (270 reviews)
Credit: Sheltonclan, License, Wikimedia commons
54. Mission San Antonio de Padua
4.8 (298 reviews)
Credit: Robert Skelton, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Mission Creek Road Jolon CA
Tel: 831 385 4478
Web Address: http://missionsanantonio.net/
53. Partington Cove
4.9 (319 reviews)
Credit: Mistyty, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 51700 CA 1 Big Sur CA
Tel: 800 777 0369
52. McWay Falls
4.6 (346 reviews)
Credit: Lizzyduxbury, License, Wikimedia commons
51. Yosemite Valley
4.8 (390 reviews)
Credit: King Hearts, License, Wikimedia commons
50. Spyglass Hill Golf Course
4.8 (436 reviews)
Location: 3206 Streetevenson Dr Pebble Beach CA
Tel: 831 574 5608
Web Address: http://pebblebeach.com/golf/spyglass-hill-golf-course
49. Mariposa Grove
4.7 (447 reviews)
Credit: Robert Brett, License, Wikimedia commons
48. National Steinbeck Center
4.6 (485 reviews)
Credit: Ken Lund, License, Flickr
Location: 1 Main Street Salinas CA
Tel: 831 775 4721
Web Address: http://steinbeck.org/
47. Carmel Beach
4.8 (572 reviews)
46. Garland Ranch Regional Park
4.8 (660 reviews)
Location: 700 W Carmel Valley Road Carmel Valley CA
Tel: 831 372 3196
Web Address: http://mprpd.org/garland-ranch-regional-park
45. Andrew Molera State Park
4.7 (748 reviews)
Credit: Pacific Southwest Region, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 45500 CA 1 Big Sur CA
Tel: 831 667 2315
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
44. Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort
4.5 (840 reviews)
Credit: Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, Google Maps
Location: 1 Dodge Ridge Road Pinecrest CA
Tel: 209 965 3474
Web Address: https://dodgeridge.com/
43. Pfeiffer Beach
4.7 (843 reviews)
Credit: Robert Brett, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 47199 Clear Ridge Road Big Sur CA
Tel: 805 434 1996
Web Address: https://fs.usda.gov/recarea/lpnf/recarea/
42. Point Pinos Lighthouse (1855)
4.5 (864 reviews)
Location: 80 Asilomar Ave Pacific Grove CA
Tel: 831 648 5722
Web Address: http://pointpinoslighthouse.org/
41. Sequoia National Park’s Tunnel Log
4.7 (904 reviews)
Location: Crescent Meadow Road Sequoia National Park CA
Tel: 559 565 3341
Web Address: http://nps.gov/seki/faqtunnel.htm
40. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
4.6 (941 reviews)
Credit: SharonWestvale, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pfeiffer Big Sur Road Big Sur CA
Tel: 831 667 1112
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
39. Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
4.6 (1,042 reviews)
Location: 56001 CA 41 Fish Camp CA
Tel: 559 683 7273
Web Address: http://ymsprr.com/
38. Tunnel view
4.9 (1,121 reviews)
Location: Yosemite National Park Wawona Road California
37. Olmsted Point
4.8 (1,227 reviews)
Credit: Dcrjsr, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Parking lot Yosemite Valley CA
Tel: 209 372 0200
Web Address: https://nps.gov/
36. Garrapata State Park
4.8 (1,258 reviews)
Location: 34500 CA 1 Carmel By The Sea CA
Tel: 831 624 4909
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
35. Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
4.7 (1,291 reviews)
Credit: Jim Maurer, License, Flickr
Location: 10501 Reservoir Road Jamestown CA
Tel: 209 984 3953
Web Address: http://railtown1897.org/visit/general-information/
34. Devils Postpile National Monument
4.7 (1,364 reviews)
Credit: EKH photography, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Devils Postpile Rd. Mammoth Lakes CA
Web Address: http://nps.gov/depo/
33. Giant Forest Museum
4.7 (1,502 reviews)
Location: 47050 Generals Hwy Three Rivers CA
Tel: 559 565 4480
Web Address: https://nps.gov/seki/learn/historyculture/gfgfm.htm
32. Limekiln State Park
4.7 (1,704 reviews)
Location: 63025 CA 1 Big Sur CA
Tel: 805 434 1996
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
31. Forestiere Underground Gardens
4.7 (1,713 reviews)
Credit: David Prasad, License, Flickr
Location: 5021 W Shaw Ave Fresno CA
Tel: 559 271 0734
Web Address: http://undergroundgardens.com/
30. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
4.9 (1,725 reviews)
Credit: NARA record: 8463941, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 47050 Generals Hwy Three Rivers CA
Tel: 559 565 3341
Web Address: https://nps.gov/seki/index.htm
29. Mission San Juan Bautista (1797)
4.7 (2,108 reviews)
Credit: Carolschmidt333, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 406 2nd Street San Juan Bautista CA
Tel: 831 623 2127
Web Address: http://oldmissionsjb.org/
28. Moro Rock Trail
4.9 (2,370 reviews)
Credit: King Hearts, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Sequoia National Park CA
Tel: 559 565 3341
Web Address: https://nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/moro.htm
27. Island Waterpark
4.4 (2,386 reviews)
Location: 6099 W Barstow Ave Fresno CA
Tel: 559 277 6800
Web Address: https://islandwaterpark.com/
26. Carmel River State Beach
4.8 (2,422 reviews)
Location: 26478 Carmelo Street Carmel By The Sea CA
