Cambria is Kid-Friendly!
When the days get longer and the weather starts warming up a bit, we can’t help but feel eager to spend more time outside. Luckily, Cambria offers plenty of fun, kid-friendly outdoor activities the whole family will enjoy. Whether exploring tide pools or journeying through a castle, here are our picks for top kid-friendly things to do in Cambria.
Visiting Elephant Seals
The California coastline around Cambria offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities around, providing plenty of chances to see sea life from afar. For a closer look, stop at the Elephant Seal Vista Point area to watch elephant seals relax and sunbathe with their pups, who remain onshore to fast through the month of March before venturing out to sea in late April and May.
Exploring the Coastal Discovery Center
The Coastal Discovery Center is a worthwhile stop fit for the whole family, where interactive exhibits and educational programs highlight the natural history of the area, including California State Parks and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Younger kids will enjoy exploring the re-created rocky tidepool, while the bigger kids will love scouring shipwrecks and more through the Delta sub exploration exhibit. They’re sure to leave having learned a thing or two.
Sea Glass Hunting at Moonstone Beach
Located across from the Cambria Inns Collection of hotels is Moonstone Beach. Though pretty to look at, kids and adults will enjoy spending time walking along the beach to explore the unique rock formations and hunt for sea glass hidden in the sand. Sea glass makes for the perfect vacation memory keepsake!
Tide Pooling at Leffingwell Landing
Leffingwell Landing not only offers scenic views from its one-mile long beach, but also a rocky shore ideal for tide pooling. Spend an afternoon searching the tide pools for sea anemone and starfish, then plan to barbeque at one of the picnic tables and barbeque pits in the park. You may even get to see a whale or two.
Kayaking San Simeon Cove
While admiring the ocean from land is one thing, venturing out on the sea is another – one that is sure to bring a smile to kids’ faces. Rent a kayak to explore the coves from the water. You may even get to see fish and other sea life up close and personal!
Hiking and Animal Watching at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
There’s plenty of room to run around and explore the natural surroundings at the 437-acre Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. Just don’t forget the binoculars to search for wildlife, as a number of endangered species live within the Preserve’s forests and grasslands.
A Glimpse into the Past at Hearst Ranch
Just north of Cambria is Hearst Castle, the sprawling estate built in the early 1900s by newspaper tycoon, William Randolph Hearst. This lavish estate will impress little and big kids alike, thanks to its grand pools and detailed architecture, offering a glimpse into what life was like way back when. If that’s not enough to intrigue the kiddos, they’ll adore seeing zebras roaming the ranch – a reminder of when the property had its own zoo.
Whether visitings Cambria while the kids are out of school for spring break or you’re just looking for an outdoor adventure the whole family will enjoy, Cambria makes for a wonderful family getaway on the Central Coast. When you visit, you’ll have your choice of Cambria hotels when you stay at the Cambria Inns Collection, including Blue Dolphin Inn, Sand Pebbles Inn, Moonstone Cottages and Castle Inn.
