If you are planning a road trip to Central California this summer, you should definitely make Cambria a stopping point. There are so many things to do around this area. Personally, I think Cambria has just got to be the most romantic little coastal town ever. It’s a small town to begin with (population 5,700), and the magical Moonstone Beach is just feet away from it’s restaurants and inns. If you walk the strip of sand, you may spot some of the resident elephant seals, as well as get a chance to explore some driftwood tepees that previous visitors have made. If you’re lucky (and patient), you may even find a few moonstones among the shells and sea glass that wash up on the shore.
We recently got back from our first ever visit to Cambria. While we were looking into places to go for our first year anniversary, Cambria kept popping up as a recommendation. Everyone from my dentist to my old pastor’s wife seemed to have this little beach town in mind as a perfect getaway. Well, they were totally right – Cambria is a gem of a town. With its old English Tudor style buildings and climbing roses draped over the doorways on Main Street, to the little hidden cafés advertising “fresh cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa”, it was impossible not to fall in love with this town.
We meandered into town one evening and caught a local Farmer’s Market which had everything from fresh flowers and vegetables to vegan cheese (I have many questions on this one – mainly as to what its made of). It looks like the whole town turns out for the market. Because of this, there is definitely a lot of energy and buzzing around in this small town event.
We stayed at the beautiful Sand Pebbles Inn for three nights. The inn is set right on Moonstone Beach, and our room overlooked the ocean. The staff was very sweet and accommodating. Because of this, we quickly felt right at home. There were cookies and chocolates waiting in the room for us, a two person Jacuzzi tub, a breakfast nook looking out at the ocean, and a cozy fireplace at the foot of the king size bed. After a year of living in a fifth wheel and having our feet hang over the edge of our short queen, that huge bed was definitely a highlight of the trip. I almost forgot what it was like to sprawl out and still have room leftover.
Included in your stay is a complimentary breakfast every morning. As well as having an ocean view room, the breakfast room was about 30 feet away from our door. So, we were able to bring our trays back to the room, crack the window open, and enjoy our breakfast with a view. All in all we would absolutely stay here again, and who knows, we may just become yearly regulars.
With such a rich environment, there is no shortage of things to do in Cambria, which makes it the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. Keep reading for some great points of interest, delicious restaurants, as well as some accommodations in the Cambria area.
Exploring the Cambria Area: Things to do
Drive Scenic Highway 1: California’s Highway 1 is constantly heralded as one of the prettiest drives in North America, and it’s easy to see why. The rugged coastline is sprinkled with hidden beaches and bunches of wildflowers. On a clear day, you can even spot some marine wildlife such as whales, dolphins, and seals. Highway 1 runs along most of the Pacific Coastline of California, from Mendocino County down past Los Angeles. We hopped on in Monterey and ended at Cambria (about a 2 1/2 hour stretch). On a clear day, the view is jaw dropping. Unfortunately, on our first drive down the coast, we ended up enshrouded in fog with maybe twenty feet visibility; however, the second time we had sunny and clear skies. If you are traveling up and down California, I would highly recommend taking the bit longer route along the coast.
Visit Hearst Castle: If you’ve never been to this castle on the “Enchanted Hill”, then put it on your bucket list right now. From 1919 to 1947, William Randolph Hearst had one of the first female architects of the time, Julia Morgan, build his dream “ranch”, which later became known as La Cuesta Encantada (The Enchanted Hill). Hearst was a publishing tycoon, and his staff referred to him fondly as “The Chief”. He housed a number of animals on the estate and had one of the biggest private zoos in the country; including animals like polar bears, giraffes, buffalo, gazelles, and zebras. The zebras can still be seen today among the Hearst cattle herds. Mr. Hearst also loved art, and referred to the castle as a museum. He collected vases from china, statues from Egypt, and enormous tapestries from around the world.
One of my favorite part of the castle was its gardens. Since we vistied in the spring, the flowers were in bloom. Everything from citrus trees and assorted fruit trees to fragrant roses crawling up the palm trees. There must have been over 100 different types of plants on the grounds.
We got to go on the “Upstairs Suites” and the “Grand Rooms” tours. The upstairs tour included the library, Gothic Suite (Mr. Hearst’s office essentially), and the many bedrooms that housed famous guests such as Winston Churchill, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Calvin Coolidge, Hedda Hopper, Greta Garbo, and Buster Keaton, to name a few. The Grand Rooms were located on the main floor and included the Refectory, Billiard Room, Assembly Room, and Theater Room (where we got to watch some old film clips of Mr. Hearst).
The architecture is amazing, as you can see in the pictures. The attention to detail in all the stone and wood carvings reminded me of my time in Scotland. They don’t make buildings like they use to, that’s for sure. Hearst Castle is definitely a hidden treasure on the California Coast, and I would highly recommend making it a point to visit.
