Cambria places to stay

Located in San Luis Obispo County between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this seaside village attracts visitors from all over due to its rocky cliffs, beaches, and forest land open for exploration and recreation. Moonstone Beach, named for its smooth stones, offers the opportunity to spot gray and humpback whales, dolphins, seabirds and otters. Elephant Seal Lookout, just under two miles north, permits the chance to see the newborn baby elephant seals in the winter months or the males courting the females during the springtime. Cambria is a paradise for hikers, with Bluff Trail and Marine Terrace Trail offering seaside views. You can also get out on the water here with outfitters offering surfing, sailing, and fishing experiences.

Though it is on the smaller side, the town of Cambria has a long history that has been preserved by Historical Society volunteers working to retain homes, storefronts and places of worship that date back to the 1870s. The most recognizable landmark near Cambria, however, is Hearst Castle. The luxurious and beautifully-crafted structure dates back centuries and encompasses a vast area of land.

Wine lovers will enjoy exploring the local vineyards, which take advantage of the area’s unique coastal climate to produce a broad selection of varietals.

Cambria sees an average of 300 sunny days a year, with the summer months of June and July nice and mild due to the marine layer keeping the town cool. Fall brings some of the warmest temperatures of the year, making September and October ideal months for Cambria vacation rentals. In October, the annual Cambria Scarecrow Festival takes over with well over 450 decorated scarecrows placed throughout town to celebrate the fall harvest. Winters are mild, and Cambria’s historic buildings are dressed up with holiday lights. In spring, Cambria’s hills are dotted with pops of purples, yellow, and orange wildflowers and the landscape is alive with nesting birds, frolicking marine life, and the first baby deer of the season.

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

Once a working farm owned by an Italian-Swiss family, this expanse of 70 acres boasts a network of 17 hiking trails that provide scenic ocean views and wind through coastal prairie, pine, and oak forests and wetlands. The ranch is home to more than 150 different native plants and 430 types of birds, including some rare species. Special bike and equestrian trails are also available.

Nitt Witt Ridge

Formerly a home of an artist, Nitt Witt Ridge is composed almost entirely of seashells, toothbrushes, beer cans, tires, toilet seats, and other oddities. The creator of this home was an eccentric collector who built this large home from trash and found objects from the local Cambrian forest and beaches during the 1940s and ’50s. Visitors are welcome to tour this quirky destination, which is now registered as a California Historical Landmark.

Cycle the Coast

Cambria’s location between the mountains and the ocean has made it a cycling hub. There are a variety of mountain biking coastal trails, miles of mellow roadway and routes that take you through nearby wine country. Riders can stop at wildlife refuges, historical landmarks, white sand beaches, farm-to-table restaurants, and top wineries along their route.