Heritage Tourism in California’s Central Zcoast by Ruth Paget

Heritage Tourism on California’s Central Coast (with some Northern California Spots as well) by Ruth Paget

Some of the places my family has visited over the years on California’s Central Coast and in Northern California might interest other travelers as well. 

This list is not exhaustive, but includes blogs I have written about these places:

Paso Robles:

Lunch at Firestone Walker, a California Brew Pub, is always a treat!

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/pretzels-burgers-and-rock-music-at.html?m=1

San Miguel Arcangel Mission:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/san-miguel-arcangel-mission-near-san.html?m=1

Morro Bay:

Two Fantastic Seafood Meals at Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/morro-bay-oysters-and-dungeness-crab.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/calamari-appetizers-and-seafood-pasta.html?m=1

San Luis Obispo:

Lure Fish House Meals, Novo Restaurant Meals, Hotel Cerro Breakfast, and Madonna Inn

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/italian-linguine-with-clams-at-lure.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/fusion-seafood-feast-at-lure-fish-house.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/franco-italian-meal-at-novo-restaurant.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/primo-pumpkin-risotto-at-novo.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/cowboy-eggs-benedict-at-hotel-cerro-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/madonna-frittata-and-apffels-coffee-at.html?m=1

San Simeon

Hearst Castle and Southern Big Sur Road Trip on Highway 1 -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/visiting-hearst-castle-with-juilliard.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/southern-big-sur-california-day-trip-by.html?m=1

Carmel:

La Perouse the Explorer Game and La Perouse the Explorer Cruise Idea-

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/04/la-perouse-explorer-historical-fashion.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/09/la-perouse-explorer-cruise-idea.html?m=1

Carmel Valley:

Carmel Valley History Center even has dinosaur bones -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/09/dinosaur-bones-ohlone-reed-boats-wagon.html?m=1

Earthbound Farms for lunch, pumpkins, and tulips -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/10/grown-up-kid-at-earthbound-farm-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/tulip-tourism-outside-salinas-at.html?m=1

Monterey:

Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Whale Watching, the Dali Museum, and the Crown and Anchor Pub - 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/01/cannery-row-for-new-years-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/monterey-bay-aquarium-monterey.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2016/11/whale-watching-field-trip_44.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2016/03/figueres-spain-dali-land.html?m=

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/producer-mom-dinners-at-crown-and.html?m=1

Pebble Beach:

Trap’s Lounge, Roy’s, Peppoli,  Stillwater Cafe, Gallery Cafe,  Market Reuben Sandwich Combo Deal, and Hay’s Place for great tasting meals -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/pulled-pork-sandwich-with-coleslaw-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/deluxe-bar-nibbles-at-traps-lounge-in.html?m=

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/04/hibachi-salmon-and-mango-cheesecake-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/06/spicy-crab-salad-at-roys-in-pebble.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/12/sardis-like-birthday-party-at-peppoli.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/organic-spinach-and-blue-cheese-salad.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/tonic-fall-deli-meal-at-gallery-cafe-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/sticky-buns-and-vegetable-frittatas-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/mexican-seafood-enchiladas-at-hays.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/06/enchiladas-de-mole-al-fogon-at-hays.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/04/reuben-sandwich-deal-at-pebble-beach.html?m=1

San Francisco, Napa Valley, and Marin County -

Celebrating Chinese New Year’s (two weeks in February), Napa Valley, Parisian Brunches at Cafe de la Presse, Skyline Dining at the Intercontinental,  Sliders and Kopi Liwak Coffee at the Mark, and the Asian Art Museum

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/chinese-new-year-parade-san-francisco.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/06/visiting-napa-valley-napa-california.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/06/lunch-at-cafe-de-la-presse-san.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/06/skyline-dining-at-intercontinental-san.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/06/sliders-and-kopi-luwak-coffee-at.html?m=1m

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/06/visiting-asian-art-museum-san-francisco.html?m=1

Minnesingers and Mayfair in Carmel Valley and Medieval Games in Marin County -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/04/minnesingers-and-mayfair-for-children.html?m=1

Millbrae: 

Sampling seafood dim sum in Millbrae -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/dim-sum-primer-millbrae-california.html?m=1

Los Gatos:

Memorable Meals at Chez Philippe!

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/06/apple-duck-confit-at-chez-philippe-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/12/salade-nicoise-with-salmon-at-chez.html?m=1

San Jose:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-tech-museum-san-jose-california.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/egyptian-museum-san-jose-california.html?m=1

Seaside 

Manga and anime rallyes at Harumi Restaurant -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/manga-and-anime-rallyes-in-seaside.html?m=1

Stammtisch for authentic German fare - 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/01/oktoberfest-at-stammtisch-restaurant-in.html?m=1

Hispanic Day of the Dead -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/04/day-of-dead-monterey-california.html?m=1

Lake Tahoe:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/anniversary-town-lake-tahoe-california.html?m=1

Mount Lassen and Shasta Caverns:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/lassen-peak-and-lake-shasta-caverns_4.html?m=1

Yosemite National Park Hiking:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/05/hiking-in-yosemite-national-park-sierra.html?m=1

Salinas:

Lunching at John Steinbeck’s Home near the Steinbeck Center with a bookshop downstairs -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/02/lunching-at-steinbecks-childhood-home.html?m=1

Market Town Salinas has a Wednesday Night Farmers Market at Northridge Market  with 100+ Food Trucks and Stalls and a Saturday Morning Market that closes Dow Main Street by the Steinbeck Center.

