I have a little secret. Morro Bay, CA was probably my favorite place on our recent trip to central California. And we packed a lot of awesomeness into a single week, so that is a pretty bold statement.
You are probably wondering where is Morro Bay, California? It’s not one of the better known vacation destinations. Morro Bay is located along Hwy 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) on the central California coast in San Luis Obispo County.
I don’t know why this town stuck out in my mind so much, but as soon as we arrived, I knew 24 hours wasn’t going to be nearly long enough. If you’re looking to visit Morro Bay, we’ve got lots of tips for you. Here are some of the best things to do in Morro Bay that you don’t want to miss!
WHERE TO STAY IN MORRO BAY
- Best Morro Rock Views: The Front Street Inn & Spa is a small bay front hotel on the embarcadero in Morro Bay. This small boutique hotel located above La Parisienne French bakery offers amazing views of the harbor and Morro Rock.
- Best For Families: One block from the waterfront, the Sea Air Inn hotel in Morro Bay offers newly renovated, modern, and clean rooms. They offer family rooms and a great location near all the major Morro Bay attractions.
- Best In Morro Bay State Park: Located inside of Morro Bay State Park, Inn at Morro Bay rests on 4,000 acres. It features an outdoor pool, and rooms are furnished in French Country décor. Every room offers free WiFi and views of Morro Bay, Morro Rock, the pool or the gardens.
DESERT KAYAKING IN MORRO BAY
The water in Morro Bay was calm, the winds that had kept us from riding bikes to Morro Rock the day before were gone. When we checked our list of things to do in Morro Bay, California, a kayak tour with Central Coast Outdoors was first and we were really looking forward to it. We couldn’t wait to enjoy views of Morro Rock from the water!
As we paddled away from the dock, we saw two sea otters swimming to the left cautiously curious about our crafts. To the right, harbor seals sprawled on rocks absorbing the sun barely took notice of us. Sometimes you’ll even see sea lions during a trip.
We paddled our way into inlets, observing the many different birds. Our guide John knew them all by name, some common, others just passing through. Morro Bay is a stopping point for migratory birds attracting more than 200 species. It’s one of the top birding spots nationwide.
As we paddled along, John told us the history of the oyster farms, how they used to harvest the succulent delicacies by stringing shells together. Today it’s a 9-5 job; the people and machines that do the modern day work take the weekends off.
The highlight of the trip was a stop at the Morro Bay sand dunes, the closest thing I’ve ever experienced to a desert. In fact, it’s so like a desert that Army troops have used it for beach and desert training since before WWII. We even found shell casings from those maneuvers.
As we traipsed over the dunes toward the sound of the ocean, we came upon an ancient Chamash Indian shell midden, but the sea beaconed, so we kept walking. As the waves rushed to shore, we spotted more smooth rocks than shells, and may or may not have pocketed one as a souvenir.
We loved taking in the views of Morro Bay from our kayaks, and would highly recommend this trip to everyone!
MORE THINGS TO DO IN MORRO BAY
Kayaking was one of our favorite things to do in Morro Bay, CA. However, our Central Coast Outdoor guide recommended these additional things to do in Morro Bay (some are things to do near Morro Bay). With only 24 hours in town, we didn’t have time to experience too much, but I’m definitely on board for a return trip.
- Fishing Tours. Try Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay for sport fishing and Patriot Sportfishing in Avila Beach.
- Surfing. We LOVED surfing in Santa Cruz. Closer to Morro Bay, Good Clean Fun in Cayucos has surfboard rentals as well as lessons. Read More: 16 BEST THINGS TO DO IN SANTA CRUZ FOR COASTAL FUN
- Wine Tasting. California is synonymous with wine. Paso Robles is just outside Morro Bay and has over 200 wineries! You might also want to check out the SLO Vintners Association for wineries in Avila Beach and Edna Valley.
- Farmers Markets. Want stuff to do in Morro Bay for a foodie? Taste the local flavor at farmers markets held Thursdays in Downtown San Luis Obispo, Thursday and Saturday in Morro Bay and Monday in Los Osos/Baywood Park.
- Horseback Riding. John recommends The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo or Pacific Dune Stables in Oceano. I can’t speak for the others, but The Madonna Inn is an attraction in itself. There are YouTube videos devoted just to the bathroom! And it gets better from there.
