Morro Bay is a small town, but don’t let its size fool you! There is a lot to do in Morro Bay, especially if you enjoy outdoor exploration, look for wildlife and birds, and enjoy great food and wine. With a quaint fishing village feel, Morro Bay is one of the cutest and most glamorous places you can visit on California’s beautiful Central Coast. Boats lined up along the harbor, eateries dotted the waterfront, sea otters frolicking in the bay, and miles of sandy beaches … Morro Bay is the perfect spot for a seaside escape! While Morro Bay has a lot to do on your own, its location, close to many other worth-to-visit destinations on the Central Coast of California, means you have even more The Best Things to Do in Morro Bay to explore if you choose to spend a few days here.
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Montana de Oro State Park
Montaña de Oro State Park is an 8,000-acre reserve situated 6 miles southwest of Morro Bay that boasts breathtaking natural landscapes, fauna, and flora. Named the “Mountain of Gold” in Spanish for the golden wildflowers found in the park, the state preserve is made up of coastal plains and sandy beaches, towering cliffs and canyons, streams, and hills, and is home to the majestic 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. The park provides a wealth of outdoor and recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, camping, picnicking, beachcombing, and birdwatching. Offshore, Montaña de Oro State Park is a protected marine reserve with an abundance of natural ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
Visit a Breathtaking Castle
Located just thirty minutes away from the main center of Morro Bay, the Hearst Castle feels like, it belongs to the land of Naria with its unique architecture and overview. The Castle was built by William Randolph Hearst in the year 1919 and is situated on the top of a hill that gives a splendid view of the city of San Simeon. Previously known as the “enchanted hill”, this tourist attraction is maintained by the National Park Service that provides guided tours of the regal castle.
The Castle incorporates within itself an art museum, library, two swimming pools, one of the largest private zoos and magnificent gardens. The guided tour of the palace starts from the Hearst Castle Visitors Center which is located at the bottom of the hill. Over there, the visitors are provided with an introductory video that is related to the history of the place.
Be Surrounded by Golden Sand
Morro Strand State Beach resides between the Morro Rock and Cayucos. The long scenic stretch overlooking the sea provides a place for camping. The place provides a much-needed escape from the humdrum of chaotic modern life as it gives a splendid view of the tumultuous ocean, sand dunes and wetlands. The beach has several picnic tables scattered around the area. There is a campground available that has the capacity to host 70 campsites for tents and RVs. The spot also gives a stupendous view of the Morro Rock from the south side of the beach.
Explore the tidepools at North Beach
There are several places in Morro Bay where you can go tidepooling, but our favorite is North Point Beach, located off California Highway 1 at the north end of Morro Bay. Rock formations extend out into the water in this area, creating the tide pools.
Look for barnacles, mussels, anemones, limpets, and more. The rocks here are coated with slippery green algae and it is very easy to lose your footing, so wear appropriate footwear and be careful around the wet slippery rocks.
Visit at low tide, because the tide pools are only exposed then. Take the staircase at the end of Toro Lane to access the tidepools, or go down to North Point Beach and then walk over to the tidepool area. Windy Cove, by the Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay, is another good spot to go tidepooling.
Visit the Heron Rookery
The Heron Rookery is a must-visit while you are in Morro Bay, not only to look for the giant birds and their giant nests high up in the trees but also to see how the droppings from the birds have, over years, killed the trees in which they nest.
The grove of eucalyptus trees is one of the largest rookeries between San Francisco and Mexico, and you will see not only great blue herons but also double-crested cormorants, and maybe egrets as well. If you are lucky, you may see young birds being fed by their parents or adult blue herons in flight: they look magnificent, with their huge wingspan.
Make sure you pack your binoculars when you visit Morro Bay! Our go-to binoculars are the Celestron Trailseeker compact binoculars: they are not too heavy, and they perform well in low light.
You can walk to the heron rookery from the Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay State Park. The rookery is adjacent to The Inn at Morro Bay.
