Attractions

The northern elephant seals near San Simeon will captivate you with their big brown eyes, permanent smiles and endlessly watchable behavior. Just don't expect a quiet visit - the rookery can be a symphony of whimpers, grunts and squeals most any time of year. From just a few dozen, the rookery is now home to over 17,000 elephant seals, and the sight of them playing along the rocky shores of the bay is one you won't soon forget.

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is open every day of the year and is always admission free. During your visit, look for the "Friends of the Elephant Seals" docents in blue jackets, who are happy to answer any questions and share fun facts about the elephant seals.

The Morgan at San Simeon is one of the closest coastal hotels near Paso Robles Wine Country. Named for its local oak trees, El Paso de Robles, "The Pass of the Oaks", Paso Robles is home to more than 180 wineries and 26,000 vineyard acres that focus on premium wine production. Luckily for guests of The Morgan Hotel, Paso Robles Wine Country is an easy drive from our San Simeon hotel at less than 30 miles away.

The seaside village of Cambria offers coastal travelers a near endless array of attractions and entertainment, all just minutes from The Morgan San Simeon. Explore the picturesque village at a leisurely pace, taking in the scenic store fronts on one side and the vast beauty of the Pacific Ocean on the other. Cambria Village is as much an artists' colony as a town, so you know that every visit will bring something new and rewarding.

popular attractions in Cambria, California include:

Art Galleries - local artists from around the Central Coast come to Cambria to display their latest pieces and meet other art enthusiasts.

Antique Shopping - antiques of every era and style can be found in Cambria Village

Restaurants - find your pick of restaurants for any taste and budget just a few miles down the road in Cambria

Moonstone Beach - Situated at Cambria's north side and only 3 miles from our San Simeon hotel, Moonstone Beach is as romantic as it is beautiful

When looking for hotels near Cambria, find a superior stay at The Morgan at San Simeon.

Roughly three miles from the Morgan at San Simeon lies this stretch of outdoor paradise. Spend a day swimming in the Pacific Ocean, searching for shells, starfish or moonstone, or take a stroll along the boardwalk for a relaxing evening with the ones you love. Grab a bite to eat and bring it to the beach for the ultimate picnic experience. While there, you're sure to catch a glimpse of the sea otters and sea lions frolicking in the waves. Cap off the evening exploring the village of Cambria before returning to the hotel and relaxing fireside. A visit to Moonstone Beach is really the ideal way to embrace simplicity and feel your stresses melt away.

Go back in time to the lonely and blustery life of the lighthouse keeper with a visit to the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. First lit on February 15, 1875, to guide ships along the Central Coast of California, the 100-foot-high lighthouse operated for 100 years. In 1975, the tower was automated and the station went unmanned. In the fall of 2001, the Bureau of Land Management began restoring the light station and grounds.

Piedras Blancas Light Station has been congressionally designated an Outstanding Natural Area. Teeming with wildlife, the surrounding area is home to elephant seals, otters, peregrine falcons, harbor seals and California sea lions; and if you go during whale season you might spot a mother and calf as they make their way north.

Tours of the light station are offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, except federal holidays. Meet at the former Piedras Blancas Motel, located 1.5 miles north of the light station