- Spas. Just being in Morro Bay made my pulse slow a bit, but if you need even more relaxation, John recommends the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in Avila Beach or the River Oaks Hot Springs and Spa in Paso Robles. The Sycamore had me at Oasis Waterfall Lagoon, a scenic hillside hot tub.
- Oysters. On our kayak trip we saw where oysters are harvested. Get your own fresh oysters at the family owned Morro Bay Oyster Company.
- Elephant Seals. Slightly north of Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo is the Elephant Seal Rookery. This is a must do and it’s totally FREE! Bring a camera, you’ll want a photo of these so-ugly-they-are-cute creatures that reminded my son of Watto from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Although you are likely to see the seals anytime of year, they are most abundant January through May.
- Hearst Castle. Just a few miles from the elephant seals is Hearst Castle where you can see how the other half lived. The artwork in one room of the Castle is worth more than the entire California State Park budget!!
- Whale Watching. We did this in Monterey, but this is one of the more popular things to do in Morro Bay too. In summer you are likely to see humpbacks, in late winter/early spring gray whales are more likely. John recommends SubSea Tours or Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay, and Central Coast Sailing Charters in Avila Beach.
MORRO BAY WITH KIDS
There are plenty of great things to do in Morro Bay with kids! Here are a few of our favorites.
- SLO Children’s Museum in San Luis Obispo
- Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero
- California’s Central Coast Aquarium in Avila Beach
- Mustang Waterpark in Arroyo Grande
- Ravine Waterpark in Paso Robles
- Morro Bay Maritime Museum (Make sure to see the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle!)
- Morro Rock Beach
- El Moro Elfin Forest
THINGS TO DO IN MORRO BAY ON OUR NEXT VISIT
Our friends from Morro Bay and SLO California put together such an awesome itinerary for us during our stay, but we couldn’t get to everything. Here are a few of the spots we saved for our next trip.
- Shopping along the Embarcadero. We arrived too late to really shop, but my son and I did pop into Junque Love, a boutique with an eclectic mix of vintage and repurposed goods. The Shell Shop is a family-owned business that is just what you love about a beach town, and although we didn’t visit Crills Saltwater Taffy, we did sample their delicious wares at our hotel. You’ll also find plenty of shopping and dining along Morro Bay Boulevard.
- Morro Bay National Estuary Center. If you blink, you might miss this free attraction located on the Embarcadero up a flight of stairs. The Morro Bay National Estuary Center has several exhibits and a spectacular view of the bay and Morro Rock.
- Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay State Park. We saw the Museum of Natural History from the kayaks. On the deck facing the bay is the skeleton of a whale. Inside is information on Morro Bay history, Native American life, geology, and oceanography exhibits.
Consult the website for information on nature walks, lectures, puppet shows and docent led tours. There is also a Chumash garden where you can learn how the Chumash Indians used native plants in their daily lives. Best of all, this attraction is just $3 for adults over 17 and FREE for kids. (There is great camping here, too!)
- Heron Rookery. Next to the Museum of Natural History is the Heron Rookery where Great Blue Herons and Great and Snowy Egrets roost all year long. Bring binoculars for the best views.
- Giant Chessboard. While you wait for dinner at the iconic Dorn’s Original Breakers Café, play a game of chess on the giant chessboard. It’s free!
MORRO BAY FAQ
What is Morro Bay known for?
Morro Bay, CA is known for Morro Rock, which supplies amazing views and an awesome backdrop to year-round outdoor activities like kayaking, surfing, golfing, and more.
Can you walk around Morro Rock?
You can walk around Morro Rock! In addition to hiking, boating, or surfing with it in the background, you can walk to Morro Rock and all around it. There’s even a parking lot located nearby.
How many days do you need in Morro Bay?
Ideally, you need at least 3 days to see and experience the top attractions in Morro Bay. Of course, we were only there for 24 hours and still managed to fall in love with it!
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO CALIFORNIA
- YOUR CALIFORNIA VACATION
- JOSHUA TREE: 15 Things To Do In Joshua Tree (In & Out Of The National Park)
- PISMO BEACH: 17 Things To Do In Pismo Beach For Fun In The Sun
- SAN LUIS OBISPO: 15 Outstanding Things To Do In San Luis Obispo
- MONTEREY: 13 Sensational Things To Do In Monterey
WHERE TO STAY IN MORRO BAY
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