Elephant Seals: Apparently Elephant Seals are a huge hit around here. At the base of Hearst Castle, there’s a strip of beach where they seem to congregate. There is also a parking lot right off the highway where you can read the informative signs and watch the seals. They are honestly quite entertaining, and if I had a warmer jacket I could’ve stayed there watching them all day.
Harmony: Harmony, California; it’s quirky, eclectic, artsy, and has a population of 18. Yup, 18 people. Harmony is the cutest little town. The one big building in town doubles as the post office and creamery (and apparently you can rent it out for wedding receptions). Several dairy farmers and ranchers founded Harmony in 1869. Over the years, several feuds broke out that lead to killings. In 1907, the people agreed to end the feud and named the town Harmony as a testament to their truce. Ultimately, the town closed in 1955. However, in 2014, a private family purchased Harmony and restorations were started. Today, it’s an adorable little town with a couple painted cows (fake of course), a delicious little ice cream truck (parked outside the creamery/post office), and is surrounded by beautiful fields and rolling hills.
Cayucos: Cayucos is where I first learned to surf, back in 2009. It’s a bit of a crossover between old west town and beach town. You have saloons and smoked fish stands, as well as countless antique stores and surf shops. Cayucos has nine beautiful murals scattered throughout the town, and you can get the walking map for them here. I would also suggest a walk down the pier as you can get a beautiful view of the coastline.
Walk the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk: 1.4 miles of pure, uninhibited, panoramic views of the ocean. It’s fairly level the whole way so it’s a perfect trail to take the bikes on or go for a jog. We walked the length of it every evening and caught some amazing sunsets. We even found a secluded little grove of trees where couples had put locks on a cable to signify their love or anniversary. The weather in April was mild and the wind was just a pleasant breeze so it really was the perfect walk.
Explore Cambria: Of course, last but not least, EXPLORE CAMBRIA! This little town offers so much. Take a walk down main street, visit the Farmer’s Market on Friday afternoon, fast on delicious foods, go antiquing, maybe catch a summer festival. From stellar foods to stunning vistas, this is the perfect place to hide away from the busyness of the world.
Exploring the Cambria Area: Places to Eat
Moonstone Bar & Grill: This is where I had the best meal of the trip. It was just a short walk down the boardwalk from our hotel to this restaurant. We were seated outside at a long bar table that butted up to a glass wall, overlooking the ocean. I ordered the pork loin with a spicy apple chutney and sweet corn polenta. Their servings are on the smaller side but are packed with so much flavor that I wanted to keep coming back every evening.
The Sea Chest: Be warned, even if you arrive 20 minutes before they open, you will still have an approx. 30-45 minute wait (also, they only take cash). However, they have a cozy fire pit out front with plenty of seating, games for the kids, and a killer view to the ocean while you wait. The food here was delicious and there was a lot of it! I even had to ask for a to-go box.
Linn’s: Not only is Linn’s a highly rated restaurant, but they also have their own Farm Store where they sell everything from their famous fruit pies and preserves to meat pies and garden decor. Linn’s truly is a Cambria treasure.
Robin’s Restaurant: Robin’s is the perfect place for a romantic date night. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to go here, but the reviews look fantastic. I especially like how they have global cuisine made with fresh farmer’s market ingredients. Their international fare ranges from Vietnamese Spring Rolls to Naan Pizzas, Moroccan Osso Bucco, Indian Rojhan Josh, and much more. Robin’s is definitely on the top of my list the next time we visit.
The Hidden Kitchen: Our hotel had a great complimentary breakfast, so we didn’t actually go out anywhere for breakfast (why would out when you could enjoy it from your bed in front of a cozy fire, right). However, this place would definitely make me change my mind and get me out of bed. They have a large assortment of blue corn waffles, organic smoothies, fresh Kombucha, coffee, and tea.
Main Street Grill: The Grill is a great place for a hearty, laid-back meal with the family. They have great prices on huge burgers and sandwiches. It is set up as one big room with sports memorabilia and TVs, and you order and pick up your food at the front counter. Easy and quick. We definitely didn’t leave hungry.
Exploring the Cambria Area: Places to Stay
Honestly, there are so many gorgeous places to stay in Cambria. Below are some of the ones that were on our list:
Sand Pebbles Inn
Cambria Landing Inn & Suites
El Colibri
Cambria Beach Lodge
The Rigdon House
Fogcatcher Inn
I hope this has been a helpful bit of information for you all. At the least, I hope it’s persuaded you to check out the Cambria area. If you know of any other “must-sees” in the area – let me know! We may end up going every year for our anniversary, and I’d love to see some new places.
