Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Castle via Cambria and Cayucos from Morro Bay ($2, 55 minutes), where you can transfer
to bus 12 to San Luis Obispo.
San Simeon
Little San Simeon Bay sprang to life as a whaling station in 1852, by which time Califor-
nia sea otters had been hunted almost to extinction by Russian fur traders. Shoreline whal-
ing was practiced to catch gray whales migrating between Alaskan feeding grounds and
birthing waters in Baja California. In 1865 Senator George Hearst purchased 45,000 acres
of ranch land and established a small settlement beside the sea. Designed by architect Julia
Morgan, the historic 19th-century houses today are rented to employees of the Hearst Cor-
poration's 82,000-acre free-range cattle ranch.
Sights & Activities
William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach
BEACH
(
www.parks.ca.gov
; Hwy 1; dawn-dusk)
Across from Hearst Castle, this bayfront beach is a pleasantly sandy stretch punctuated by
rock outcroppings, kelp forests, a wooden pier (fishing permitted) and picnic areas with
barbecue grills.
Coastal Discovery Center
MUSEUM
(
805-927-6575;
www.montereybay.noaa.gov
; Hwy 1;
11am-5pm Fri-Sun mid-Mar-Oct, 10am-4pm
Fri-Sun Nov-mid-Mar; )
Educational displays include a talking artificial tide pool that kids can touch and videos of
deep-sea diving and a WWII-era shipwreck just offshore.
Kayak Outfitters
KAYAKING
( 800-717-5225, 805-927-1787;
www.kayakcambria.com
; Hwy 1; single/double kayak rentals from
$10/20, tours $50-110;
10am-4pm or later mid-Jun-early Sep, call for off-season hours)
