Locals say that Avila Beach is the warmest beach in the county. After sun worship, whale watching is another can't miss activity here. At nearby Port San Luis, a number of boat operators provide two-hour whale-watching excursions between October and March.

Cambria, "where the pines meet the sea" is a romantic village known as an artists' colony and supports an impressive selection of fine restaurants, specialty shops, art galleries and ocean-view inns. Towering Monterey pines frame the dynamic coastline along its Moonstone Beach Drive, where semi-precious agate and jasper can be found in the sand. Near Cambria is the block-long town of Harmony (population 18), home to a wedding chapel, shops, galleries, a restaurant/bar and a winery. The 1915 post office is still in operation today. The town, all of it, is currently for sale.

The quintessential beach town of Cayucos is a haven for surfers and fishing enthusiasts, and visitors can find antique shops, restaurants and taverns along its "old California" main street. Cayucos closes it off several times a year to host antique and collectable street fairs. Cayucos activities can include renting a sea kayak for the afternoon, trying surfing or boogie boarding, fishing off the pier, exploring tide pools, or just enjoy a swim on the perfect white sand beach.

At Grover Beach, you'll find the entrance to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, where all-terrain vehicles can be rented to go four-wheel driving on the seemingly endless dunes or just to experience the rare opportunity to drive directly on the Pacific Ocean coastline for miles. Grover Beach also is home to a new train station which Amtrak currently serves with two daily stops and many bus connections.

Los Osos is the gateway to Montana de Oro State Park. The 8,000-acre park's name, meaning "mountain of gold," comes from the fields of wild flowers that blanket the landscape each spring. Within Los Osos are fifty miles of hiking, bicycling, and equestrian trails, and pristine preserves such as the magical Elfin Forest. The Elfin Forest is a special small wilderness of natural plant communities including coastal brackish marsh, riparian woodland fringe, pygmy oaks, grassland, coastal dune scrub oak and manzanita. It is home to many threatened or endangered wildlife and supports 25 species of mammals, 110 of birds, and 11 of reptiles and amphibians.
You can't miss Morro Bay - its unique landmark is Morro Rock, towering more than 500 feet above the water. This volcanic peak is now a preserve for the endangered peregrine falcons that nest on top and provides sanctuary to more than 250 other bird species. This seaside town is home to one of California's largest and most productive commercial fishing fleets, which provides area restaurants and fish markets with the freshest of seafood. The Morro Bay Natural History Museum's engaging exhibits include a hands-on discovery area just for children.

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