Getaway to Morro Bay

Often overlooked by travelers in a hurry to get to Hearst Castle, Morro Bay offers a lower-cost alternative to nearby Cambria, with a pretty location right on the water. Morro Bay's eponymous rock, the "Gibraltar of the Pacific," is closed to public access, but you can take magnificent sunset photos of it (like the one you see above), or pull out the binoculars and watch for the Peregrine Falcons that nest on it.

You can plan your Morro Bay day trip or weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.

Why Should You Go? Will You Like Morro Bay?

• Get a Preview: Take a look at our Morro Bay Pictures

• Morro Bay is popular with families, birdwatchers (especially in winter) and with fishermen, kayakers, surfers and others who enjoy outdoor recreation. It's also one of the most affordable spots on the California coast.

• See how other California for Visitors readers rate Morro Bay

Best Time to Go to Morro Bay

Although it's busiest in summer, Morro Bay, like much of the California coast is likely to be overcast all day long in June and July. After the end of summer, the skies clear up. Hotel rates go down and stay low through spring, when wildflowers can sometimes be spectacular. In winter, locals say they sometimes get a week of summer-like weather in February, but you'll find hundreds of bird species who winter there every year, no matter what the weather is.

Don't Miss

Morro Bay's "biggest attraction" is hard to miss. The monolithic rock in the harbor is one of seven worn-down ancient volcanoes that extend in a line from here to San Luis Obispo. Maybe gawking at is is why most visitors get so focused on the waterfront that they fail to explore the town. Just a couple of blocks uphill, you'll find a more local ambiance, with nice cafes, a movie theater and interesting shops to explore.

5 More Great Things to Do in Morro Bay

• Sub Sea Tour: (2 hours) If you've got kids with you, this is the harbor cruise for you. This cheerful yellow boat offers views of underwater life through windows in its hull below the water line and kids love to feed the fish and watch them eat.

• Harbor Cruise: (2 hours) For a more adult harbor tour experience, Chablis Cruises offers Friday dinner cruises in summer and Sunday brunch cruises year round.

• Go to the Beach: One of the nicest beaches in the area is right next to Morro Rock, where you'll find a wide, sandy place to play and lots of surfers to watch. Just across the road, you'll find fishermen on the rocks and local sea otters love to nap in the kelp.

• Elephant Seals: The elephant seal rookery, right on Highway One about 4.5 miles north of Hearst Castle is most interesting during breeding season, from December through February when almost 4,000 pups are born in just a few weeks.

• Visit Hearst Castle: (4 hours or more) A half-hour drive north of Morro Bay, Hearst Castle is the area's most popular attraction.

Annual Events You Should Know About

It seems like Morro Bay has a festival almost every month. Some of the most popular are the Winter Bird Festival and Art in the Park (held three times a year). The new Avocado and Margarita Festival is shaping up to be an instant tradition and rumor has it there may even be a Mermaid Festival in the works.

Tips for Visiting Morro Bay

• In summer, make your hotel reservations early. The best-value hotels are the first to fill up.

• Use the trolley to get around when you can. It runs along the waterfront, out to the rock and even up to the state park.

• It seems like there are always a lot of birds in Morro Bay's skies. They're a great sight, but can make your clothing or hair less than sightly if they bestow a "white badge of courage" on you. Wear a hat and resist the urge to look straight up.

• You'll find several public restrooms along Ocean Avenue near the waterfront and also near Coleman Park.

• Pack your binoculars. You'll enjoy using them to watch the birds, sea lions and sea otters.

Best Bites

At romantic, white-tablecloth Windows on the Water at Marina Square, the New York Times' "new favorite of California," dinner entrees start at $20, or try a pizza for less than $15. A few miles up the road in Cayucos, Hoppe's Bistro serves some of the best cuisine on the coast.

Bayside Cafe in Morro Bay State Park serves a varied menu in a more relaxed, family atmosphere. Try the Achiote chicken or grilled salmon. On Sundays, you can combine two activities into one and take a Sunday brunch harbor cruise with Chablis Cruises. The food is good and the views even better. Kitty's Kitchen on Main Street serves the area's best breakfasts, and for a quick, cheap lunch try Giovanni's near the commercial fishing pier.

Where to Stay

Morro Bay is the least expensive place to stay along this stretch of coast. Check our recommended hotels and campgrounds. Most of the local lodging is along several blocks a couple of streets up from the water, but tiny Blue Sail Inn is right on the waterfront downtown.

For help getting the best possible deal, read about how to find a good place to stay, cheap or go straight to Tripadvisor's reviews and price comparisons on hotels in Morro Bay

Getting To Morro Bay

Driving? Morro Bay is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, 292 miles from Sacramento, 125 miles from Monterey and 424 miles from Las Vegas. It's located on California Highway 1, 35 miles south of Hearst Castle. If you're driving north on US 101, exit onto Highway 1 north of San Luis Obispo. Going south on US 101, exit at Highway 41 near Atascadero and take it to Highway 1, then go south.

Flying? The nearest airport is in Monterey. Check airfares.

By Train? If you take Amtrak to San Luis Obispo, you can catch the Ride-On Service that will take you right to Morro Bay.

What Do You Think?

How do you rate Morro Bay as a tourist destination?

1. 0 = Yuck! Just say no to this tourist trap
2. 1 = OK. Some people like it, but I didn't.
3. 2 = Good. Go if you have time, but it's not a big deal if you miss it.
4. 3 = Awesome! Don't miss it.

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