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Haven for artists, wine
and food aficionados, water sports enthusiasts, antique collectors,
and people who appreciate quiet, undiscovered get-away locations.
Halfway
between Los Angeles and San Francisco, quietly sitting
between the Pacific Ocean and the rolling hillsides of
open ranchland is what some people call the last of the
California beach towns — Cayucos.
Cayucos is
the perfect destination for relaxation and rejuvenation.
This quiet, safe haven of only 3,000 people is situated
on what has been called "the most accessible walking
beach in all of California." You can walk the beach
the entire length of town or, at low tide, all the way
to Morro Bay! Cayucos with its wonderful, historic pedestrian
pier, endless beach, and quiet, safe environment is the
perfect place to put your feet up and just "hang-out."
Fishing from the Pier is allowed without a fishing license,
the surfing is terrific, kayaking off the beach will take you
right up to the seals and otters, and the beautiful serene
sunsets are unforgettable. Try an on-the-beach carry-out shrimp
cocktail right on your blanket, explore the tide pool's filled
with starfish and brightly colored sea-anemones, or watch the
whales, seals, and surfers playing in the distance.
Stop at the Old Cayucos Tavern (know
locally as "The
Saloon") and go back in time to the Old Wild West
where you can play poker in their card room, shoot a round
of pool, or belly-up to the historic bar. The town sits
with its toes in the sand and continues ever-so-gently
up sloping, floral-covered hills that offer spectacular,
breathtaking views of the ocean and to-the-horizon views
of the beach. So sit back, relax, and drink it all in.
Cayucos — it will call you back time and again and
stay in your dreams forever.
When the lure of open spaces calls you, follow winding
country roads to award-winning vineyards for wine tasting,
or to grassy hilltops for a picnic overlooking the Pacific.
Beautiful Hearst Castle is just minutes away, and beyond
that is the splendor of the Big Sur coastline.
The tiny beach
town that sits at the foot of the hills with its toes
in the sand awaits you and your exploration. If
you can step off the fast lane, only for a day or so,
we can give you back to yourself.
| Bakersfield/Fresno |
136 |
| Los
Angeles |
224 |
| Monterey/Carmel |
146 |
| San
Francisco |
232 |
| Hearst
Castle |
20 |
Truly memorable meals combine local
flavors in extraordinary settings. San Luis Obispo County
is famous for both. During the past decade, our county
has attracted some of the world’s
most renowned chefs, resulting in our restaurants and cuisine
being featured in many national and international travel
and fine dining magazines. The articles exclaim over the
excellence of cuisine, ambience and warm hospitality.
Here, you will find a wonderful variety
of dining choices — from
elegant, richly appointed fine restaurants to good old-fashioned
home cooking in cozy western ranching atmospheres — serving
for a full range of budgets. Each restaurant is unique in
character, and many offer an excellent dining experience.
Each area within the county has many great dining choices
covering almost every cuisine, from "five-star" restaurants
to fast-food and carryout.
In Cayucos, we have the Sea Shanty,
Hoppes, Duckies Chowder House, and Schooner's Wharf, Café Della Via, Martins,
Skippers, O’Neills Coffee, to name just a few, a short
walk away from the Seaside.
Morro Bay, seven miles south, features
a fabulous array of cafes and restaurants. Some of the
most popular with locals and visitors are Harada’s Japanese Restaurant and Sushi
Bar, Bayside Café, Flying Dutchman, Windows on the
Water, Dorn’s Original Breakers Café, Galley
Restaurant, the Hofbrau (for a fabulous waterfront lunch)
and Taco Temple on Highway One which features a unique fusion
of Californian and Mexican flavors.
In Los Osos, 12 miles south and tucked
away next to the estuary, there’s Papillion, La Casita, 10th Street
Grill, China Palace, Noi’s Little Thai Takeout and
Sylvester’s, for the world best hamburgers.
Cambria, just 16 miles north, has
many excellent restaurants including the Black Cat Bistro,
Cambria Pines Lodge Restaurant, Linn’s, Robin’s Restaurant, Mustache Pete’s,
Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill, The Sow’s Ear Café,
to name just a few.
San Luis Obispo, located 20 miles southeast on U.S. Highway
One has many choices.
Most of the area’s restaurants feature local wines
which rival France's finest wines. San Luis Obispo County
now has over 170 wineries and most offer tasting rooms and
tours. Many area restaurants feature local produce and fresh,
locally caught fish. Most will prepare meals "to go" which
is especially fun for a day's wine-tasting excursion to the
wineries throughout the area.
A growing number of local restaurants serve locally raised
Hearst Ranch beef. Since 1865, the Hearst family has raised
cattle on the rich sustainable native grasslands of the Central
Coast. This extraordinarily flavored beef is grass-fed and
humanely raised.
See: http://www.hearstranch.com/store/pages.php?pageid=22
San
Luis Obispo county is the heart of the wine country and has
one of the longest, richest winegrowing histories in North
America, with vineyards planted by Spanish missionaries over
200 years ago. It has four distinct appellations, Arroyo
Grande, Edna Valley, Paso Robles and York Mountain, each
with its own “terroir,” the
subtle but significant geological characteristics that
embody specific qualities that produce superior wines.
