For Michael Cervin, writing about California’s Central Coast is like a dream come true. Having lived on the coast for over a decade—exploring the beaches and mountains, boating on the water, diving off the Channel Islands, tasting the food, and sampling the wine—the joy is in sharing those experiences with others.

Michael grew up in La Cañada, a small suburb of Los Angeles, but even as a youngster routinely took trips up the coast, from Santa Barbara all the way up to Cambria. After working as an actor in Hollywood, writing and directing theater, and appearing on TV (3rd Rock from the Sun, Grace Under Fire, The Young and the Restless), the time came for him to fulfill his goal of living on the Central Coast. After securing the necessary elements—a convertible and a boat—Michael felt well equipped to start exploring. Working for eight years for a well-known Santa Barbaran architect gave him an appreciation for the unique and diverse architecture displayed along the coast. Michael has also served Santa Barbara County’s Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission, where he became well versed in the layered and intriguing history the area offers.

Michael is a full-time writer whose work has appeared in Decanter, Wine & Spirits, Wine Enthusiast, SkyWest Magazine, Westways, Fido Friendly, and more than sixty other publications covering wine, food, travel, history, architecture, and water, among other subjects. Along the way Michael has interviewed Jonathan Winters, Dan Aykroyd, Mario Andretti, Gina Gallo, Ted Allen, Dave Koz, and other celebrities. His book of poetry, Generous Fiction, was released in 2009, and he is currently the resident restaurant critic for the Santa Barbara News-Press. Find more information about his works at MichaelCervin.com and on his blog, CervinsCentralCoast.blogspot.com.