Cambria is a pleasant place, pretty much half-way
between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Being along
Highway One, the area is very quiet except during the summer
months. Another advantage is that the area is almost
inaccessible by pager or cell phone. The town of Cambria
-- first known as Slabtown -- was settled in the early 1860's
and was an active center for shipping, mining, and
ranching.
| PROPERTY |
SAN SIMEON
PINES |
| ADDRESS |
P.O. BOX 117,
SAN SIMEON, CA. 93452
AT
MOONSTONE COVE, 5 MILES SOUTH OF SAN SIMEON (AND NORTH
OF CAMBRIA) BETWEEN HIGHWAY ONE AND MOONSTONE BEACH
DRIVE |
| TELEPHONE |
805.927.4648 |
| WEB |
www.sspines.com |
Another choice
might be the El Rey Inn, just a motel on the inland side of
Highway One, about five miles north. The El Rey
(805.927.3998) does, however, have nice rooms, a hot tub, and
pool. There is also an on-premises restaurant which is
quite good.
WHEN TO GO AND HOW TO GET
THERE:
- 230 miles south of San
Francisco and 230 miles north of Los Angeles, on Highway
One
- Go anytime but the summer
months
| SAN SIMEON PINES": "A
Seaside Resort" |
- LOCATED ACROSS THE ROAD FROM
SAN SIMEON BEACH STATE PARK
- NEAR THE "WEST VILLAGE"
SECTION OF CAMBRIA (NORTH OF THE MAIN PORTION OF
CAMBRIA)
- A SIMPLE MOTEL ON LUSH
GROUNDS, IN A QUIET
AREA
|
| MUDHOLE-RATING |
|
 |
QUIRKINESS |
 |
ACCOMMODATIONS |
 |
GOOD AREA FOOD |
 |
DIVERSIONS |
 |
COST |
Hearst Castle is
six miles to the north and Cambria offers numerous bookstores,
artist galleries, and restaurants. The motel literature
represents the on-premises holes have been dug by weasels, and
wild turkey are also abundant.
| ATTRACTIONS |
- VIEW THE ELEPHANT SEALS SUNNING
THEMSELVES ON BEACHES TO THE NORTH AT RAGGED
POINT
- HEARST
CASTLES (4 DIFFERENT TOURS -- MAKE RESERVATIONS WELL
IN ADVANCE: 800.444.4445). WHILE THIS CAN
BE VERY UGLY IN PEAK TOURIST SEASON, AT OTHER TIMES OF
THE YEAR THIS CAN BE AN EXCEPTIONAL EVENT.
- SHOOT POOL
AT CAMOZZI'S
- LINN'S
BAKERY
- CAMBRIA
PINES BAR
- TAKE A
MOUNTAIN ROAD TO A DESERTED PICNIC LOCATION (FIND THE
SIGN FOR THE "CAMBRIA ROCK & GRAVEL CO." -- THIS
IS SAN SIMEON CREEK ROAD) -- THE ROAD TWISTS AND WINDS
AND ULTIMATELY DEAD-ENDS. IF IT IS STILL IN
BUSINESS, CALL 'PICNIQUE IN THE PINES" AT 805.927.8727
TO HAVE THEM MAKE UP YOUR LUNCH FOR YOU
- DINNER AT
RAGGED POINT (805.927.5708)
- DINNER AT SOW'S
EAR
(805.927.4865)
|
Other things to do
in the area include side trips to Morrow Bay, San Luis Obispo,
or Pismo Beach. There is also a quiet beach area
directly across Highway One from the entrance to the Hearst
Castle grounds.
| RESTAURANT
RECOMMENDATIONS |
|
|
At Ragged point, north of San
Simeon, are protected beaches overrun with elephant
seals. Calving is mid-December through
mid-January. The peak of the mating season on the
beaches is Valentine's Day (no kidding).
| RESOURCES |
- HEARST CASTLE
- CENTRAL COAST GUIDE
- CAMBRIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
- SAN SIMEON CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
|
 We last visited this
property in March 2000, 2005, and 2006. This
location was visited several times earlier, with documentation
verifying 1997. | 
