Outing Ideas: Pismo Beach
If you are staying in Pismo Beach and up for a little day trip, you may enjoy a scenic jaunt up Highway 1. You could stay in Pismo and go bowling, eat chowder at Splash Cafe, and walk on the beach the whole time, but I’m going to give you a few options here, just in case you want to venture out.
First stop, Morro Bay, for some art galleries and boutique shops. The little seaside town also has a wonderful Shell Shop, in operation since the 1950′s, full of findings from all over the world. Cross the street and visit the wee little Morro Bay Aquarium… not a whole lot to look at, but they have seals you can feed. Or you can head out to “the rock” tidepools to explore and scout out some shells and sea stars of your own.
If you like Mexican food, you may want to stop at Taco Temple. Right of the highway, it’s a local favorite, a kind of “hole” in the wall” that specializes in a fresh, California-Mexican fusion taste. Just one taco at about $4.50 fills me up. (But you can easily spend a lot more money on a variety of other dishes, too.) Their carrot cake is pretty famous with the locals, too. There’s usually a line… breath in some positive ions while you wait.
Keep heading north. Stop in Cayucos for some antiquing or Cambria for more art galleries and boutiques. Lynn’s Pies, in Cambria, has delicious pot pies and fruit pies, among many other “home-cooked” meals. You can even buy frozen pies to take and heat up for an easy dinner later. (They’ll wrap them in newspaper to keep them cold, if you tell them you are traveling.) These used to be my favorite, but now I can’t eat gluten. Curses. Please eat one for me.
Robin’s, also in Cambria, is also a popular place to eat. They have an ethnic cuisine, using a lot of fresh, sustainable produce, and sometimes local artists play live music during the summer. The restaurant itself has a bit of a rustic feel, but the menu can be a bit on the pricier side, depending on what you order. I hear their Salmon Bisque is amazing. They also have great bread which I can no longer eat… again, I am depending on you to fulfill my culinary desires.
And, finally, an hour’s drive from Pismo (if you weren’t tempted by all the stops) you’ll find yourself in the small town of San Simeon, famous for William Randolph Hearst’s modern day castle. Casa Grande, otherwise know as Hearst Castle, sits on a beautiful hillside overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean. W.R. Hearst, a media mogul, built this home near the site of an area he camped at during his childhood. In later years, he partnered with extraordinary master architect, Julia Morgan, to create this masterpiece, which took 28 years to complete (well, almost complete). There are several different tours to choose from, depending on what you would like to see. (I would suggest buying tickets ahead of time, so your tour isn’t sold out.)
(Someday, I would enjoy accidentally falling into this pool. I would even enjoy being pushed.)
Docents only show you a glimpse on each tour, so it can be a pricey endeavor to see the whole house. After the docent led part, however, you are free to roam the grounds, viewing the pools, tennis courts and gardens at your leisure. There are buses which come every few minutes or so for your 6 mile trek back down the hill. We spotted zebras and some wild boar on the way down.
There is a wonderful 40 minute movie presentation included with your ticket. (The theater is adjacent to the Visitors Center at the base of the hill.) It is a fascinating telling of Hearst’s story on a 5 story screen. It’s really quite breathtaking and epic in nature. It reminded me of Disney California’s “Soarin’ Over California” ride, minus the hydrolics.
Tips: The visitors’ center at the base of the hill is open to the public (without ticket purchase). There is a large gift shop, restrooms and a snack/espresso bar. You can even buy an expensive cut of natural grass fed beef from the Hearst Ranch if you are so inclined. Maybe you should bring a cooler… remember you will have the pies from Lynn’s, too.
If you choose to take a tour, there are usually a number of steps you have to climb. It is also wise to layer your clothes. The coast can be warm one day and brisk and enveloped in fog the next. It is not always 75 degrees in California. Trust me on this, or you will freeze, and I will have to say I told you so!
Oh, and if you have the time, head up a couple exits (about 4 miles north) to the elephant seal look-out at Piedras Blancas. There are always seals there, although it’s sparser in August and September. They are massive animals, and it’s interesting to listen to their crazy noises and watch them nurse their pups, fight over territory, and sometimes even mate. If you are lucky, you might even witness a birth… an 80 pounder!! Can you imagine? In addition, there are often docents there to answer your questions. It’s really a pretty amazing sight, which even has the power to transfix my active kids!
As always, enjoy.
