Exploring essentials
We never tire of exploring the wineries we have here in our back yard. But sometimes we want a little something different. Following are some ideas for alternate ways to experience what the region has to offer.
It’s been a cozy relationship for centuries: wine and olive oil, olives and grapes.
The Morro Bay area offers a variety of hikes, from easy, ocean-view trails to peak-top treks and family-friendly strolls through nature.
There are a number of excellent short hikes along awe-inspiring coastal bluffs in the area.
Experience Paso Robles’ famous hot springs at River Oaks Hot Springs & Spa.
Sitting on a bluff in Morro Bay State Park, the Morro Bay Natural History Museum offers panoramic views of the bay and Morro Rock as well as a hands-on opportunity to learn more about the area’s ecology and geology.
A "castle" built entirely of salvaged materials, one of only three classic tall lighthouses on the West Coast and an interactive coastal discovery center are among the North Coast's other attractions.
Relaxation should be a goal of any weekend or mid-week getaway. And a trip to the spa is an ideal way to indulge that desire.
Some find it grand and inspiring. Others find it gaudy and over the top. But a visit to William Randolph Hearst’s castle on the hill is something everyone should do at least once.
Tribune photo by David Middlecamp
Bring your binoculars -- Morro Bay is a haven for bird-lovers. It’s an important stopping point along migration routes, and the diversity of the landscape attracts more than 200 species – making it one of the Audubon Society’s top birding spots nationwide.
Morro Bay boasts an affordable golf course with stunning ocean vistas. If you'd rather cruise around beach and town, rent a bicycle for a day of relaxing activity.
Not far past some of the western-most wineries is Nacimiento Lake, a beautiful, hill-locked spot where you can boat, fish, waterski, wakeboard, hike, bike, picnic or camp.
Fish for albacore, rockfish, lingcod and salmon, take a boat tour of the bay or go on a whale-watching trip.
No experience necessary! Morro Bay’s flat, protected waters make it ideal even for the first-time paddler. Explore the rich tidal estuary and diverse wildlife – from seals, sea lions and otters to herons, egrets, cormorants, pelicans and other birds. Take a guided tour or go it alone.
San Luis Obispo County is known and cherished largely for its get-away-from-it-all feel, its stretches of serene coast, its cute and welcoming towns, its pristine wine country. But we’ve got some trendy spots as well, andt here seem to be more debuting all the time, from big city-inspired nightclubs to chic eateries with a palette of artsy drinks.
San Luis Obispo wineries have teamed up with a Southern California couple to offer a new wine-tasting experience for Los Angeles tourists.
