Exploring Cambria, California

We visited Cambria, California about 4 years ago for my husbands birthday and have always wanted to go back. I mean it’s only 2.5 hours from home we really have no excuse. So when we were told we were going to have to sleep on the couch for another couple weeks (thanks to our bathroom remodel) the first place we decided to head off to and explore was Cambria.

We had such an incredible weekend. Good wine, salty air, and a BEAUTIFUL HOTEL. I am so excited to share with you guys all about our weekend, our hotel, and fun things to do!

WHERE TO STAY:

This is probably the most important detail of our trip so it’s up first. I really think if you have a bad hotel it sets the stage for a miserable weekend. After reading a ton of reviews we decided to stay at the Sand Pebbles Inn. WE ARE SO FREAKING HAPPY WE CHOSE THIS HOTEL!

We were traveling with our daughter and hoped we could find a room big enough for us & her pack ‘n’ play as well as somewhere central to everywhere we were going to make nap time effortless.

The rooms were even nicer than we expected. Spacious, clean, and right on the ocean. We stayed in room 114 which is on the lower end of the hotel and 5 feet away from Moonstone Beach. At night we slept with the windows opened and listened to the waves. Since it is right near the exit with some chairs right outside our window, when Addy would nap we would lock up the room & sit out side watching the surfers. It was so relaxing to enjoy coffee out there & take in some beautiful salty air.

AMENITIES

Pets friendly rooms are available at Sand Pebbles Inn!  At Sand Pebbles Inn, they treat your four-legged companions as guests. Their pet-friendly lodging offers spacious rooms with snugly pillow pet beds, food and water bowls. The surroundings around the Inn provide a wonderful place to stroll with your pet. Pets are restricted to specific rooms on lower floor only. They have limited pet-friendly rooms so be sure to book ahead! For the comfort of all of their guests, pets should not be left unattended in the room at any time. Please call for reservations when traveling with your pets. The fee is $25.00 per pet per night.

If I haven’t convinced you enough and you still want to learn more OR you are ready to book, visit their website here. It looks like they are having some great deals in December & Cambria is always so cute for the holidays! I would take advantage of the discounted rates and spend a weekend (or week) at the Sand Pebbles Inn.

THINGS TO DO IN CAMBRIA

Cambria is seriously the CUTEST little town with so much character & fun things to do. Full of small, unique businesses, family owned restaurants, and so much more you can spend hours getting lost roaming the charming streets.

Cambria is famous for 3 things: Hearst Castle, Moonstone Beach, and Elephant Seals. All of which you have to see before you leave!!

Moonstone Beach is located off Cambria’s rocky shoreline below 20-foot windswept bluffs. Visitors can access the sandy beach via several staircases, or take a walk on the one-mile boardwalk along the coast. Enjoy the walking trails that lead past small coves, rock formations, and tide pools to scenic overlooks that are perfect for sighting migrating gray whales and other marine mammals.

When the elephant seals are out, there are outstanding tour guides that give you a ton of information about these beautiful sea animals and why they come to rest in Cambria every year.

Cambria Wineries

My husband & I have recently loved exploring new wineries and often do so with a baby on our hip. It’s not as hard as it seems. Bring your stroller, food, snacks, and maybe even a tablet (I’m not judging you). We went with family so we had a sober driver and was able to enjoy ourselves without getting drunk.

The Sand Pebbles Inn website describes the Cambria Wineries as:

Cambria has a number of opportunities to sample local wines and beer. In the West Village, there are several tasting rooms.

• Black Hand Cellars is a boutique winery specializing in handcrafted red wine varietals from the Central Coast. This family winery has its only tasting room in Cambria.
• Moonstone Cellars produces premium wines from Central Coast fruit. “Enchanting Wines From Hillside Vines Near Seaside Pines”.
• Cutruzzola Vineyards has a tasting room in town and wine is produced from vineyards located in a coastal valley just outside the town of Cambria on California’s Central Coast.
• In the East Village, Twin Coyotes wines are crafted from sustainably farmed vineyards, handmade in small batches with attention to every detail.

Fermentations and Wine: are tasting rooms with a wide variety of wines and tastings. It is a great way to discover some favorites before you venture out on a wine tour. Just a short drive away are several more wine tasting rooms.

• Hearst Ranch Winery is located in nearby old San Simeon Village across from the entrance to Hearst Castle and inside Sebastian’s General Store, built in 1852.
• Stolo Family Winery & Vineyards grow small lots of Coastal Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah and are just 2 miles up scenic Santa Rosa Creek Road.SOURCE: https://cambriainns.com/cambria-ca/

HEARST CASTLE

I am a huge history buff and Hearst Castle has always been on my California bucket list. Fun fact, my old roommate said her parents in the 80s had a friend that worked the night shift there that snuck them in and allowed them to swim in the infamous Gatsby style pool. Talk about adventure!

Hearst Castle is a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark located on the Central Coast of California in the United States. Conceived by William Randolph Hearst, the publishing tycoon, and his architect Julia Morgan, it was built between 1919 and 1947. (source: https://hearstcastle.org/)

The grounds and experience are amazing. There is a huge gift shop, food court, and lookout while you are waiting for your tour. We snagged at the gift shop some marble kitchen tools that were made out of the marble from the original pool they were busy resurfacing. So cool to have such a unique piece of history!

Once you make it up the windy (and terrifying) mountain, you are truly transported to a scene from The Great Gatsby. The grounds and the castle are jaw dropping. It’s something you have to see at least once in your life!

---

I am so excited for your trip to Cambria, California and I hope you have as an amazing time as we did! If you stay at the Sand Pebbles Inn or explore any of the wonderful places I mentioned, make sure to tag me on Instagram at @pickingdaisiesblog so I can reshare!

And don’t forget to support businesses by leaving a 5-star review on Yelp or Trip Advisor on places you truly loved and enjoyed!

Happy & Safe Travel!

Xoxo,

Mariah

 

 

COVID DISCLAIMER: As of October 2020, Sand Pebbles Inn and the town of Cambria, California followed and exceeded the CDC guidelines. Please check before your travels for new protocols and stay home if you are sick or awaiting results from a COVID test.