After a long dormancy, modern commercial viticulture began
in the early 1970s. Acreage of vine has increased almost
four fold since 1990, with 27,600 acres currently under vine.
Of all these appellations, Paso Robles is gaining the most
attention, with structured Cabernet Sauvignon and Rhone varietals,
produced by a dynamic group of young winemakers.
A maritime influence affects the southern appellations,
as their east-west valleys allow cool Pacific breezes and
coastal fog to enter unencumbered. Towards the north, York
Mountain has just one winery, the longest continuously operated
winery in the county. The largest and warmest appellation
is Paso Robles, which is protected from much of the coastal
influence by the Santa Lucia Mountains.
The southern portions of San Luis Obispo County wine region
is comprised of three pristine viticulture areas: the Edna
Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley and Avila Valley. The small,
mostly family-owned wineries are well known for their hand-crafted
bottlings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Grenache, Viognier,
Zinfandel and more.
The number one wine grape variety
in San Luis Obispo County is Cabernet Sauvignon with 8,600
acres. Merlot is second with 4,200 acres. There are about
170 wineries in the County. In the north county, near Paso
Robles, the distinct microclimates and diverse soils, combined
with warm days and cool nights, make growing conditions
ideal for producing more than 40 wine varietals from Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot, to Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne,
to Zinfandel, the area’s heritage
wine variety.
For more information go to:
http://www.calwineries.com/explore/regions/san-luis-obispo-county
http://www.slowine.com/
http://www.pasowine.com/
http://www.pasowine.com/wineries/varietals.php
In the past few years the olive oil industry has exploded.
More than 98% of all the extra virgin olive oil produced
domestically is in California where producers are competing
well in the international market. With the growth in the
U.S. olive oil market averaging 20% per year, California
is increasing production to supply oils domestically. The
current 2007-2008 harvest is expected to be the largest
in years, and will overtake France in production. A number
of large land owners have converted their land from cattle
production to olives and now produce oil. Several have
tasting rooms where locals and visitors alike can sample
the various varieties of San Luis Obispo county extra virgin
olive oil.
See: http://www.tibercanyon.com/
http://www.cooc.com/
Polar Bear Dip - January 1
Seafood Festival & Oceanfront Fair - April
Antiques and Collectibles Street Sale - May & October
True Americana Parade, sandcastle building competition and
Fireworks - 4th of July
Peddlar's Faire - Memorial Day & 4th of July weekends
Portuguese Celebration - July
Surfrider Art Show - September
Central Coast Woodcarvers Show - September
Annual Car Show – November
Central Coast
Outdoors is a small adventure travel company
based in San Luis Obispo County. They work with group travel
planners and travel tour operators, as well as individuals
to provide outstanding outdoors tours on California's Central
Coast region, including Paso Robles wine country vacations.
Their three main activities are kayaking, bicycling and hiking.
While we specialize in small group travel, we have also hosted
events with over 50 people.
http://www.centralcoastoutdoors.com/
http://www.centralcoastoutdoors.com/california-central-coast-travel.htm
The Hearst Castle, towering above San Simeon Point, is just
20 miles north from the Seaside Motel. This State Monument's
Castle, with its gardens and spectacular architecture, is
situated on a 1,600-foot hilltop overlooking the coastline
and stands like a guardian over its 250,000 acre-estate.
It is a spectacular sight.
In 1927, William Randolph Hearst
told architect Julia Morgan that he wanted to built "a little something" on
the California coast. Eighteen years later, Hearst Castle
crowned La Cuesta Encantada, Hearst's "Enchanted Hill" above
tiny San Simeon. The castle is a 165-room Moorish castle
with 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways,
furnished with Spanish and Italian antiques and art, flanked
by three large guesthouses.
When Mr. Hearst was still alive, Hearst Castle had a zoo,
tennis courts and two magnificent swimming pools. After he
died, the Castle was given to the state. Today the state
Park Service preserves Hearst Castle as a State Historical
Monument and there are a variety of daily tours offered and
it will take more than one tour to see it all!
Reservations are required for the tours (800-444-4445) but
the Monument headquarters at San Simeon is open daily and
offers film tours, a gift shop, and museum.
http://www.hearstcastle.com/
Ticket information: http://www.hearstcastle.com/tours/ticket_info.asp
Just north of San Simeon Point, near the Piedras Blancas
Lighthouse, you will find the domain of the famed Northern
elephant seals. The beaches are covered with the giant
seals laying about on the beach, flipping sand on their
backs or reveling in the surf.
This is one of California’s
largest populations. The elephant seal colony is currently
7,500 strong and is a rich educational opportunity for
people to see, study and photograph these amazing mammals.
Trained docents are on hand to answer questions.
The seals come to Piedras Blancas to mate, birth their pubs,
and sun themselves on the sandy beaches. There are viewing
areas provided for the public to pull off of Highway One.
Bring your camera!
