Explore San Benito County, California!

Bonfante Gardens Monterey Bay Garlic Festival

Hollister is a charming and peaceful town on the Central Coast of California in San Benito County. Proximate to beautiful coastal cities, such as Santa Cruz, Monterey and Carmel, historic San Juan Bautista and Gilroy, area attractions, festivals, missions, parks, wineries, golf courses and businesses, Hollister is the perfect neighborhood for leisure, adventure, business or exploring the San Juan Valley. Hollister is served by major California highways and has one of the few remaining executive airports in the country.


Bonfante Gardens. Looking for a natural day of family fun? Bonfante Gardens is a one-of-a-kind experience combining four unique gardens and amusement rides with the mid-20th century history and agricultural roots of the Santa Clara Valley. Set among 600 acres of rural countryside in Gilroy, California, Bonfante Gardens features acres of fun and beauty encompassing 19 rides and 21 attractions including theme gardens, an event plaza, and 19 of the world famous Circus Trees. Visit www.bonfantegardens.com.

San Juan Bautista Mission. San Juan Bautista Mission, founded in 1797, is the 15th in the chain of 21 California Missions and the largest church in the California Mission chain. It was in the year 1797, a Roman Catholic pilgrimage led by Father Junipero Serra was to bring Christianity to the wilderness. Daytime strollers, families, picnickers, and tourists from foreign countries come to San Juan Bautista to glimpse at what life was once like in the town. Visit www.californiamissions.com/cahistory/sjbautista.htm.l  [Top]


Monterey Bay. Offering 29 miles of coastline, Santa Cruz is a lively port for fun and exploration - a playground for sea life and land-kind. Venture into the vibrant Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the world's largest protected ocean habitat. Dive lush kelp forests and watch sea otters scoop up lunch. Kayak waterways shared with dolphins and sea lions. Sail indigo waters and glide with gray whales migrating through the sanctuary both in winter and spring. Touch a starfish and marvel at the greatness of an 87-foot whale skeleton while exploring underworld mysteries at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Located on a mile-beach between Monterey and San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is your admission-free hot spot for beach vibes and classic rides. With 34 rides and attractions, everyone has a thrilling time - from the heart-pounding rush of the Giant Dipper to the family fun of Bulgy the Whale. The Boardwalk Grand Arcades, the Casino Arcade and Neptune's Kingdom are open daily. Special attractions include the Climb & Conquer climbing wall, Venturer Simulator motion theater, Trampoline Thing, and the 3-D Fun House. The Boardwalk Bowl across the street is a state-of-the-art bowling center for the entire family. Visit www.rwsplash.com

Pinnacles National Monument. Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Pinnacles is a day-use park, with occasional full moon hikes and dark sky astronomical observations led by ranger-interpreters.  For more information visit www.nps.gov/pinn.  [Top]


Gilroy Garlic Festival. Gilroy is centrally located within a short driving distance of Hollister. Well-known as the "Garlic Capital of the World," it is home of the annual Garlic Festival in July. Since 1979, the Garlic Festival offers the same great food and summer family entertainment that's made it one of the premier food festivals in the world. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a "seasoned" veteran, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is a fun, fragrant experience. More at www.gilroygarlicfestival.com.

Gilroy Premium Outlets. Enjoy worldclass shopping at 145 top-brand stores with extraordinary values at Gilroy Premium Outlets. Antiques, collectibles and specialty shops can be found in historic downtown Gilroy or their many shopping districts. Visit www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=23   [Top]