7 California Central Coast Towns That Light Up For Christmas

Regardless of your Christmas destination fantasy — whether it’s a grand castle on a hill, a quaint European-style village, or a picturesque town perched on a cliff overlooking the sea — the California Central Coast likely has you covered.

With its panoramic ocean views, numerous vineyards, and white-sand beaches, the California Central Coast region is gorgeous year-round. But during the holidays, the small and mid-sized towns of the region located midway between the major cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco take on a whole new glow.

From the splendidly festive scene at San Simeon’s Hearst Castle to the Danish-inspired charm of Solvang to the magic of the Cambria Christmas Market, the Central Coast puts on a holiday show that goes well beyond the area’s already-magnificent natural attributes.

And considering that much of the Central Coast enjoys average high temperatures in the 60-degree Fahrenheit range throughout December, the weather is likely to be optimum for a holiday stroll (albeit without real snowflakes).

Many of the Central Coast’s holiday events get started in late November and continue through Christmas or later, while others are one-night events that happen in early to mid-December. What all of the events have in common is the glow from a multitude of twinkling lights.

Here are seven California Central Coast towns that light up for Christmas.

1. Cambria

Two million lights,…