Moonstone Beach, an ocean-front getaway
Moonstone Beach, in Cambria on California’s Central Coast, can make a very nice getaway. There are many hotels and bed and breakfast inns, especially on Moonstone Beach Drive. The costs of these accommodations can vary widely, depending on time of the year, and at peak times there may be a minimum stay of two nights at some hotels.
What you do during your getaway is up to you. Beachcombing, boogie boarding, bicycling and hiking are all options. Good dining can be found in the town of Cambria, and local attractions include California Historical Landmark Number 939, Nitt Witt Ridge, a house designed by Arthur Harold Beal, a garbage collector in the town of Cambria during the 1940s and 1950s. A short drive can take you to Hearst Castle in San Simeon. A bit farther north on Highway 1 is the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse (1), with nearby rookery of Northern Elephant Seals (1, 2, 3, 4). Just a bit farther north on Highway 1, and you are in Big Sur (1, 2, 3, 4). If you leave Cambria and travel east on Route 46 (Green Valley Road), you will pass through hills and vineyards and reach the town of Paso Robles, on Highway 101.
If you would like to “rough it” a bit more than staying in a hotel, then you might consider camping at the San Simeon Creek campground of San Simeon State Park. The park also includes the Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, which is closer to Moonstone Beach. We have stayed on Moonstone Beach Drive and camped with family at San Simeon Creek. Each has its own attractions, but the sounds of the ocean will rock you to sleep each night at both locations.
-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™
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