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Wherever You Go – There You Are
The Black Swift Trail is not for the faint of heart, but it will reward well-shoed walkers with a black sand beach and a seasonal waterfall. Should you meet someone along the way, just nod for a job well done. It’ll give you time to catch your breath.
We don't often like surprises when we travel, unless it's seeing a herd of wild zebras on a hillside or discovering we can ride a Clydesdale. Here are some other secret stashes to discover on a Highway 1 Road Trip along the Central California Coast. And save some room for pie! Download your free map to discover 25 Hidden Secrets along Highway 1!
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Moonstone Beach
Hearst Ranch Winery
Leffingwell Landing
Montaña de Oro
Montaña de Oro
Oso Flaco Lake & Beach
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Ragged Point Beach
San Simeon Bay Kayaking
Far below Hearst Castle lies a beach where a few slumbering elephant seals usually outnumber people. A well-placed peninsula shields San Simeon Bay from most wind, creating a wonderful surface to paddle that, like the beach itself, usually has more sea otters than our kind.
Speaking of Elephant Seals
From San Simeon’s wild zebras to thousands of monarch butterflies in Pismo Beach, a Highway 1 Road Trip abounds with nature everywhere you look. And look you should, especially near the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery where, depending on the season, you can observe a pup being born or a tussle amongst male bulls.
And Speaking of Large Animals
The Covell Ranch, perched above Cambria, is where the father-daughter Covell team houses two dozen regal Clydesdales. There’s no beer wagon here. However, you get to saddle up and ride these gentle giants through a lovely landscape with frequent ocean views.
Another Cambria Discovery
You’ll have to “hoof” it yourself at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, where 17 hiking trails lead you through coastal pine forest, down to the beach, and along the ridgeline where well-placed benches await. Search out the giant chair for that perfect photo op.
Make Time for Pie
It’s not unusual to hear visitors spout off about the whales they’ve seen, dive into conversations about the astounding pools at Hearst Castle, then add a slice or two of dining advice about olallieberry pie. Located at Linn’s Easy As Pie Café, the pies are all they’re baked up to be.
Tidepools & Sea Otters
If you're into nature, you've come to the right spot. Sea otters often look like dots on the horizon from the shore. Not so on Cayucos State Beach with its view of Morro Rock, where the entertaining critters roll about just a few feet from the path.
Los Osos Horizons
It makes sense that trails grow less busy the farther you get off the beaten path. Hike to the end of Montaña de Oro Bluff Trail and you won't find anything ― or likely anyone ― obstructing one of the best horizon vistas along Highway 1.
Swing by the Point San Luis Lighthouse
Okay, so a beacon like Point San Luis Lighthouse is hardly a secret, but less known is the tree swing from which to sway and contemplate the beautiful things in life. Popular paddles to the lighthouse also deserve a mention.
More Solo or Couple Quiet Time
Solo saunters await in Oceano Dunes, 22,000 acres of protected habitat. Once the location for The Ten Commandments, today's focus involves off-camera strolls, several bird habitats, and the excellent Oceano Dunes Visitor Center.
Black Swift Trail at Ragged Point
Kayaking at San Simeon State Bay
Clydesdales at Covell Ranch
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
Linn's Easy As Pie Cafe
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Montaña de Oro Bluff Trail
Tidepools at Cayucos State Beach
Oceano Dunes
Point San Luis Lighthouse
By StoryStudio on August 18, 2022 8:19 AM
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