Alvarado Street Brewery is a California Brewpub Pub -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/02/german-style-kolsch-beer-and-loaded-blt.html?m=1

Growers Pub - Pub’s - is the oldest bar in Dalinas established in 1901.  It preserves many American bar traditions -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/10/prime-pork-chop-dinner-at-pubs-prime.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/chicago-meal-at-pubs-growers-pub-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/salinas-surf-and-turf-dinner-at-pubs-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/lobster-ravioli-at-pubs-growers-pub-in.html?m=1

Villa Azteca is aiming for a Michelin Star -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/mole-amarillo-shrimp-enchiladas-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/mole-rossa-at-villa-azteca-in-salinas.html?m=1

Neapolitan Pizza at Gino’s and Italian Bar Dining:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/always-great-pizza-at-ginos-in-salinas.html?m=

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2022/09/venice-film-festival-at-ginos-in.html?m=1

Tourism at the Farm in Summer:

Goats, Kiddy Tractors, and Organic Produce - 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/09/goats-kiddy-tractors-and-organic.html?m=1

Pumpkins -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/09/pumpkin-harvest-2025-in-monterey-county.html?m=1

Squash -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/squash-harvest-is-in-at-farm-in-salinas.html?m=1

Art at the Farm -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/art-at-farm-in-salinas-california-by.html?m=1

Salinas reminds me of the English market town of Epping, which is now a London suburb:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/touring-epping-london-suburb-uk-with.html?m=1

Salinas with its Hartnell College and tree canopy around campus and city hall also reminds me Of Cambridge in England as well:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/visiting-cambridge-uk-with-savvy-mom.html?m=1

Market towns with adventurous and skilled cooks need food games like the ones I created below:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/food-games-created-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Food Games Background Reading List to enjoy country outings before and after visits -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/food-games-background-information-by.html?m=1

Soledad:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/condor-country-monterey-county.html?m=1

San Juan Bautista:

Parading Roosters, Ohlone Native Americans, Everyday Alchemy, Images of the Virgin Conference by Artist Jennifer Colby

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/enjoying-tex-mex-food-with-juilliard.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/11/learning-about-ohlone-on-californias.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2016/12/alchemy-for-kids-san-juan-bautista.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/living-history-day-san-juan-bautista.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/images-of-virgin-exhibit-review-by-ruth.html?m=1

Big Sur -

Eggs Benedict by the Pacific at Nepenthe with a little shopping is pretty terrific for views and flavor -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/brunch-on-grand-terrace-big-sur.html?m=1

Wildflower Drawing

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2016/11/wildflower-drawing-in-big-sur.html?m=1

Eating English Breakfast at River Inn -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/english-breakfast-at-big-sur-river-inn.html?m=1

Monterey - Salinas Airport:

Woody’s Restaurant and Bar at the airport and in Carmel Valley offers many dining options that also draws local diners:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/12/authentic-monterey-county-lunch-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/02/miyagi-raw-oysters-and-jumbo-shrimp.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/09/calamari-steak-and-sand-dabs-at-woodys.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/seared-ahi-salade-nicoise-at-woodys-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/02/beet-salad-at-woodys-in-monterey.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/01/woodys-at-monterey-ca-airport-by-ruth.html?m=1

Culture of the American West Reading Game Created by Ruth Paget for topics to consider when thinking of your own travels in California’s Central Coast:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/08/culture-of-american-west-game-created.html?m=1

That is the blog round-up so far on Central Coast California tourism.  There is definitely more to explore, but all these places provide intellectual stimulation, delicious food, and relaxation to create what I consider a sense of well-being.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Ancient Western Civilization Game Series (https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/ancient-western-civilization-games.html?m=1)

Information Data and Society at SJSU reposted by Ruth Paget

San Jose State University announces its new combined major of Information Data and Society. which includes AI in its coursework.

Details about this new major at San Jose State follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_personal/19d03207bbec8f84

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and Eating Soup with Chopsticks and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicago Press Book Release: Bicentenniel - a history of 1970sreposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago Press has just released Bicentenniel about the revolutionary history of the 1970s by Marc Stein.  Bicentenniel refers to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 1976.

Details about the book follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19d00f005ef9dd37

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Author Yiyun Li is the 2026 Berlin Family lecturer at UChicago reposted by Ruth Paget

Yiyun Li will spray at three lectures at UChicago as part of the Berlin Family Lectures.  Zoom attendance is possible for people who cannot attend in person.

Lectures occur on March 31, April 7, and April 14, 2026.

