Cambria, California: Top 10 Things to Do!
Charming, romantic, and fun, Cambria lies smack dab between L.A. and San Francisco on Hwy 1, just south of the famous Hearst Castle in San Simeon. With a population just a smidge over 6000, Cambria is small but jam-packed with fun things to do.
Cambria is the Latin name for Wales. Cambria is situated amidst one of only three rare Monterey pine forests.
It was named by a local surveyor from Cambria County, Pennsylvania. If you love the beach, art galleries, boutiques, wine tasting, and intimate restaurants, Cambria is the cat’s meow.
History
Cambria was originally settled by the Chumash Indians and eventually, settlers moved here for the farmland and lumber. In 1862, Cambria became a boom town after the discovery of cinnabar, the ore from which quicksilver, also known as mercury, is made.
What To Eat
There are no McDonalds, Burger Kings or Taco Bells here, which adds to the quaint, old-fashioned ambiance of the town. Favorites include Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill (great views here), Robin’s Restaurant, Indigo Moon, Black Cat Bistro ( I love this name!), and Madeline’s Restaurant. If you just want to grab coffee or tea and a quick breakfast, I recommend Cambria Coffee, located on Main Street.
Where To Stay
Cambria is known as a romantic getaway. There are numerous bed and breakfast inns in town. There are also a plethora of hotels across Hwy 1 from downtown Cambria on Moonstone Beach (or at least, across the road from it). Our hotel suite had a second story patio overlooking the beach and sliding doors you could leave open at night to allow the cool, delicious ocean breeze in. I would highly recommend finding lodging near the beach, as it is incredibly beautiful.
What to See & Do
- Moonstone Beach is very user-friendly beach and has a beautiful 1.5-mile boardwalk with many benches and vista points. At the beach, you may see a variety of animals, including elephant seals, sea otters, and shorebirds. The beach was named after the moonstones swept onto the beach by the ocean. Beachcombers are a frequent fixture on the beach. Beautiful stones and occasional sea glass can be found here. There is also a dearth of driftwood, and people constantly create interesting driftwood sculptures on the beach. For more information, see Moonstone Beach.
- Hearst Castle is located just north of Cambria. Designed by famed architect Julia Morgan for business magnate William Randolph Hearst, this opulent estate is a must see. Originally called “La Cuesta Encantada”, or The Enchanted Hill, the castle has 165 rooms. It is nestled on 127 acres of meticulously groomed gardens and terraces. You will be wowed by the artwork and statuary that Hearst collected, including castle ceilings and Cardinal Richelieu’s bed. It is said that the film “Citizen Kane” is based on William Randolph Hearst and his “castle” certainly supports that conjecture. The film chronicles the life of a newspaper tycoon who amasses fame and fortune but is unable to buy love or happiness. Although decades have passed since Hearst lived there, it still inspires amazement. For more information, see Hearst Castle.
- Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is about 4.5 miles north of Hearst Castle. This colony includes more than 17,000 elephant seals, which gather seasonally to safely avoid predators and frolic playfully with their pups. Elephant seals are the largest seals in the northern hemisphere. The best time to see seal activity is in the winter, from December through February. Males, which are 14-16 feet long and weigh up to 5,000 pounds, begin arriving in late November, and their female mates come in December. February is the busiest month for the elephant seals, with almost 4,000 pups born in just a few weeks. For more information, see Elephant Seals.
- Wine Tasting. Cambria is the gateway to wine tasting, with local wineries and more in nearby Paso Robles and Templeton. Wineries in Cambria include Moonstone Cellars, Cayucos Cellars, Cutruzzola Vineyards, Twin Coyotes Winery, among many others.
- Shopping. Cambria is home to many artists and creatives, and you will find amazing art galleries and antique, garden, home decor, pottery, beadwork, and clothing shops. My favorite is Home Arts, which includes beachy boho decor including pottery, baskets, macrame, furniture, and artwork. As a Wisconsin native, I was also pleasantly surprised to see an Ephraim Pottery Shop on Main Street. Ephraim Pottery is also located in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, and features craftsman style pottery and ceramics in the American arts & crafts style of the early 1900s.
- Cambria is home to “Nitt Witt Ridge“, a home built at 881 Hillcrest Drive by Arthur Harold Beal, also known as Der Tinkerpaw or Captain Nitt Witt. Beal was a garbage collector for the town of Cambria in the 1940s and 1950s and used of what he found to build it, including beer cans, abalone shells, washing machine drums, automobile parts, and old stoves. He also purportedly worked at Hearst Castle for a time and incorporated remnants from the estate into his own home. Although Mr. Beal has moved on to the big Nitt Witt Ridge in the sky, you may tour his previous home, which is now a California Historical Landmark. For more information, see Nitt Witt Ridge.
- Take a Tour of Piedras Blancas Light Station. Located 15 miles north of Cambria, you can tour this historic lighthouse, although it appears to have something missing on top. If you’re wondering where it went, check out downtown Cambria for the original Fresnel Lens. For information on guided tours, see Piedras Blancas Light Station.
- Other Outdoorsy Activities you may enjoy in Cambria include biking, hiking, fishing, surfing, and kayaking.
- Explore Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. Follow coastal bluff trails to see red-legged frogs, marsh hawks, as well as other local and endangered species at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, a 430-acre protected wildlife habitat. For more information, see Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.
- Visit the Coastal Discovery Center. Located on San Simeon Bay, the center is a joint venture between Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and California State Parks. It provides education regarding the cultural and natural history of San Simeon. It is located just across highway one from the entrance to Hearst Castle. For more information, see Coastal Discovery Center.
Interesting Facts
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The 1990 film hit Arachnophobia was filmed in parts of Cambria and at the local high school
Annual Events
- October: Cambria’s Annual Scarecrow Festival features over 300 scarecrows lining the town’s streets.
Helpful Tips
- Use the Cambria Village Trolley to get around town.
- Public restrooms are on Burton Street, just off Main Street.
I hope you enjoy Cambria as much as I did! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!
One Comment
Jay Slupesky
This is a wonderful post. I can tell you really loved Cambria.