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CAMBRIA, CALIFORNIA
The picturesque town of Cambria is located just south of San Simeon State Park, California, one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in the state park system. The dramatic splendor of this portion of the central coast is one of California's best kept secrets. With unspoiled beaches and dramatic nature trails, this uniquely beautiful area offers pristine coastlines and dazzling vistas.
Cambria was settled in the early 1860s. By the 1880s, it had become an active center of shipping, mining, dairy farming, logging, and ranching. It was also the second largest town in the county. When the railroad lines were extended into San Luis Obispo in 1894, Cambria was left isolated, causing a decline in coastal shipping. Finally, more than a quarter century later, the first improved road into Cambria was completed, ending this long period of isolation. Today, Cambria is a bustling town of about 7,000 and home to galleries, restaurants and eclectic boutiques.
THE VILLAGES
 Cambria can be divided into three distinct sections. The East Village, where Main Street crosses Burton Drive and Bridge Street, forms part of the town center. About 2 miles from the coast, the East Village is comprised of beautiful old Victorians houses that date back to the 1870s. Many of these are now home to art galleries, shops, boutiques, bookstores, fine restaurants and inns.
The West Village, which is located around Main Street and closer to the ocean, also offers charming streets lined by similar attractions. Many of the fine restaurants serve an interesting variety of cuisine-often complemented by a bottle of local wine. The Cambria Chamber of Commerce is located in West Village, offering visitor information about Cambria and the surrounding area.
Moonstone Drive and Moonstone Beach form the third section of Cambria. Moonstone Drive follows the coast on a scenic loop that parallels Highway 1. It offers a variety of lodging and dining options as well as wonderful shopping, but don't miss the natural lure of the area. Rather than the more common white sand beaches of southern California, Moonstone Beach is made up of small pebbles, polished smooth by the sea. Spend some time combing the sand for driftwood and gemstones; you're sure to find hidden treasures including jasper, jade, and the moonstone agates for which the beach is named.
The boardwalk, which skirts the beach for about three quarters of a mile one way, is lined with mustard flowers, sage, oxalis, dusty miller and rock rose. There are even places where Monterey cypress form a natural canopy overhead. The walk offers several beach accesses, where you can explore tidepools and watch sea lions and seals frolic in the water. This walk ends at Leffingwell Landing boat ramp and the bridge where the Leffingwell Creek empties into the sea.
ATTRACTIONS
People travel from all over the world to experience Hearst Castle State Historic Landmark, a extraordinary shrine to excess built over a twenty year period by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. The Castle offers a glimpse into his life and his passion for this part of Northern California. The magnificent estate, "La Cuesta Encantada" (The Enchanted Hill), is open for tours daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. While tickets may be purchased at the Visitor Center upon arrival, Tour Reservations are strongly recommended and may be made by calling (800) 444-4445, seven days a week, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST You can also reserve tickets online.
Rural Santa Rosa Creek Road is the perfect place for a bike ride, walk or leisurely drive. Venture through verdant ranch lands, farms and wooded creeks where red tailed hawks, wild turkeys and turkey vultures soar overhead searching for their next meal.
Two local parks Shamel County Park and Leffingwell Landing offer nice picnic areas, beaches, tidepools and vantage points for watching sea lions cavorting among the waves. Shamel Park offers an open grassy play and relaxation area, picnic tables, barbecue grills, horse shoe pits, children's playground , and a public swimming pool. Every 4th of July Shamel Park is the site of Cambria's biggest party of the year, with a spectacular fireworks display over Moonstone Beach as the grand finale.
WINERIES
The Central Coast Region boasts a rich tradition in winemaking and viniculture dating back to the mission era of the late 17th century. Today, scores of wineries and over a hundred vineyards growing premium wine grapes dot the oak savannah-covered hillsides and the spectacular scenic coast.
A day of wine touring might begin with a pleasant drive along a number of rural country roads, where visitors will discover small family-owned wineries. Generally, the winemakers are very friendly and enjoy chatting about the wine-making process. After sampling finely-crafted, award-winning wines, enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch at one of the area's wineries.
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