Cambria is one of my favorite central coast towns and one that I often suggest to guests seeking a relaxing weekend. While there are many exciting things to do in and around Cambria (including easy access to Big Sur), it is also a wonderful location to just relax, stroll the boardwalk, and eat delicious cuisine. Here are my favorite things to do in Cambria, regardless of how you choose to spend your weekend.
1. Drive along Moonstone Beach
Moonstone Beach is a popular Cambria destination with spectacular coastal vistas, a one-mile promenade, and a few lovely beaches. You can see all of the hotels and restaurants on one side and the beach on the other as you stroll or drive down the boardwalk.
I enjoy coming here for sunsets, and my favorite place to photograph them is around Leffingwell Landing on the north end. It's a stunning location, and it's well worth the trip to Cambria simply to spend some time here.
2. Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
The Bluffs Trail at the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is another excellent hike or stroll in Cambria. This is another municipal open space area with plenty of hiking possibilities and is suitable for the whole family. I suggest coming after sunset since the views are spectacular, and the path back to your vehicle is simple to follow. It's also a wonderful place to go for a lovely early morning walk.
3. Nitt Witt Ridge
Nitt Witt Ridge, often known as the "Poor Man's Hearst Castle," is a folk art monument near Cambria. Construction of the home, which sits on 2.5 acres, started in 1928 and lasted more than 50 years.
It's definitely one-of-a-kind, with materials like beer cans, vehicle rims, and abalone shells used in the construction. Most days, you can take a tour, and it's a lot of fun to see, particularly when compared to the following suggestion, Hearst Castle.
4. Hearst Castle built by William Randolph Hears
Even though it is officially in San Simeon, it is near enough to Cambria to be included on this list. Hearst Fortress is a massive attraction with a half-dozen separate tours that take you all around the hillside castle. I've gone many times and always love returning to take a new tour.
The Upstairs Suites Tour is now my fave. In addition, the Neptune Pool has reopened following a five-year restoration, and it is worth visiting simply to see it.
5. Overlook of Elephant Seals
Drive 3 miles up the road after leaving Hearst Castle to see the Elephant Seal Overlook. This region has become a haven for these enormous animals, and depending on the time of year, you may witness hundreds of them, including newborns, on the beach. While you can't go too near to them, the little boardwalk offers a number of excellent vantage spots from which to see them.
6. Lighthouse of Piedras Blancas
Consider stopping at the Piedras Blancas Light Station before returning to downtown Cambria. This lighthouse was originally lit in 1875 and is still operational today.
It can only be accessed through a tour, however, the one we took was historical and fascinating. It also gives you a good perspective of the 19-acre property's stunning coastline vistas.
7. Wineries
My next suggestion is to visit some of the vineyards in Cambria. Stolo and Cutruzzola, two wineries near Cambria, produce the majority of their grapes. For Stolo, you may go to the vineyard, while for Cutruzzola, you can go to the tasting room downtown (definitely check this spot out). You may always go to some of the other downtown tasting facilities if you want to try additional wines.
8. Stepladder Ranch
Stepladder Ranch, a functioning goat’s ranch, is a good alternative if wine isn't your thing. You may schedule a tour ahead of time and visit the farm to view all of the goats and learn about the goat cheese-making process.
This was a lot of fun for Amie and me, and it was great to interact with the goats and then sample some cheese at the end. If you go in the spring, you may even get to see the newborn goats, which is quite cool.
9. Linn's Farm Store
Linn's Farm Store is another great family visit. The first olallieberry was grown on this property by the proprietors of the renowned Linn's Restaurant. A charming small farmhouse shop with a variety of food products is located on the site.
Of course, the primary reason to attend is to grab a piece of pie with ice cream and eat it outdoors on the picnic tables. They also keep a few animals here, including chickens and goats (we were fortunate enough to see a few newborn goats).
I decided to speak about cuisine in Cambria for my last few suggestions since it is one of the major reasons people visit the city. I divided the suggestions into three categories: breakfast, lunch, and supper.
10. Breakfast
First and foremost, I like Creekside Garden Cafe for breakfast because of their Monterey Scramble and laid-back atmosphere. If you want something faster, go to Lily's Coffee House, which is a morning-only coffee shop with a delicious breakfast burrito.
11. Lunch
There are many excellent lunch choices as well. If you want something fast and inexpensive, go to Boni's Tacos and get their amazing carne asada tacos or potato taquitos. They're also near to Red Moose Cookie Company, which serves delicious cookies for dessert.
If you're searching for a place to sit, stop by Robins Restaurant. Robins is one of my favorite restaurants in Cambria, with a diverse menu of interesting choices, including my favorite shrimp enchiladas. Dinner is also an excellent option with Robins.
12. Dinner
I suggest going to Linn's, one of Cambria's most prominent restaurants, for dinner and ordering their chicken pot pie and olallieberry pie for dessert. I never leave Cambria without having a piece of that pie.
However, if you're looking for a great sit-down restaurant with substantial comfort cuisine, The Sow's Ear is the place to go. They're known for their chicken fried steak, which I must admit is very good.
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