A trip along California’s Central Coast evokes memories of simple pleasures: running barefoot on sand, splashing in the surf, long drives along the shore and singing with the windows down. Imagine sipping wine in flip-flops across from Avila Beach Pier as its wooden planks stretch over jade and sapphire waters. Picture seagulls perched on weathered rocks in Morro Bay while sea lions call nearby. Breathe in wildflowers, chaparral and pines that scent the boardwalks atop Cambria’s bluffs.
Between the bustle of San Francisco and the bustle of Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo County’s Highway 1 links Avila Beach, Morro Bay and Cambria — along with seven other coastal towns — over more than 100 miles of scenic ocean road. Ranches and grazing cattle occupy the inland hills while waves crash against rocky shorelines on the seaside. Along the route you’ll find 13 state parks, 10 whale-watching trails, five piers, two lighthouses, a national estuary and a national marine sanctuary. To help visitors explore these treasures, local towns developed the Highway 1 Discovery Route, an award-winning guide that highlights lesser-known scenic stops, wildlife viewing points and stewardship opportunities. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation honored H1DR with the Sanctuary Sea Star for its Stewardship Travel for Good program, which encourages visitors to help preserve the coastline as they enjoy it.
These coastal towns aren’t built for massive crowds. Instead, they are ideal for smaller groups who want meaningful, mindful experiences with family, friends or colleagues.
“There’s a sense of peace and openness, not only in the place but in the people,” said Cheryl Cumings, chief administrative officer of H1DR. “That’s why we moved here 20 years ago.” Many local hotels are family-run operations passed down through generations. Outdoor venues handle larger gatherings; for example, Cambria’s Oceanpoint Ranch can host up to 250 guests on its 0.75-acre Stargazer Meadow.
PHOTO: © RINA NEHDAR
Near the northern end of the Highway 1 Discovery Route, San Simeon’s Hearst Ranch Winery and its Stargazer Meadow sit below the iconic Hearst Castle. The Hearst family trust protects 18 miles of the surrounding coastline, preserving views and habitat. Bluff-top tables offer sweeping ocean vistas for wine tastings and light fare. “Tailored private events are possible,” said Terri Harrington, tasting manager. Options include yoga sessions and guided hikes to San Simeon Point. The winery can coordinate catering and private takeovers of its tree-lined ocean ridge. For lodging, vacation rentals and nearby inns provide comfortable options for groups.
New accommodations along the Central Coast are rare, but a notable recent addition is the White Water, A Lodge on Moonstone Beach in Cambria. Completed in 2020 by PGA Hospitality Group, the 25-room boutique property reimagines two older lodges with design inspired by the coastline. Its sister property, the 27-room Cambria Beach Lodge, remodeled in 2017, helped establish Cambria’s boutique hotel scene. Both properties place visitors steps from Moonstone Beach, where driftwood sculptures line the sand, and offer bikes to explore Moonstone Beach Drive. Evenings gather at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill to watch the sun sink into the Pacific before dining on locally caught seafood. For team-building or leisurely rides, Covell Ranch’s Clydesdales lead gentle treks from meadows to ocean-overlook hills.
Avila Beach narrowly missed becoming a major port, but its protected harbor makes it ideal for kayaking and seaside leisure. Sinor-LaValle, a local biodynamic vineyard located about a mile from the ocean, grows grapes using regenerative practices and offers tastings that now include Morro Bay oyster shucking experiences. Hartford Pier in Avila is a lively spot: stop for fish and chips and watch sea lions bobbing beneath the pier.
A short drive inland, Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa provides an intimate retreat for up to 80 guests. The hillside, 125-acre property features hiking trails and a bike path to Avila Beach, 24 mineral hot tubs tucked into lush foliage and private spring-fed tubs in many rooms. Its one-acre chef’s garden, expanded in 2019, supplies produce to the on-site farm-to-table restaurant, which hosts winemaker dinners and private banquets. A vintage travel trailer on the grounds serves beverages and light snacks to guests.
For larger corporate gatherings, Pismo Beach offers more meeting capacity. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa and Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach each accommodate roughly 100 guests. Outdoor dinners on the pier are possible, and nearby Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area—California’s only drivable beach—adds adventurous off-road dune rides to the list of group activities.
“I don’t think people really understand how different this area is from the big cities to the north and south,” said H1DR’s Cumings. The region’s calm pace, abundant natural beauty and welcoming communities offer a distinctive coastal experience worth exploring.
SCENIC DRIVES
At nearly 150 years old, the Piedras Blancas Light Station in San Simeon is rich in history. Located about six miles north of Hearst Castle off Cabrillo Highway (CA-1), the site offers two-hour tours led by Bureau of Land Management staff that overlook the Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve, part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The protected waters support abundant marine life; tour visitors learn why the area is named “white rocks” and may see interpretive exhibits, including the skeletal remains of a humpback whale that washed ashore in 2008. Drive south on CA-1 to watch the elephant seal rookery, where each spring tens of thousands of pups are born, then continue to Hearst Castle for tours of its storied grounds.
Another scenic route runs south from Cambria to Cayucos, where cliffs meet the ocean in dramatic fashion. San Geronimo Road leads to a four-mile flat trail at Estero Bluffs State Park, offering close-up views of waves crashing against rocky headlands, tidepools to explore at low tide and frequent whale and dolphin sightings offshore. For a hands-on coastal foraging experience, join guided seaweed-foraging tours in Cayucos, where local experts point out several edible varieties, let visitors taste samples, and finish with ramen made from the harvest.