Why Morro Bay, CA is the Perfect Coastal Vacation Spot – A Visitor’s Guide

Situated next to the Morro Bay estuary in Los Osos-Baywood Park, El Moro Elfin Forest is a 90-acre natural area owned by the California State and San Luis Obispo County Park. The area features vast tracts of native coast live oak as well as 150-foot high prehistoric dunes rising above southern Morro Bay. The region is also home to more than 200 species of plants, 22 species of mammals, 13 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 110 kinds of birds, many of which are endangered and rare. The forest can be explored by a 5-mile-long boardwalk loop that winds its way through the forest, allowing visitors to soak up the magnificent natural surroundings without damaging the environment.

1103 Santa Lucia Ave, Los Osos, CA 93402, Phone: 805-528-0392

Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve can be found in western San Luis Obispo County and is home to ancient dunes and centuries-old coast live oaks. The California state park features five major plant communities that thrive within the reserve, namely central coastal scrub, coastal sage scrub, live oak forest, dune oak scrub, and riparian (streamside). While these communities live side by side, they each boast their own characters and grow into a variety of gnarled and fantastic shapes. The Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve is located on Los Osos Valley Road in Los Osos Valley, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and offers an array of outdoor and recreational activities including hiking and bird and wildlife watching.

1801 Los Osos Valley Rd, Baywood-Los Osos, CA 93402, Phone: 800-777-0369

Montana de Oro State Park is an 8,000-acre reserve situated 6 miles southwest of Morro Bay that boasts breathtaking natural landscapes, fauna, and flora. Named the “Mountain of Gold” in Spanish for the golden wildflowers found in the park, the state preserve is made up of coastal plains and sandy beaches, towering cliffs and canyons, streams, and hills, and is home to the majestic 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. The park provides a wealth of outdoor and recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, camping, picnicking, beachcombing, and birdwatching. Offshore, Montaña de Oro State Park is a protected marine reserve with an abundance of natural ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

3550 Pecho Valley Rd, Los Osos, CA 93402, Phone: 805-528-0513

The Morro Bay Maritime Museum is a maritime interpretive center dedicated to showcasing naval military memorabilia with excellent exhibits of various naval equipment and vehicles such as a Coast Guard cutter and a deep-sea roving vehicle. Managed by the Central Coast Maritime Museum Association and the City of Morro Bay, the museum aims to create a greater awareness and understanding of the maritime heritage of California. Designed by architect Jim Maul, the museum has an outdoor small craft display, an interpretive center, and a major 1,500-square-foot exhibition hall that is home to a variety of boat and vessel exhibits and interactive displays.

1210 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA 93442, 805-225-5044

Located on a hill in the heart of Morro Bay State Park with spectacular views of the Morro Bay estuary, the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History documents the natural history of the region. Established in 1962, the museum is the only natural history museum in the California state park system. The museum features a variety of fun, educational, and interactive exhibits that focus on the natural habitats of the area and the impact of human forces on the environment.

20 State Park Rd, Morro Bay, CA 93442, Phone: 805-772-2694

A beautiful park frequented and cherished by locals; Centennial Parkway opened to the public in 1975 as a memorial to the city’s centennial celebration. It came to life through the hard work of community volunteers and the thoughtful design of an architecture student from California Polytechnic State University. In the park, guests can find the landmark Centennial Stairway, which was made from recycled redwood, and two former city water tanks, along with the iconic giant chessboard—one of only two in the United States. Over the years, more chess tables and benches have been added around the giant board, welcoming anyone wanting to test their wits with a round of chess.

806 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, California 93442

Set on the shores of the Morro Bay lagoon in western San Luis Obispo County, Morro Bay State Park is a state nature reserve with pristine natural landscapes and terrain and the renowned landmark of Morro Rock. The park offers a variety of outdoor and recreational activities for visitors to enjoy, from hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and sailing to bird and wildlife watching. It is also home to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, which features an array of exhibits that focus on the cultural history, natural features, geology, oceanography, and Native American life of the region. Morro Bay State Park has a bustling marina, where locals can launch watercraft, and an 18-hole public golf course, while the northeast edge of the bay is home to is a magnificent saltwater marsh that supports a burgeoning bird population.

60 State Park Rd, Morro Bay, CA 93442, Phone: 805-772-2560

The South T-Pier at Morro Bay is home to over 30 California sea otters, including several pups. The adorable raft of otters draws both locals and visitors who come to watch the playing otters, whose population has been on the endangered species list since 1977 but is now on the rise thanks to significant conservation efforts by the local community. Located next to a system of estuaries that have formed a sand barrier around the inlet of the bay, Morro Bay is an ideal habitat for the otters with tranquil and protected waters. Visitors can park behind the Great American Fish Company and stroll along the Embarcadero to see the otters lolling and sunning themselves in the calm waters.

Morro Bay T Pier Sea Otters, Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA 93442

Visit the Sweet Springs Nature Preserve on vacation. This 32-acre park is located off Ramona Avenue in the town of Los Osos and provides an array of outdoor and recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and birdwatching. Owned and managed by the Morro Coast Audubon Society for the past 30 years, the Sweet Springs Nature Preserve is named for a freshwater source that flows into the bay and boasts beautiful views of Morro Bay, its networks of estuaries, mudflats, and wetlands, and Morro Rock. The family-friendly preserve is a favorite spot for picnics, birdwatching, and fun family-days out.

660 Ramona Ave, Los Osos, CA 93402

Located at the entrance to Morro Bay Harbor in Morro Bay, Morro Rock is a huge volcanic plug created by pressurized lava flow reaching the surface. The rock is connected to the shore by a causeway, making it a “tied island,” and is protected as part of the Morro Rock State Preserve. The last of a coastal chain of extinct volcanic peaks along Highway 1 known as the Nine Sisters of San Luis Obispo County, Morro Rock stands 576 feet tall and is home to a large population of nesting peregrine falcons as well as hundreds of cormorants, gulls, and other seabird species. The base of the rock can be reached by driving north on Embarcadero Road, and visitors can explore the rock and its surroundings along the Atascadero Road access trail.

Morro Bay Harbor, Morro Bay, California