Blauert on Outdoors: Cambria-San Simeon area – wine, art, zebras and scarecrows; take your pick

Last week, I featured a few highlights of the Cambria-San Simeon area, which has been a convenient and enjoyable spot for the Merced and Southern California members of our family to meet up and vacation together.

This week, I have additional recommendations for an extended weekend in the area.

Hearst San Simeon State Park – Moonstone Beach – one of last week’s recommendations – is one of the best sections of the extensive Hearst San Simeon State Park. The other sections are spread along the coastline for 25 miles northward from Cambria to the southern end of Big Sur at San Carpoforo Creek.

More than 75 percent of the beach and bluffs in the area are part of state park property and access is usually permitted as long as there aren’t any “no trespassing” signs. Some access points are signed; others can be identified by cars parked on the ocean side of the highway.

The park offers a large campground on San Simeon Creek Road, about 2 miles north of Cambria. It’s a nice place to camp with grassy, well-spaced campsites, flush toilets and showers. Beach access is provided via a highway undercrossing.

Just beware of the raccoons. We thought our food was secure in a tote with locking handles but were awakened in the middle of the night by raccoons feasting on our tortillas.

Reservations can be made at www.reserveamerica.com. For information about the park and San Simeon Cove (see below), go to www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=590 or call 805-927-2020.

San Simeon Cove and Old San Simeon – A couple miles north of the motels of the modern community of San Simeon is Old San Simeon, located at San Simeon Cove. William Randolph Hearst used it as a supply point for his “castle,” and many of the buildings around the cove were built to house his employees or store supplies.

These buildings can be seen from the road but are not accessible to the public. Instead, visitors can picnic, enjoy the beach, check out the exhibits at the Coastal Discovery Center, walk along the pier or hike the easy trail to San Simeon Point (2.5 miles round trip). The cove is also a nice place to kayak, with generally calm water in good weather.

Sebastian’s Store, dating to 1914, offers delicious burgers and sandwiches. You can also taste Hearst Ranch wine made on the Hearst family property that still surrounds Hearst Castle.

Unique Wildlife – Last week, I mentioned the elephant seals that have made Piedras Blancas their home. They’re not the only unique wildlife in the area, however.

As you drive north on Highway 1 from Cambria to San Simeon, look for zebras grazing among the cattle. They are descendants of animals William Randolph Hearst bought as part of the zoo and wildlife exhibit on his property, and they are often quite close to the road.

You may also see the Rocky Mountain elk that are not native to the area but were also a Hearst introduction. The one time we saw them, they were grazing along the highway north of Piedras Blancas.

On our most recent visit, we also spotted California sea otters along the coast, with our best viewings from the bluff-top boardwalk at Moonstone Beach.

Wine Tasting – Over the past three decades, the Central Coast has developed a unique wine industry. Nearly 300 wineries are found from the Santa Barbara area up to the southern end of Big Sur, with many concentrated around the inland city of Paso Robles. For wineries located closest to Cambria, go to pacificcoastwinetrail.com/index.html.

We especially enjoyed Stolo Family Vineyards, on Santa Rosa Creek Road just east of Cambria. For information about many more wineries farther east in the Paso Robles area, go to www.pasowine.com.

Art – Cambria is home to many artists and galleries. It’s fun to stroll around and look at the paintings, photography, pottery and sculptures.

Our personal favorite is Amphora, a gallery of art pottery, sculpture and painting. We especially like the pottery, which features nature designs. It’s been a great source of unique and treasured holiday gifts, and the pieces are surprisingly affordable.

Scarecrow Festival – Every October, Cambria hosts a Scarecrow Festival. Clever, often humorous figures line the main streets, and you can find them as far north as San Simeon. Many are more mannequin than scarecrow, but the creativity is outstanding. This year, there were more than 400.

For information, go to www.cambriachamber.org or call (805) 927-3624.

Gateway to other exciting areas – Cambria is located between Big Sur and the Morro Bay area.

Big Sur begins about 25 miles north of Cambria at San Carpoforo Creek and just south is the San Luis Obispo, Cayucos, Pismo Beach and Avila Beach/Morro Bay area.

You can easily continue your trip by heading north or south.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Blauert on Outdoors: Cambria-San Simeon area – wine, art, zebras and scarecrows; take your pick."