See: http://www.elephantseal.org/
Cayucos is home to some of the best
antique shops in the country — all just a short walk
from your room. There is over 20,000 square feet of antiques
and collectables representing multiple antique dealers. The
artist's village of Cambria offers a rich assortment of art
galleries and shopping opportunities, as well as the breathtaking
and not-to-be-missed Moonstone Beach.
At the south end of our seemingly
endless beach is Morro Bay, a fisherman’s harbor village complete with its
marina, embarcadero, and unique shops. Many people come to
Morro Bay just for the spectacular, world-famous view of "The
Rock." The Harbor is protected from the sea by the Morro
Dunes Nature Preserve sand-spit and the famous Morro Rock
stands guard at the harbor's entrance.
As a bird sanctuary, Morro Bay provides a nourishing habitat
to more than 250 species and over two dozen threatened and
endangered species including the peregrine falcon, brant,
brown pelican, black rail, and snowy plover.
The estuary holds both State and National Estuary status
and is the largest area of its kind left unspoiled on the
West Coast and is a major stop on the Pacific Flyway.
There are an abundance of outdoor activities from which
to choose, including bicycling, kayaking, scuba diving, surfing,
fishing, whale watching, sailing, bay cruises and the fabulous
Morro Bay 18-hole golf course. http://www.slocountyparks.com/facilities/golfcourses.htm
Morro Bay was named for Morro Rock which rises up 576 feet
out of the ocean waters and is 50 acres at its base—so
large it once served as a navigational landmark for commercial
ships at sea. It’s still used for recreational boaters
to welcome them into the harbor’s entrance. The Rock
is one of the nine extinct volcanic peaks, which run in a
straight line for 12 miles, and is about 21 million years
old.
Chumash Indians once lived here.
The Rock, was first seen by the Europeans when Juan Cabrillo
sailed past in 1542. He dubbed it, "The Gibralter of the Pacific." It
remains the most famous of all nine peaks. It was once completely
surrounded by water, but is now accessible by land.
Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History features
interactive and engaging exhibits, informative lectures and
nature walks. http://www.slostateparks.com/natural_history_museum/default.asp
http://www.ccnha.org/
Just a few miles south of Cayucos
you will find the charming community of Los Osos (La Cañada de Los Osos – the
valley of the bears) on the south end of Morro Bay. Known
locally as "The Back Bay," this estuary is renowned
by bird-watchers the world over because it offers the widest
variety of bird species in one location in the United States.
While in Los Osos, visit the Montaña de Oro State
Park for its unforgettable ocean views, its bird watching,
or to view the Monarch Butterflies that appear each winter
clinging to the trees as thickly as leaves. The park’s
name, meaning “mountain of gold” comes from the
fields of wildflowers that blanket the landscape during the
spring. The 8,000 acre park offers visitors a wealth of natural
beauty, over fifty miles of hiking, bicycling and equestrian
trails.
For information see: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=592
The jewel of the county is the City
of San Luis Obispo, a college town home to Cal Poly State
University. It takes pride in its reputation as a family
entertainment and cultural center. “San Luis,” as the locals call it,
is the County seat with a population of 46,000. It offers
visitors a taste of the "old" California featuring
many century-old buildings, small shops and restaurants,
and a lovely, tree-covered, pedestrian-friendly main street,
called “Higuera.” The city is filled with lovely,
Victorian homes (many have been restored), just dripping
with gingerbread details.
The city originally arose out of Mission San Luis Obispo
de Tolosa, founded in 1772. Located in the heart of downtown,
the church is still active, and Mission Plaza is the site
of many special events throughout the year. The Mission is
the fifth in a chain of the 21 original California missions.
It is open daily 9 am to 4 pm. The Mission is wonderfully
maintained offering self-guided tours and a rich sense of
history.
See: http://www.missionsanluisobispo.org/
The most popular and endearing ongoing event is the San
Luis Obispo Farmer's Market, held every Thursday evening
(except on Thanksgiving). It is far more a party and celebration
than simply a produce market. Local farmers do offer a wide
variety of gorgeous produce, with many free samples. Local
restaurants have stands where barbecue and other finger foods
are sold. Free and varying entertainment, often bands, is
staged on the intersecting streets.
See: http://www.downtownslo.com/farmers.html
Downtown San Luis Obispo also has its own mini-riverwalk
along San Luis Creek which runs parallel to Higuera Street.
It has been developed with walking paths and stairways to
Mission Plaza and other downtown locations. Many of the restaurants
have outdoor patios which overlook the creek.
The Carnegie building holds the county's Historical Museum
at 697 Monterey Street, with its rich displays of photographs
and artifacts. The San Luis Obispo Children's Museum, at
1010 Nipomo Street, has just completed a multi-million dollar
renovation and has been designed just for children. It offers
many hands-on activities and displays. In the evenings, you
can enjoy the nightlife at many clubs offering live music
and dancing.
See: http://www.slochs.org/
http://www.slokids.org/
A world class Performing Arts Center is the cultural and
entertainment center of the county. It is located on the
Cal Poly campus and features a concert hall with 1,282 seats.
National and internationally famous artists perform during
the year. For more information,
see: http://www.pacslo.org/events/
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