When the weather heats up in Southern California, you have options: turn the AC on full blast OR continue an epic road trip through the often-much-cooler-climate of the Central Coast. Once you've hit Solvang for Danish breakfast, you are a stone's throw away from the gorgeous San Luis Obispo Region, where you will encounter a series of worthy stops, each one bidding for your time and attention. An official list of things to do can likely be found in a book at the library (they still exist!) or on the internet - https://centralcoast-tourism.com. For now, we will share an eclectic set of simple pleasures that some of us have personally enjoyed along the Central Coast in the form of… choose your own adventure:
- (Pismo Beach) Shake off your car legs and hike the trails of Dinosaur Caves Park OR chow down on award winning clam chowder from Splash Café along the pier
- (Morro Bay) Grab a bite of fresh seafood on the boardwalk OR watch frolicking otters rolling in seaweed under the extinct Volcano that is Morro Rock
- (Harmony) Soak in the wonder of a town with a population of 18 OR cool down with a scoop of your favorite flavor from the Harmony Valley Creamery Truck
- (Cambria) Get up close and personal with a herd of Clydesdales at the almost 2,000 acres Covell Ranch OR let the winds and wildlife of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve sweep your cares away
- (San Simeon) Spend a day exploring the famed Hearst Castle OR immerse yourself in the raw nature of the Piedras Blancas Rookery.
To be sure, many of the above items could be experienced in a short timeframe and you could get a taste of it all in 2-3 days. These locations are that close to one another. Our experience is that there will be one thing or many things that cause you to stay in town just a little while longer. There is that much beauty. For this leg of the journey, we recommend that you take time to enjoy the moment.