Things to do / Travel Guide
Flora
The flora of the central California coast is home to a diverse ecosystem that ranges from wet to dry. Along the coast, from Big Sur north, the majestic California redwoods grow naturally and in relative abundance. The lush floor of these magnificent, old-growth forests fosters low-lying plants and bushes, such as ferns and redwood sorrel. Other trees in this region include Monterey cypress, pine trees, and Torrey pines, which are found a bit further south in the area around San Luis Obispo and San Simeon. The region is particularly well-known for perennial grasses.
Napa Valley and Sonoma County are prime areas for grape growing. Due to the climate, the slightly warmer Napa Valley produces various grape varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Over in nearby Sonoma County, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals are commonly grown. Other grape varieties include Merlot and Zinfandel.
One of the most scenic parks in the entire state of California is located across the Golden Gate Bridge just a few miles north of San Francisco. Muir Woods is an isolated canyon filled with an ancient redwood forest. Some of these trees date back over 1,000 years and reach heights of over 260 feet. Also, Muir Woods is home to many animals, especially nocturnal creatures such as owls, bats, black-tail deer, the Sonoma chipmunk, ravens, newts, garter snakes, warblers, kinglets, thrushers, Steller jays and many different species of forest lizards, amphibians, and salamanders. Muir Woods is popular, especially during the weekends, and it is recommended that you pay a visit during the weekdays when the park is less crowded. To get to the park, take U.S. Highway 101 across the Golden Gate Bridge and follow the signs.
Perhaps the biggest stretch of wilderness in the central California coast region is the 90-mile stretch of land between the southern end of the Monterey Peninsula to the outskirts of San Luis Obispo. The climate of Big Sur is largely affected by its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Lucia Mountains. Fog rolls in with frequency and this effects the kind of plants and trees that grow in Big Sur. Redwood trees, as well as yuccas thrive together in this sparsely populated, rural stretch of moist coastline and, during the spring the hillsides bloom with wildflowers.
Fauna
Sea life in this region includes sea lions and otters, which can be seen along the coastlines near Carmel and, in particular, around Piedras Blancas just north of San Simeon. Piedras Blancas is a stretch of coast about 12 miles north of Cambria where elephant seals, which were once thought to be extinct, have returned to breed. Breeding season for the elephant seals is from December-March while molting season takes place in August and September. Elephant seals are a protected species in California and they're known for being somewhat ornery and belligerent creatures (read: dangerous), so if you're going out to gander at them while they frolic in the sun, keep your distance and take a guide with you.
From December-March, migratory gray whales can be seen frolicking off the coast of the Monterey Peninsula and the San Francisco Bay Area. Down near Morro Bay, bottle-nosed dolphins swim in pods pretty much all year round and come in very close to the shore, as do porpoises, big and small.
Birds are “big business” in central California as well. Birds such as brown pelicans, grebes, terns, cormorants, sandpipers, and many seagulls can be seen flying along the coast. In the higher, woodier elevations, the endangered California condor can occasionally be spotted swooping down with its 10-foot wide wingspan. Illustrious orange and gold Monarch butterflies migrate through the area in and around Pismo Beach, Pacific Grove, and San Simeon during the winter.
Nature Spots in San Francisco Bay Area, Carmel, Napa Valley, Central California Coast
Nature-Wildlife
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