Tel: 831 649 2836
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
25. Carmel Mission Basilica Museum
4.6 (2,539 reviews)
Credit: Justin Kern, License, Flickr
Location: 3080 Rio Road Carmel By The Sea CA
Tel: 831 624 1271
Web Address: http://carmelmission.org/
24. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
4.7 (2,637 reviews)
Credit: SharonWestvale, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 52801 CA 1 Big Sur CA
Tel: 831 667 1112
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
23. Asilomar State Beach
4.8 (2,652 reviews)
Credit: Dick Rowan, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Sunset Dr Pacific Grove CA
Tel: 831 646 6440
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
22. Dennis The Menace Playground
4.7 (2,700 reviews)
Credit: adrian cahya, Google Maps
Location: 777 Pearl Street Monterey CA
Web Address: https://monterey.org/city_hall/parks___recreation/beaches,_parks___playgrounds/specialty_parks/el_estero_park_complex.php
21. Pebble Beach Golf Links
4.8 (3,136 reviews)
Location: 1700 17 Mile Dr Pebble Beach CA
Tel: 831 574 5609
Web Address: http://pebblebeach.com/golf/pebble-beach-golf-links
20. Sierra National Forest
4.8 (3,616 reviews)
Credit: NARA record: 8463941, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: California
Tel: 559 297 0706
Web Address: http://fs.usda.gov/sierra/
19. The Ahwahnee
4.4 (3,625 reviews)
Credit: MichaelEBM, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Yosemite National Park 1 Ahwahnee Drive Yosemite Valley CA
Tel: 888 413 8869
Web Address: https://travelyosemite.com/lodging/the-ahwahnee/
18. Columbia State Historic Park
4.7 (3,695 reviews)
Location: 22708 Broadway Street Columbia CA
Tel: 209 588 9128
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/columbia/
17. Lone Cypress
4.7 (5,018 reviews)
Credit: Harvey Barrison, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pebble Beach CA
16. Sequoia National Forest
4.8 (5,107 reviews)
Credit: NARA record: 8463941, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1839 South Newcomb St Porterville CA
Tel: 760 379 5646
Web Address: https://fs.usda.gov/main/sequoia/home
15. Los Padres National Forest
4.7 (5,766 reviews)
Location: 1980 Old Mission Dr Solvang CA
Tel: 805 448 6487
Web Address: http://fs.usda.gov/lpnf
14. Lovers Point Park
4.8 (6,292 reviews)
Location: 631 Ocean View Blvd Pacific Grove CA
Web Address: https://cityofpacificgrove.org/living/recreation/parks/lovers-point-park
13. General Sherman Tree
4.8 (7,521 reviews)
Credit: NARA record: 8463941, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Three Rivers CA
Tel: 559 565 3341
Web Address: http://nps.gov/seki/historyculture/gfgst.htm
12. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
4.8 (7,567 reviews)
Credit: Dick Rowan, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 62 CA 1 Carmel By The Sea CA
Tel: 831 624 4909
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
11. Fresno Chaffee Zoo
4.6 (10,667 reviews)
Credit: 1Flatworld, License, Flickr
Location: 894 W Belmont Ave Fresno CA
Tel: 559 498 5910
Web Address: http://fresnochaffeezoo.org/
10. Old Fisherman’s Wharf
4.5 (13,303 reviews)
Credit: Ken Lund, License, Flickr
Location: 1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf Monterey CA
Tel: 831 238 0777
Web Address: http://montereywharf.com/
Our Top picks
9. El Capitan
4.7 (451 reviews)
Credit: Mike Ahmadi, License, Wikimedia commons
8. Half Dome
4.9 (694 reviews)
Credit: DeeFabian, License, Wikimedia commons
7. Yosemite Falls
4.9 (1,155 reviews)
Credit: Mike Ahmadi, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Yosemite Village CA
Tel: 209 372 0200
Web Address: http://nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm
6. Pinnacles National Park
4.7 (3,335 reviews)
Credit: National Park Service, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: California
Tel: 831 389 4485
Web Address: https://nps.gov/pinn/index.htm
5. Glacier Point
4.9 (5,207 reviews)
Credit: Wearsunscreen, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Glacier Point Road Yosemite Valley CA
Tel: 209 372 0200
Web Address: http://nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/glacierpoint.htm
4. Kings Canyon National Park
4.8 (5,504 reviews)
Credit: Niagara66, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: California
Tel: 559 565 3341
Web Address: https://nps.gov/seki/index.htm
3. Sequoia National Park
4.8 (12,312 reviews)
Credit: NARA record: 8463941, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: California
Tel: 559 565 3341
Web Address: https://nps.gov/seki/index.htm
2. Monterey Bay Aquarium
4.7 (31,812 reviews)
Location: 886 Cannery Row Monterey CA
Tel: 831 648 4800
Web Address: https://montereybayaquarium.org/
1. Yosemite National Park
4.8 (40,568 reviews)
Location: California
Tel: 209 372 0200
Web Address: https://nps.gov/yose/index.htm
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Central California, California! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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