HONEYMOON HIDEAWAYS

From Carmel to Half Moon Bay, romantic honeymoon rendezvous line the California coast, offering newlyweds everything from adrenaline-pumping adventures to afternoons of relaxing in each other’s arms. Explore Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Half Moon Bay for honeymoon bliss unique to the Central Coast.

SANTA CRUZ

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Cruz is the perfect blend of surf, sand, and magnificent redwoods. Couples with adventure on their minds will find miles of hiking and biking trails winding their way through hills, forests, and meadows of the county. Both California beach and mountain parks, including the state’s first, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, are just minutes from each other. There is the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk that has been providing fun for its visitors with its rides and games for over one hundred years. Ride on the Big Dipper, one of the oldest roller coasters in the country. On one of Monterey Bay’s endless beaches you can sun bathe or catch a wave at one of Santa Cruz’s famous breaks. How about kayaking across giant kelp beds while keeping your eyes open for resident sea otters, harbor seals, and California Sea Lions?

Browse the many quaint beach towns and their shopping and dining areas, including 41st Avenue, the Pacific Garden Mall, Aptos, and the Capitola and Soquel Villages where you can look for that one-of-a-kind item to commemorate the beginning of your life as a married couple. Wine connoisseurs will find dozens of wineries and tasting rooms dotting the Santa Cruz Mountains.

CARMEL

Home to the renowned 17-mile Drive and Pebble Beach golf course, Carmel is an art lover’s paradise. The hub of this tiny beachside community, Ocean Street, is lined with galleries showcasing recognized artists’ inspiration from oil paintings to photography to metal and glass sculptures. Browse downtown boutiques, dine in quaint bistros, and stroll Carmel’s idiosyncratic but pricey neighborhoods. If you look carefully, you’ll notice that there are no address numbers for home mail delivery. This tight-knit community believes in getting to know its neighbors. On any given day, the post office is teeming with locals catching up on the day’s events while collecting their mail. A journey on Carmel’s celebrated 17-mile Drive takes you along California’s coastline of magnificent estates and four top-ranked golf courses: Del Monte, Spanish Bay, Spyglass Hill, and Pebble Beach.

MONTEREY

California’s first capitol, and immortalized in John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, Monterey is a thriving seaside community whose past and future are marked by the

Central Coast’s extensive marine wildlife. Get up close and personal with sea creatures of all shapes and sizes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Live exhibits include the only great white shark in captivity in the world. Browse souvenir shops in old Monterey, on Fisherman’s Wharf, and along Cannery Row. Taste test for the best clam chowder at the many seafood restaurants dotting the length of the wharf. Visit ancient adobes that once housed the state’s government affairs. Kayak with sea otters and sea lions in the Bay, or stroll for miles along the shoreline. Take a whale-watching cruise to marvel at the size and grace of giant blue whales and California gray whales making their annual migration.

HALF MOON BAY

One hour north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1 is Half Moon Bay, known for big wave riding and the annual pumpkin festival. On the way, witness enormous elephant seals at Ano Nuevo State Reserve. Visit Moss Beach Distillery. This cliff-top restaurant was a speakeasy during Prohibition and is rumored to house a ghost. “The Blue Lady” reportedly still haunts the premises. If you enjoy mixing golf with scenery, try the Half Moon Bay Golf Links’ two championship courses that overlook the Pacific Ocean.

When planning that once-in-a-lifetime experience for your honeymoon, come to California’s Central Coast with its beaches, mountains, redwoods, food, and fun. Whether you spend your honeymoon getting to know one special place or you enjoy them all, the Central Coast provides an unforgettable and romantic experience. For lodging and activities information: www.coastalwedding.com

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