Has anyone stayed in Cambria on Moonstone Beach?

[Jdismom]

Our daughters have never visited CA, so we are planning a trip next year that includes some of the highlights of the state, including Disneyland (of course), Sequoia NP and a couple of days on the Pacific Ocean.

The town of Cambria looks interesting and not as far a drive as Monterrey or Big Sur. We've never seen a beach covered with stones instead of shells and would probably stay across from the Moonwalk.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel for a family of 5 on the beach in that area? And I guess more importantly is the view of the Pacific as spectacular as it is farther up north? I drove up the PCH to San Francisco when I was a teenager and remember being awed by its beauty. I want my girls to have that same experience, but we're starting off in DL and have limited time.

 

[bcla]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel for a family of 5 on the beach in that area? And I guess more importantly is the view of the Pacific as spectacular as it is farther up north? I drove up the PCH to San Francisco when I was a teenager and remember being awed by its beauty. I want my girls to have that same experience, but we're starting off in DL and have limited time.

Technically, the Pacific Coast Highway ends around Oxnard. They have a bunch of names, including the Big Sur Coast Highway, North Coast Scenic Byway, and Cabillo Highway (two segments actually). There are a bunch of other names because different cities/counties decided to give their little segment a name.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LandArch/scenic_highways/route1.htm

 

[ILUVALASKA]

The view in Cambria is not as stunning as farther north, and the town is one street.

 

[StageTek]

I drove up the PCH to San Francisco when I was a teenager

Be careful to call it "Hwy 1". Some people get technical about the names of the highway.

We love Cambria. The Moonstone is great. We tend to prefer the White Water but it is a longer walk to beach access. We tried the 9 Iron recently and loved it - hot tub, great views, fireplace. You want stunning views try Ragged Point Inn a few miles north.

 

[Jdismom]

Thanks for the responses.

StageTek, I will look into 9 Iron, White Water and Ragged Point Inn. Thanks for the useful information. I would like to drive up to the north coast some, but not sure how far we will go since we're also visiting Sequoia for a few days.

Sorry if I offended anyone by using the term PCH. I only visited once when I was a teenager, so I wasn't sure of the local terminology. I just figured everyone would know what I meant. I got that term from Disneyland actually.

 

[GrandBob]

Sorry if I offended anyone by using the term PCH. I only visited once when I was a teenager, so I wasn't sure of the local terminology. I just figured everyone would know what I meant. I got that term from Disneyland actually.

I don't think that anyone took offense. I'm one of those who can be pedantic about it, but always with good humor. You've stumbled into one of the areas of NorCal/SoCal debate (which really should be separate states, as both sides disavow the other). PCH is a SoCal term. As bcla and StageTek noted, the beautiful area along the Big Sur Coast is either Cabrillo Highway or, more simply, Highway 1, as it's in Central/Northern California.

-Bob

P.S. The other major difference, which really does grate on my ears, is using the as a preface to a highway number, as in "the 5". A true abomination

 

[Jdismom]

Thanks! I always like to be informed. From here on out I will say Hwy 1.

 

[dfriia]

Hi,

We stayed at Moonstone Landing and loved it, the beach and Cambria. Highly recommend. I don't know about rooms for a family of 5 though. Here is a link to our blog of arrival, there are a couple of newer relevant entries after that one. It was very scenic!
http://roadtripswithbob.blogspot.com/2013/12/pacific-coast-drive-to-moonstone-beach.html

 

[Jdismom]

dfriia, Thanks so much for letting me read your trip report. It was very helpful. I can't wait to see the elephant seals!

 

[HerbivoreMom]

You've stumbled into one of the areas of NorCal/SoCal debate (which really should be separate states, as both sides disavow the other). PCH is a SoCal term. As bcla and StageTek noted, the beautiful area along the Big Sur Coast is either Cabrillo Highway or, more simply, Highway 1, as it's in Central/Northern California.

As someone originally from the Central Coast let me also point out that the Central Coast does not like to be lumped together with northern California. Nor do we like being lumped with the Central Valley.

Call it whatever you want. Along the Central Coast it's going to be called whatever street name it happens to share for the town it's in or it's merged with the 101.

 

[HerbivoreMom]

Also worth noting - if you visit Cambria this time of year (October) they have a scarecrow thing.

Basically, a bunch of local artists (Cambria is known for having many artists) make all kinds of creative scarecrow-ish statues and place them all around town. It's a funky thing to see. Here are some details: http://www.cambriascarecrows.com/

Examples from 2013:

 

[Jdismom]

Thanks, but we're not going until June (as you can see by my ticker).

Still trying to find a place to stay across from the beach for the 5 of us. Most hotels on Moonstone beach only seem to accommodate up to 4.

 

[konagal]

Not sure if this place has room for 5. Cambria Shores Inn. Very nice rooms. Very nice people. If they do not have room, Might be able to help you.

