Known for its wine festivals and the elephant seals that migrate to its shores each winter, Cambria, Calif. is an excellent cold-weather getaway. The town combines coastal scenery, rich local food and wine, and wildlife viewing to create a relaxed, wintry escape.
From Jan. 29–31, the annual Cambria Art & Wine Festival showcases the region’s wines, restaurants and artists. The weekend lineup includes wine-and-food pairings, an art exhibition with a silent auction, live artist demonstrations and a variety of entertainment. The festival concludes on Sunday with an Artist’s Faire and wine pour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a perfect opportunity to sample wines and meet local makers.
Feb. 19–21 brings BlendFest, produced in partnership with Paso Robles Wine Country. This celebration of Central Coast blends features about 30 participating wineries and a full slate of events: a Friday night Winemaker Dinner at Centrally Grown, the Saturday Grand Tasting, and a Sunday Blending Seminar at Harmony Cellars. Each event highlights the blending techniques and flavor profiles that make the region’s wines distinctive.
Beyond wine, Cambria offers outstanding wildlife experiences. During the elephant seal mating and birthing season you can observe males vying for dominance and the tender scenes of new pups arriving on shore. The seals gather near the historic Piedras Blancas Light Station, which was built in 1875 and is open for scheduled tours. Combining a visit to the lighthouse with seal viewing makes for a memorable day along the Central Coast.
Whether you come for the festivals, the food and wine, or the wildlife, Cambria delivers a peaceful, scenic winter retreat with plenty to see, taste and explore.