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Santa Barbara to Cambria, California: Sights to See and Things to Do

Driving along Route One in California, also known as the scenic Pacific Coastal Highway, provides the traveler the best way to see beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.

The entire Pacific Coastal Highway stretches from Mexico to the Canadian border, and is considered a National Scenic Byway. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, certain criteria are needed for a route to become eligible for the National Scenic Byways Program. Besides being scenic, the road must have either archaeological, historical, natural, recreational or cultural significance.

Because our vacation in California was drawing to a close, we only had a few days left in which to see at least some of the Pacific coastline. So, taking Route One, we drove from Santa Barbara to Cambria, and had the beautiful Pacific Ocean at our side the whole time.

The portion of the Pacific Coastal Highway we drove along is called the San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway. This section of the highway is considered a National Scenic Byway because of the natural beauty of the coastline, as well as the historical significance of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded by Father Junipero Serra, the railroads built here, and the Hearst Castle.
We traveled from San Simeon to Cambria, stopping to take in some of the sights along the way.

First Stop on the Pacific Coastal Highway: Santa Barbara

The first place on our list to visit was Santa Barbara, sometimes referred to as the "American Riviera." Santa Barbara is the location of beautiful beaches as well as beautiful celebrities. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the late Kurt Douglas and Oprah are just a few of the many celebrities who have made their home here. Although we hoped to see someone famous... we didn't.
Shopping in Santa Barbara was a chance to see how the "other half" lived, as we meandered along beautifully landscaped and cobblestoned streets called "passeos," with their trendy (and pricey) shops. Although we would've liked to buy something from an exclusive Santa Barbara shop...again, we didn't.
We visited the Santa Barbara Mission, located on Laguna St in Santa Barbara. According to their website, it was founded in 1786, and is the tenth of twenty-one Franciscan missions in California. The Mission still functions as a church. Although there are self-guided tours from 9 AM to 5 PM, we were content to just view the grounds and facade of the Mission, and visit the gift shop to buy a souvenir or two to bring home.

Santa Barbara Wine Country has many vineyards and wineries; two hundred as a matter of fact. The movie "Sideways" was filmed here. Being pressed for time, we chose to visit Santa Ynez Valley, where we killed two birds with one stone by visiting Gainey Vineyard and the Chumash Casino.

We only made a quick drive-through tour of Gainey Vineyard. Since we were driving, no sampling wine for us! But the vineyards in Wine Country do have professionally guided tours complete with a picnic lunch, and of course wine tastings. A wine tasting tip: swirl, smell, and taste the wine but then throw it out without swallowing. In this way you can visit more wineries without getting tipsy in the process!

Since we were already in Santa Ynez, we decided to visit the Chumash Casino Resort, and try our luck on the many slot machines there. We were there just long enough for me to lose twenty dollars, and my friend to win forty.
We decided to cut my losses, retain her gain, and move on down the Pacific Coastal Highway.

The Hearst Castle on the Pacific Coastal Highway

Next we drove on to the town of San Simeon to see the Hearst Castle, also known as "The Castle in the Clouds." Visitors are taken up to the Castle via bus five miles through the woods, where Mr. Hearst had a zoo of exotic and unusual animals. It is said that sometimes a zebra, descended from those early zoo animals, can be still be glimpsed through the trees as the bus makes it's way up the mountain.
There are five different tours of the Castle, all costing $20 each. Tour One is the Experience Tour, which is recommended for first time visitors, Tour Two is of the upper floors, library and kitchen, Tour Three is of the North Wing and guest rooms, Tour Four is of the Gardens and grounds, and Tour Five is the Evening Tour, which enables visitors to see the Castle at night.

Being first-timers, we went on the Experience Tour. We watched an interesting and informative movie of the life of William Randall Hearst. We toured the Castle's main sitting room and dining room, guest quarters, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and the front of the Castle.
The Castle took fifteen years to build and wasn't yet completed before Mr. Hearst passed away. According to the movie, Hearst enjoyed the designing and building of the Castle as much as he enjoyed living in it.

The Hearst Castle was the ultimate party house, as Mr. Hearst hosted many celebrity parties. I could almost picture the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and Myrna Loy as they laughed and socialized around the pools or dining table.
Ascending and descending the road to the Castle, you understand why it's called "The Castle in the Clouds." The Castle, filtered by misty cloud cover, is an ethereal sight to behold.

The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery on the Pacific Coastal Highway

A traveler we once knew, while driving past the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery wondered aloud, "Why are there so many logs lying on that beach?" Those aren't logs, they're elephant seals! And there are hundreds and hundreds of them, warming themselves in the California sun.

April and May is molting season, though it hadn't begun yet when we were there in April. Male elephant seals are 14-16 feet long, and weigh up to two and a half tons. Females are 10-12 feet long and weigh 1200-2000 pounds. I'd say those are pretty big logs!

The week we were in the area the Rookery was unbelievably windy, and the seals were huddled together for warmth. Normally pretty aggressive, they fight to show dominance over each other; but while we were there only two were making a half-hearted attempt at fighting. I think it was too cold even for them!

I know it was too cold for us, and we drove on to the town of Cambria.

Picturesque Cambria on the Pacific Coastal Highway

There are so many places to choose to stay when visiting Cambria, all with a wide range of prices. You can rent a private home for about $150-$350 a night, or stay in a motel for as little as $50 a night. You might want to stay at one of the larger hotels in San Simeon, such as The Best Western or The Orchid Inn, with a price range from about $100 to $250.00 a night. The San Simeon State Beach is an option if you traveled here by camper or RV.

We chose to stay at one of the many bed and breakfasts in Cambria, particularly the many right across the street from the Pacific Ocean, on Moonstone Beach Drive. We stayed at The Blue Dolphin Inn, a very lovely yet inexpensive bed and breakfast on Moonstone Drive. We paid under $100 for a charming room with a fireplace, two fluffy double beds, TV with cable, and breakfast included.
Along Moonstone Drive, we went on daily after-breakfast walks along the boardwalk flanking the Pacific Ocean, to admire the beautiful views of the mighty Pacific and it's expanse of rocky coastline.

Cambria offers lots of good restaurants. One we really liked was the laid back Moonstone Beach Bar and Grille, right on Moonstone Drive within easy walking distance from our bed and breakfast.

You can also rent a bike from the local hardware store right in Cambria, or go whale watching or fishing from Morro Bay.

There are many art galleries, antique, gift and book shops to browse in the little downtown area.

Cambria makes a great family vacation destination and was the picture perfect ending of our exploration of the San Luis Obispo portion of the scenic Pacific Coastal Highway.

Learn more about this author, Debora Chaves.
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