California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

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