May 1, 2025

Travel Itinerary: The Artist

Photo credit: Visit San Luis Obispo

Calling All Dreamers, Art Lovers & Creatives

Hit the road for five days of inspired sightseeing on the Central Coast

The Central Coast has long drawn artists with its natural beauty, charming towns and laid-back pace. From painters and poets to photographers and designers, creatives of all kinds have found inspiration here. For art lovers, there’s no shortage of galleries, museums and murals to explore—plus plenty of opportunities to get hands-on and make something yourself. Design-savvy travelers will appreciate the dramatic scenery, thoughtful cuisine and stylish stays. Along the way, meet the makers, discover unique local goods and hear the stories behind them. This five-day road trip takes you from the coastal charms of Carmel and Big Sur, through the wine countries of SLO CAL and the Santa Ynez Valley and ends by the sea in Ventura.

Photo credit: Visit Carmel

Day 1: Carmel-by-the-Sea

Start your art-centric adventure in Carmel-By-The-Sea, a storybook enclave that has attracted talented residents such as nature photographer Ansel Adams, poet Robinson Jeffers, actress Doris Day and actor Clint Eastwood. Home to a thriving arts community, the village boasts 100+ galleries within one square mile. Peruse the public art, including the new Carmel Shell mural by Carmel folk artist Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham, celebrated cartoonist Bill Bates’ map of Carmel mural and murals of Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein by the French street artist known as Mr. Brainwash.

Savor the culinary arts at Michelin-starred Chez Noir or Aubergine. Or try rising star newcomer, Foray, renowned for its use of abundant local wild mushrooms, produce grown in the Salinas Valley and seafood sourced from Monterey Bay. Owned and operated by husband and wife duo Michael Chang and Caroline Singer, Foray‘s dining room is adorned with reclaimed Monterey Cypress and original gyotaku artwork.

Overnight: Carmel-by-the-Sea

Photo credit: See Monterey

Day 2: Carmel to Big Sur

Have brunch at local favorite, Stationæry before hitting the road south on PCH to Big Sur. Another creative magnet, Big Sur draws artistic spirits with its untamed coastline, moody light and sense of solitude. Pull over into the scenic lookouts as inspiration calls as you wind down Highway One, and be sure to stop by the Henry Miller Memorial Library. Tucked in the redwoods, the bookshop, art space and music venue is a counterculture time capsule celebrating the life of the provocative writer who famously lived and worked in Big Sur for nearly two decades of his life.

When you’re ready for lunch, put your name in for a table with a view at Nepenthe. If the wait is long, browse the exquisite jewelry and eclectic wares at the gift shop at the base of the stairs. Check into Big Sur Lodge, at the base of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, with trailheads beckoning right outside your door and a cozy lodge with a restaurant and store.

Driving Time: 1 hour

Overnight: Big Sur Lodge

Photo credit: Sensorio Paso

Day 3: Big Sur to Paso Robles

Start the day with a hike followed by a hearty breakfast at Deetjen’s. Retrace your route north on Highway One towards Carmel/Monterey and then head east to connect with US-101 south to Paso Robles.

Paso Robles stokes the senses with its authentic country western charms and captivating wines. Check out Studios on the Park, where artists work in glass-fronted studios and offer classes in everything from watercolor to printmaking. Into cocktails? Yes Cocktail Co. hosts mixology classes where you can learn to craft drinks using their small-batch syrups and mixers made with local ingredients. For something earthier, Couleur de la Vie teaches natural dyeing with plants grown on-site. And don’t miss General Store Paso Robles, which carries a wide array of goods by local and regional craftspeople and makers.

Spend your evening at Sensorio Paso, a renowned collection of immersive light installations by artist Bruce Munro and others nestled in the countryside. As the sun sets, watch thousands of glowing fiber-optic stems alight with color across the rolling hills like a living painting. Walk through the installations–including the newest, FOSO: Fiber Optic Symphonic Orchestra, paired with an original composition–and take in the surreal blend of art, nature and technology.

Driving Time: 3 hours

Overnight: Paso Robles

Photo credit: California Nature Art Museum via Visit The Santa Ynez Valley

Day 4: Paso Robles to Santa Ynez Valley

Check out and stop for breakfast at Kitchenette, just down the road in Templeton. Carry on south via US-101 to San Luis Obispo. Wander through the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art to see the latest exhibitions by contemporary Californian artists. Stroll around downtown to find public murals, galleries and quirky boutiques. If you’re feeling crafty, drop into The Mayan Collective to make your own personalized, sustainable candle at their candle bar and shop their collection of locally made goods.

Continue south to the Santa Ynez Valley. Spend the afternoon soaking up art, nature and wine with a creative twist. Swing by Community Clayworks in Buellton, where you can browse locally made ceramics and even try your hand at the wheel. In Solvang, explore the California Nature Art Museum, home to Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s first permanent troll in California–a colossal sculpture of an enchanting wooden troll made from recycled materials. Head to Santa Ynez to visit Artiste Winery & Gallery, a hybrid wine tasting and art gallery space that also offers hands-on creative experiences. End the day with dinner at SY Kitchen, where locals and visitors gather for refined Italian cuisine served in a cozy, contemporary farmhouse setting.

Driving Time: 1.75 hours

Overnight: Santa Ynez Valley

Photo credit: Visit Ventura

Day 5: Santa Ynez Valley to Ventura

Have breakfast at Baker’s Table in Santa Ynez or Bob’s Well Bread Bakery in Ballard before hopping on scenic CA-154 to Santa Barbara. Take photos of the 360-degree views of “The American Riviera” from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse clocktower and check out the massive mural depicting Santa Barbara’s history in the Mural Room. Allocate at least a couple of hours to take in the exhibits at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and have lunch across the street at The Daisy. Meander around the colorful Funk Zone neighborhood before getting back on US-101 South en route to your final destination, Ventura.

Ventura’s walkable downtown is packed with galleries, murals and studios. Drop into Museum of Ventura County and peruse the art exhibits, sculpture garden and stone shop at Art City Studios, home to works by renowned local sculptor and multimedia artist Paul Lindhard. Gallery hop from Vita Arts Center and Latitudes Gallery to H Gallery + Studios and Bell Arts Factory. Catch the sunset from the sweeping viewpoint outside of the Ventura Botanical Gardens, and then cap off your stay with dinner and a show. Savor creative cuisine and cocktails at Jaguar Moon or Model Citizen and see what’s on at Ventura Music Hall, Majestic Ventura Theater or Rubicon Theatre Company.