Details about this event follow:

https://mailchi.mp/uchicago.edu/invitation-humanities-day-on-october-5865889?e=cef015051e

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Salinas Surf and Turf Dinner at Pub's in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Salinas Surf and Turf Dinner at Pub’s in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

My husband Laurent, daughter Florence Paget, and I went out for a Salinas surf and turf meal at Pub’s in Salinas, California that was reliably great. I love eating at the oldest bar in Salinas. 

We began our meal with an order of deep-fried Monterey Bay calamari. The squid was lightly coated and came with a creamy, chipotle-mayonnaise dipping sauce. This was the delicious surf part of my meal. 

We all ordered steaks for the turf part of our meal. Florence and I ordered the flatiron steaks while Laurent had the filet mignon with shrimp scampi special. 

All the steaks came with an appetizer salad. The salad was crisp romaine lettuce like you would expect to eat in a top-notch steak house. I ate Thousand Island dressing with my salad made with ketchup-mayonnaise and pleasantly sour, house-made pickles. That was a refreshing break after eating the delicious calamari. 

I ordered my steak medium rare and it came out perfectly cooked and a little salty, the way I like steak. 

I chose to eat tiled, scalloped potatoes made with sharp cheddar cheese as my potato option. This tasty side is something I would eat as a vegetarian meal during the week. 

Steamed vegetables coated in butter rounded out the steak platter. Carrots, celery, and zucchini made up the vegetable selection when we went, but they can change with the seasons. The vegetables had a slight, sugary flavor letting you know they were fresh and at their peak ripeness. 

We brought our own bottle of wine to go with the steaks – a Mayard Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau de ma Mère produced in the Rhône River Valley by Avignon, France. The wine was six years old and excellent with steak. (The corkage fee at Pub’s is $20 – very reasonable, if you drink your entire bottle.) 

For a really great seafood and steak dinner in a country town, Pub’s in Salinas, California has been a number one option since its opening in 1901. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Portable, Battery Operated Fans for Hot Weather Car Waiting reposted by Ruth Paget

It’s supposed to be 89 in Salinas, California today.

For people doing delivery and other driving fleet work, I thought portable, battery operated fans might be useful to stay cool while waiting for assignments or trying to cut down on AC use while driving.

Walmart has a good selection and two locations in Salinas and one in Marina:

https://www.walmart.com/browse/home-improvement/battery-operated-fans/1072864_133032_1231458_1230511_3882908?adid=222222222285457627962_101114166_189154538570_23625811341&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=799457721965&wl4=pla-2461816942250&wl5=9031879&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=554347038&wl11=online&wl12=5457627962_101114166&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23625811341&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIpCQkpRBrq-DWH051YxvzN54&gclid=CjwKCAjw1N7NBhAoEiwAcPchp6uAjdwqQepBZzVl_v5sic9aqWBaac9gJp5DTeG3rllY5ysdacJ90xoCj0YQAvD_BwE

Target, Ace Hardware, and Amazon probably carry these items as well.

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Quarter 2 Sales Drivers for Salinas and Monterey County California by Ruth Paget

Quarter 2 Sales Drivers for Salinas and Monterey County California by Ruth Paget 

Quarter 2 (Q2) sales drivers for the period April 1 to June 31, 2026 in Salinas and Monterey County California feature many national sporting playoffs and championships that can generate bar-restaurant sales as well as supermarket and market sales for home-based celebrations. Merchandise, sponsorships, and concessions bring in big money from sports, if managed well.

A preliminary list by month of events follows: 

April: 

-Easter – April 5 

-Earth Day – April 22 

-Hidden Hills Hoedown – April 19 

-ComicCon Salinas (Spreckels) – April 22 

-NHL Playoffs start – April 18 

May: 

-Kentucky Derby – May 2 

-Quilt Show Pacific Grove – May 1 

-WNBA Playoffs start – May 8  

-Cinco de Mayo - May 5

June: 

-NBA Playoffs start – June 3 

-Wimbledon begins – June 29 (their signature dish is strawberries and cream) 

-World Cup Soccer - beginning June 11

Ongoing: 

-Spring releases of books

-Major League Baseball

-LA ComicCon – November 30 to December 1 

-Room Air Conditioner Sales

-Fan sales

-time to get a personal gardener to clear out weeds and get the garden tidy

-spring is time for pet grooming and making sure shots and insurance are up to date

-In the South, people do laundry for other people as a gig job.  clothes can dry on lines in Spring.

-Spring is time to contact a cleaning company to set up spring cleaning

-start pricing educational toys for the holidays at Thinker Toys in Carmel

-set up landscaping services for summer

I used to do sports rallyes to watch basket games when I live in Chicago. It was easy for me to buy Greek food so I put together many Greek buffets.  My sports rallye blog follows:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-chicago-bears-rallye-game-sports.html?m=1 

*Catch up on vaccinations

Note: Nick the Greek Restaurant has opened in Monterey on Alvarado Street recently, if you would like to try some Greek food sports buffets too. Demetra in Marina and Carmel also serves Greek dishes.  Woody’s also has fried calamari and Greek salads for adding Mediterranean flair to sports night.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games