Alongside California’s well-known Freeway 1, Monterey, Carmel, and Huge Sur are well-known, after which folks typically skip all the way down to Morro Bay and Pismo Seashore. In between these well-liked spots although, there’s a string of charming seaside cities. In the event you put collectively all of the issues to do in Cambria, Concord, and San Simeon, you’ve obtained an idyllic day journey in your arms.
So take a day out of your California street journey, and hit up these ignored spots.
In the event you’re coming down Freeway 1 from the north, you’ll hit San Simeon first, adopted by Cambria, after which Concord, and the reverse when you’re coming from the south.
Observe: As of Jan. 28, 2021, components of Freeway 1 simply south of Huge Sur however north of San Simeon are closed after the street collapsed and fell into the ocean. So if you’re coming from the north, you’ll have to ensure to go inland and take Freeway 101 as an alternative.
Discover Hearst Fortress
Situated on a large hilltop property and the principle purpose folks go to San Simeon, Hearst Fortress is really the gem of the city.
Constructed by pioneering architect Julia Morgan for media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, this Nationwide Historic Landmark is just a little slice of European structure on California’s Central Coast. As a child, I keep in mind being completely wowed by the grandeur and glisten of Hearst Fortress, particularly its large outside pool and its gilded indoor one.
Hearst Fortress is at the moment closed attributable to COVID-19 (as of Feb. 2021). When it reopens, it’s an absolute must-visit.
Guided excursions take about an hour, however you possibly can undoubtedly spend extra time exploring the property. (And I promise to search out an outdated Coronary heart Fortress picture subsequent time I go to my dad and mom!)
In fact, there are different issues to do in San Simeon in addition to Coronary heart Fortress.
As a coastal city, there are miles and miles of seashores. One spotlight to name out is the Piedras Blancas Gentle Station and Elephant Seal Rookery, the place the colony consists of greater than 25,000 northern elephant seals!
Expertise the magic of Cambria
However the fact is, San Simeon is small. For extra issues to do throughout your day journey, drive quarter-hour south to the a lot bigger, however nonetheless small city of Cambria.
I’m unsure if I’d heard of Cambria earlier than we spent the start of 2021 within the area. In actual fact, even after I discovered about it and appeared up issues to do in Cambria, it nonetheless wasn’t #1 on my must-visit cities.
However I’m so glad we did — as a result of it’s completely magical.
Eat and store downtown Cambria
What initially caught my eye about Cambria was its well-known Linn’s olallieberry pies. Sure, I let my abdomen resolve my travels — it actually wasn’t the primary time (working example: consuming my manner via Hong Kong).
Olallieberries are a kind of blackberry, particularly a cross between a loganberry and a youngberry. That makes them roughly 1/3 pink raspberry and a pair of/3 blackberry from a genetic perspective.
I’ve a factor for blackberries and all its hybrid descendants. So the decision of olallieberry pie and preserves was simply too sturdy to disregard.
And that was exactly our first cease in Cambria: getting a slice of olallieberry pie at Linn’s Straightforward as Pie! cafe. (Linn’s has a lot of different properties round city, together with a full-service restaurant and a store.)
Happy and sugared up, we got down to discover Cambria’s historic and darling downtown. My favourite discovery is the Spellbound Herbs Reward Store and Backyard.
A cute, handwritten signal about its Faerie Pageant is what first caught my eye. The store is crammed with objects of natural and mystical nature, from fairy backyard items and incense to crystals and herbs. However it was what was behind the again doorways that was really magical.
In the event you like Peter Pan, Harry Potter, the Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, Narnia, or something like that — you’ll love this intricately-designed, spellbinding backyard.
I spent so lengthy inside, my companion began questioning if I’d been transported to a different world!
Different cute shops in Cambria embody Cinnabar, a Truthful Commerce people artwork and residential decor retailer that’s positioned in an outdated blacksmith store, and the nature-inspired Sea + Inexperienced.
And naturally, if I began with consuming upon arriving in downtown Cambria, I have to additionally eat proper earlier than my departure. On this case, the city’s well-renowned Boni’s Tacos. The principle location is simply exterior city heart, however weekends convey a Boni’s Tacos truck proper on the principle road.
Al pastor road tacos are their speciality, although the little truck serves up way more. There was an countless line of oldsters ordering and (socially-distanced) consuming close by, which made me nostalgic for pre-COVID taco binges in Mexico Metropolis.
Soak within the solar on the shore
Given it’s a seaside city, visiting the seashore is a no brainer when attempting to determine what to do in Cambria.
After we had our fill of scrumptious road tacos and gorditas, we headed over to Moonstone Seashore. Canines aren’t allowed on the seashore itself, so we had a sunny afternoon stroll on the boardwalk as an alternative.
The mile-long boardwalk gives wonderful views of the coast and can be scenic itself, with its photogenic bushes and shrubbery. We even noticed some sea lions taking part in simply off the shore!
For extra attractive surroundings to discover, you too can head barely south to the Fiscalini Ranch Protect.
Different issues to do in Cambria
One distinctive Cambria exercise that we forewent was visiting and using Clydesdale horses.
Town is house to Covell Clydesdale Ranch, the place there are roughly 100 of the majestic horses made well-known by Anheuser-Busch commercials. The ranch gives excursions in addition to horseback using.
Our pup Kokomo has but to satisfy horses. Undecided if he’d liken them to large canines or be afraid. Maybe one other time!
Pop in for some Concord
Simply south of Cambria is a city named Concord.
Sure, I do know, I do know, Concord is a speck of a city in comparison with Cambria, with a whopping inhabitants of 18 folks. It really is a “blink and also you’ve missed it” city off of Freeway 1.
However it’s completely cute and makes for a enjoyable fast cease to wrap up your day journey to Cambria and San Simeon.
Concord was once a dairy cooperative. At this time, it’s a one-block major road form of city. There are instagrammable backdrops, a pottery store, a glassworks store, a vineyard up the hill, and a darling little chapel. Who wouldn’t wish to begin their marriage in Concord?
And since you’re in a dairy city, make certain to seize some ice cream from the Concord Valley Creamery ice cream truck and go meet all of the cows round city. (My fav is the Holy Cow!)
Instructed ya this place is cute!
The place to remain in Cambria
We visited these magical seaside cities from our homebase in San Luis Obispo, however I completely would’ve liked a keep in Cambria.
I discovered Cambria to be the cutest of the cities. It additionally has essentially the most choices for lodging, from luxurious leases to boutique accommodations on the seashore.
In fact, you possibly can keep in San Simeon as nicely, and imagine it or not, even the tiny city of Concord has a trip cottage for lease proper on the principle road!