Continuing our story from yesterday (if you missed it, click here), here’s part two on how to make the most of your weekend pioneering, with a closer look at our itinerary for Saturday:
Wake up with the sun to catch local surfers playing in waves feet from your room. Don’t miss the buffet breakfast at Fogcatcher Inn with a make-your-own-waffle station. Kids or adults can watch the action from the wooden boardwalk or inside the driftwood teepees. Discover sea life between exposed pebbles and rocks. Walk between boulders of sandstone, spotted with patches of thicket, to look for moonstone agate, after which the 30-acre Moonstone Beach State Parklands are named. Best found after storms, jade, jaspers and other semi-precious stones will also sometimes appear.
Head north on Highway 1 for about 15 miles to Piedras Blancas Light Station, part of the Piedras Blancas Marine State Reserve, to get your walking tour of the land around the lighthouse and learn about the early lightkeepers and their dedication to marine safety despite their harsh living conditions. See historic structures being replicated or restored. Your volunteer guide from the Bureau of Land Management will take you to gaze at Piedras Blancas Rock, part of the Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area, designed to protect and replenish endangered wildlife. Depending on the month you go, you might see migrating gray whales. You’ll see seagulls, pelicans and cormorants easing their way around the craggy rock, gifting the rock its lovely white color. Continuing down the trail, you’ll happen upon the remains of a humpback whale that washed ashore in 2008 and its carefully reassembled bones to showcase its once magnificent presence. From there, see the lighthouse from a different perspective and hear the calls from the nearby elephant seal rookery, where during the holiday months 25,000–30,000 elephant seals nurse their young. Other times of the year, when it’s not as crowded for them, they’ll come ashore to molt or give birth and go back out to sea. A bit south of the light station there is a viewing area with a parking lot. You’ll be just feet away from the protected area.
Stop for lunch a bit further south at the Cafe at Bridge Street, which serves burgers made from Hearst Castle cattle before heading to your tour of the legendary Hearst Castle. Yes, it’s everything you’d imagine a rollicking millionaire newspaper magnate’s estate would be if he lived in the Roaring Twenties. Built 1919–1947 on 127 acres, the 115 rooms are impossible to see in one day. Tours leave every 5–10 minutes and focus on specific segments of the estate. Don’t miss the columned Neptune Pool or the indoor Roman Pool, designed after ancient Roman baths.
Reward the kids for listening so patiently at Brown Butter Cookie Company, back south on Highway 1, and let them run across the Cayucos Pier with Morro Rock rising out of the ocean. There is a small skatepark north of the pier divided into two sections, one with a deep, pool-like drop-in for experienced riders and another with a wide half-pipe ramp for novices. The boys brought their scooters and skateboards and had a blast working off some energy — with the local kids’ encouragement.
Back in Cambria, check out the trails of pink and purple as the sun sets into the sea at Moonstone Beach for your last night of discovery. Head three minutes into the small town to dine at Madeline’s Restaurant. Named after the owner’s daughter, they make you feel like family as they adjust the menu to serve your needs. Finish off your night with wine from their wine shop or dessert.
Check back tomorrow for part three, and a look at our itinerary for Sunday.
Read This Next
4 Must-Visit Places in Europe for Movie Lovers
Destinations / Europe
Mar 28, 2024#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedLuxury
Mar 11, 2024InterContinental New York Barclay Brings Glamping to Penthouse
Take your family travel up a notch at InterContinental New York Barclay, where not only can you enjoy a luxury hotel stay but you can also glamp in the hotel’s penthouse! The set-up is perfect for girls’ nights, bringing warmth to a cold winter weekend, a child’s slumber party and so much more. A glamping package on offer from InterContinental New York Barclay helps bring it all to life.
Sponsored Content
Interior Upgrades Begin Rolling Out Across United Fleet
United Airlines is in the midst of a major initiative to modernize its fleet over the next several years. After first announcing the plan in 2021, planes fitted with United’s signature interior are finally beginning to appear across the airline’s narrowbody fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. United flyers are sure to notice these enhancements from the moment they step on board: Each new or updated plane sports remodeled seats, seatback entertainment screens for everyone, Bluetooth connectivity and more, all adding up to a better experience on every journey.
Travel Tips
Mar 7, 20245 Tips for a Fun-Filled Staycation Spring Break
Spring break is right around the corner, and that usually means a week of packing in as much fun as possible. But travel isn’t cheap, especially during a peak time like spring break. That leaves family travelers looking for affordable ways to entertain kids and still have an adventure without breaking the bank. Enter the staycation.
Multigenerational
Mar 5, 2024Puro Sound Labs Upgrades PuroQuiet Kids Headphones
Puro Sound Labs, a manufacturer of children’s headphones, recently introduced the new PuroQuiet Plus headphones, following the success of the PuroQuiet, consistently named a top choice for kid’s headphones. The PuroQuiet Plus features a USB-C connector and comes in two new colors — purple and teal. Grab a set for your kiddos before your next round of family travel!
Sponsored Content
United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
Multigenerational
Mar 4, 2024Hilton’s Top Spring Break Resorts for Families
Home to leading kids’ clubs, thrilling waterparks with massive slides and educational workshops, Hilton properties lead the way for immersive, fun-filled resorts this spring break for family travelers. Not sure where to look? These six Hilton resorts promise non-stop excitement for the whole family.
ShareThis