San Simeon & Cambria

Named after the colorful, shiny moonstones that scatter the shoreline, Moonstone Beach is a beautiful, peaceful beach on the Cambria Coastline that offers a tranquil place to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery.

The beach features a one-mile boardwalk that winds along the coastline between Cambria’s north end and Leffingwell Landing with many wooden benches along the way where you can sit and soak up the magnificent ocean views. The sandy beach is full of vibrant little moonstones, which makes for excellent beachcombing, while other activities include exploring the tidal pools and whale, dolphin, and bird watching. Moonstone Beach Map

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, otherwise known as “The Ranch,” is an untouched preserve of land that offers a rare backcountry experience for locals and visitors alike. Spanning over 430 acres of the Californian coastline, this natural gem offers an array of outdoor activities to enjoy in a beautifully tranquil environment, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, and dog walking.

Although rugged and untamed, the landscape is within close walking distance of local neighborhoods, making it an easily accessible and ideal spot for family picnics, romantic strolls, and beachcombing. The Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is open year-round from dawn to dusk and is free to enter.

About five miles from the Hearst Castle State Historical Monument in San Simeon is Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, a place where animal lovers have a rare opportunity to observe elephant seals having their babies, changing their skin, mating, fighting and just lying about. The rookery stretches for about six miles along the shore, and there are paved walkways from which visitors can observe these rare animals without disturbing them, or the delicate coastal plants.

The northern elephant seal, Miroungaangustirostris, spends up to ten months every year in the ocean, diving down 5,800 feet deep in the open ocean where they feed. Twice a year they migrate thousands of miles to one of their land-based rookeries. Piedras Blancas is one of the best places to watch seals during their life onshore.

Address: Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, San Simeon, CA 93452, Phone: 805-924-1628

About halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in San Simeon is Hearst Castle, America's most famous castle. Often called The Enchanted Hill or La Cuesta Encantada, a group of spectacular mansions of mixed architectural style stand high above the ocean, surrounded by lush gardens. The castle was designed by architect Julia Morgan for the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and his family.

What was originally a family campsite was transformed into a spectacular 165-room castle which features 115 rooms in the main house and 50 rooms throughout three guest houses, all lavishly decorated. There are also swimming pools, a movie theater, tennis courts, an airfield, the zoo and eight acres of gardens. "La Casa Grande," or the main house, hosts Hearst's collection of European art and antiques.

Address: Hearst Castle, 750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452, Phone: 800-444-4445, Hearst Castle Video

For a relaxing day at the beach:

When you come to Point Piedras Blancas Beach, you will see many kite boarders and windsurfers who have adopted this lovely spot and are putting on a daily show. The beach is fenced in and can be entered through a wooden gate that leads into this state-owned property. There is a sandy footpath that leads to the edge of the bluff that can be used to go down to the back of the beach. You can also walk along the bluff to a scenic rocky point on the north side of the beach.

This is where the Boucher Trail starts, going south past the lighthouse on the way to the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. Point Piedras Blancas Beach is part of Hearst San Simeon State Park and the use of the beach for any other purpose except to cross it to get into the water is not permitted since the beach is the habitat for northern elephant seals. Point Piedras Blancas Beach Map

Not far from the historic and charming San Simeon, across the busy Highway One from the Hearst Castle, is the beautiful and very popular William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach. This spacious beach is suitable for a range of activities including swimming, fishing, beachcombing and hiking.

Located in a quiet, protected cove, the beach is also great for fishing from the pier, which is a starting point for kayaking and deep-sea fishing from chartered boats. There are 24 picnic sites with picnic tables and barbecues, making it the perfect spot for family gatherings.

Address: William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach, 750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

Stolo Family Winery & Vineyards is a family owned and managed winery located on the scenic Santa Rosa Creek Road just minutes from Main Street. Surrounded by nine acres of sun-kissed vineyards is a restored farmhouse and old dairy barn that date back late 1800’s. The property also has a rustic tasting room and winery, offering guests a full wine farm experience.

Planted in 1998 and thriving from unique microclimate presented by the close proximity of the Pacific Ocean, the Stolo Family Vineyards produce a range of coastal-style varietals, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, each of which uniquely captures the coast’s aroma, textures, and flavors in every bottle.

Address: Stolo Family Winery & Vineyards, 3776 Santa Rosa Creek Rd, Cambria, CA 93428, Phone: 805-924-3131

The Big Sur is a wild, rugged part of the California coast, unspoiled by development, rough and dangerous. About half way between Monterey and San Luis Obispo is Jade Cove with Jade Beach. You can get to the cove and the beach by following a steep, often treacherous trail that leads down. This beach is a popular spot for jade-hunters.

About two miles along the coast is another place where you can find jade, but also have some fun - Sand Dollar Beach, a popular beach for picnicking, beachcombing, surfing and fishing. Sand Dollar is the largest beach in this area, but the waves are often rough and there is a strong rip current, so swimmers should be careful. The location is a popular place for hang gliding and paragliding.

Address: CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, Phone: 831-667-2315

If you are traveling with kids:

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was established for the protection, research, education and use of marine resources off California's central coast from Marinto Cambria. This federally protected sanctuary includes 276 miles of shoreline and 4,601 nautical square miles of ocean. It extends 30 miles off shore up to 12,713 feet deep.

The sanctuary protects America's largest kelp forests, one of the largest underwater canyons and deep ocean environments closest to the shore. It includes diverse marine ecosystems such as rocky shores, sandy beaches and rich estuaries, home to a huge number of marine species. Diverse habitats contain 34 species of marine mammals, over 180 species of shorebirds and seabirds, 525 species of fish, and a huge number of algae and invertebrates.

Address: a class="map1" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Monterey+Bay+National+Marine+Sanctuary,+California,+USA/@36.6856861,-123.4411719,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808e66027c232be9:0xc672289b812aa931!8m2!3d36.460986!4d-122.174605!16zL20vMDZjZ3Y2?hl=en" target="_blank">Monterey Bay, California 93940, Phone: 831-647-4201 , Facebook