California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

(Dana P.) #1
and North American
plates has uplifted and
tilted sedimentary layers
of submarine rock, visible
from shore. Hike along
the beach and the park’s
grassy ocean bluffs, or
drive uphill past the
visitor center to tackle
the 4-mile round-trip
trail up rocky Valencia
Peak – the summit views
are exhilarating.

The Drive » Backtrack
on Pecho Rd out of the park,
curving right onto Los Osos
Valley Rd. East of Los Osos, turn
left onto Bay Blvd, curving north
alongside Morro Bay’s estuary.
Before reaching Hwy 101, turn
left onto Morro Bay State Park
Rd, continuing on Main St into
downtown Morro Bay. Turn left
on Marina St and drive downhill
to the Embarcadero.

6 Morro Bay
This fishing village is
home to Morro Rock,
a volcanic peak jutting

up from the ocean floor.
(Too bad about those
power-plant smokestacks
obscuring the views,
though.) You’re likely to
spot harbor seals and
sea otters as you paddle
around the bay in a
kayak rented from the
waterfront Embarcadero,
crowded with seafood
shacks. Or drive a mile
north of the marina to
walk partway around
the base of the landmark
rock. West of downtown
in Morro Bay State Park
(www.parks.ca.gov; admission
free; hsunrise-sunset; c) at
the Museum of Natural
History (Morro Bay State
Park Rd; adult/child $3/free;
h10am-5pm; c), kids can
touch interactive models
of the bay’s ecosystem and
stuffed wildlife mounts.

54 p185
The Drive » Follow Main St
north to Hwy 1. For 4 miles, Hwy
1 northbound rides above wild

ocean beaches. In Cayucos,
turn right onto Old Creek Rd, a
winding, narrow two-lane back
road, passing citrus farms and
cattle ranches. Turn right after 9
miles onto Hwy 46, which heads
east through wine country for 11
miles to Paso Robles.

7 Paso Robles
Wine Country
Franciscan missionaries
brought the first grapes
to this region in the
late 18th century, but it
wasn’t until the 1920s
that the now-famous
zinfandel vines took root
in Paso Robles. Coasting
through golden-brown
hills and grassy pasture
lands, Hwy 46 passes
family-owned vineyards,
olive orchards and rustic
farmstands. Pick up a free
winery tour map (www.
pasowine.com) from any
tasting room and sniff
out boutique winemakers
such as Kenneth Volk,
Adelaida, Linne Calodo
and Zenaida, as well as
established big-name
producers like Justin,
Eberle and Tobin James.
Or trust serendipity and
follow rural side roads to
discover the region’s next
break-out winery. After a
long afternoon spent in
sun-drenched vineyards,
retreat to leafy downtown
Paso Robles. Just off the
central park square, you’ll
find dozens more wine-
tasting rooms and bars,
restaurants and urbane
boutiques.

54 p185


TRIP HIGHLIGHT

Start: 7 Paso Robles Wine Country
On Hwy 46 about 25 miles east of Paso Robles,
there’s a monument near the spot where Rebel
Without a Cause star James Dean fatally crashed
his Porsche on September 30, 1955, at the age of 24.
Ironically, the actor had recently filmed a public-
safety campaign TV spot against drag racing and
speeding on US highways, in which he advised, ‘Take
it easy driving. The next life you save might be mine.’
Look for the shiny brushed-steel memorial wrapped
around an oak tree outside the Jack Ranch Cafe
truck stop, which has a few old photographs and
some dusty movie-star memorabilia inside.

JAMES DEAN
MEMORIAL

DETOUR:


CENTRAL.CALIFORNIA

16


(^) AROUND SAN LUIS OBISPO

Free download pdf