Traveling north on California Highway 1 about fifteen and a half miles, brings us to Morro Bay with the westernmost of a string of extinct volcanoes, Morro Rock, overshadows the bay and the large estero behind the sandspit stretching 5 miles south along the coast. The portion of the city of Morro Bay near the rock has seafood restaurants, markets and a great promenade where you can watch seals, sea otters and sea birds. Morro Bay State Park borders the eastern and southern portion of the Estero. The natural history museum at the park is the only one in the whole California State Park system. Exhibits and views across the estero make the $3 admission well worthwhile. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31273

Note:

California Highway 1 may be closed in certain sections. Click here to view the current status.

North of the “rock” is a long beach stretching north 6 miles to Cayucos. Cayucos also has a pier with great views of the open ocean and the coast further north and south to Morro Rock.

Further north, another 15 miles is the small seaside community of Cambria and beyond that another 9 miles, San Simeon is the home of Hearst Castle and the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Colony.

Visits to the Castle require advance planning and tickets. For more information click here to go to their website.