 

[Lain]

Like konagal said, I don't know if the Cambria Shores Inn has rooms fitting 5 people, but we've stayed there and I echo her sentiments. Nice remodeled rooms and very nice people at the office.

Cambria Shores Inn faces Moonstone Beach, separated by Moonstone Beach Drive. Like many of the lodging along the beach, Cambria Shores Inn is motel-style with a parking lot and garden at the center. They seem to divide their rooms into ocean-view and garden-view, with ocean views costing a bit more. We've stayed in both types of rooms, and would recommend saving your money. The ocean-view rooms look out to the ocean, but the view is obstructed by the parking lot and garden. The garden-view rooms are perpendicular to the ocean, but have walk-out patios and you still get the sound and slight view of the ocean.

The office offers complimentary snacks through the late afternoon and evening, including cheese and fresh veggie appetizers, brownies and cookies. This is perfect for enjoying the sunset from the motel's adirondack chairs in their garden. They also include a picnic basket breakfast for every night of your stay.

As for Moonstone Beach, it's not *really* all covered by moonstones, and it also depends on the time of the year. A local shopkeeper explained to us that the spring and early summer is the best time to go looking for moonstones (and even jade), because these rocks actually erode and wash down from the nearby mountains and hills along the creeks, and the weather and waves are not as bad as during the winter. We were last in Cambria in late June, and the moonstones seemed to be clustered in patches around the creeks (which due to the drought were already drying up).

The town is cute and divided into east (up the road) and west (at the bottom of the hill) villages. Lots of great restaurants, antique shops, and galleries.

Having driven up and down most of the coast of California, I'd say the coast around Cambria proper is not as dramatic as Big Sur, Santa Cruz to the Marin Headlands, the Mendocino Coast, or the stretch of coast north of Eureka. But as I think was mentioned in this thread, there's a beach near San Simeon north of Cambria that's home to thousands of elephant seals. Even further north, the countryside is very pastoral and the coast gets much more dramatic as you reach the Los Padres National Forest and into Big Sur.

Hope this helps and gets you excited for your trip!

 

[Jdismom]

Thanks for the information. I did check out Cambria Shores Inn. It looks nice, but the rooms only fit 4. It seems like most of the hotels along Moonstone Beach accommodate the same and 2 rooms are pretty expensive.

I'm sure we'll come up with something even if we can't stay along the beach. We're looking forward to visiting that area. Cambria seems like a really cute town and we can't wait to see the Pacific Ocean.

 

[Galaviz]

It's been over 20 years but I won't forget my visit to moonstone beach. Went with a geology class in college. We also visited shell beach which I am sure was not too much further away but remember the beach covered in shells. Crushed and whole combined. I have been looking at tree houses near big sur. I think that would be a fun place to stay one day Have fun on your trip !

 

[Jdismom]

I was researching the tree houses also and they looked like a lot of fun. Definitely a different experience! But they are a little farther north then we planned to go.

Someone on a different thread mentioned Madonna Inn. That looks like a crazy fun place too. We might drive down there for a meal while staying in Cambria. I'm still researching that one and was going to ask about it on here later.

 

[LillsnJills]

Can't speak to any of the hotels in Cambria as we're Central Coast residents and haven't stayed at any. However, Cambria is hands down my favorite spot on the coast. For picturesque beauty and fun vibe of the town itself, it can't be beat. So many really cute shops to visit, and some AMAZING restaurants. I'd be happy to rec some if you'd like

That being said, I took a quick glance through the posts and didn't see anyone mention the serious water shortage issue the town is suffering. I see you're not going for a while yet, which will hopefully be time enough to resolve or at least relieve the shortage. As it is the town is on course to run out of water by the end of this year or early next year. We were just out there for the Scarecrow Fest and noticed a sign up at one of the Moonstone hotel restaurants that the restaurant was closed due to no water. I think as the months go on this will be more common. If so, I would expect the hotels to respectfully request that guests seriously limit water usages, ie for showers and such. I know several of the restaurants are only offering bottled water these days, not tap water. Most won't bring water if you don't request it.

On a different note, a pp mentioned Shell Beach - nice, but not that close to Cambria. It's farther down the coast between Avila and Pismo. Nice if you're looking to swim or surf, but not much for scenery IMO. Not as nice as Moonstone at least.

 

[Lain]

The restaurants in Cambria truly are a gem. We had very memorable meals at The Sow's Ear Cafe and Robin's Restaurant, and lovely pastries and desserts at Linn's (known for their olallieberries) -- all in the part of town that's up the hill.

I did hear about the severe water shortage in Cambria, which seemed worse than the rest of California. I think over the summer, I read the town had just a few month's worth of water left and they were taking extraordinary steps to bring in or treat water. I don't know what the status of that is. It's a real shame because Cambria's soft water from the tap is one of the things my DW and I love most about the town.

 

[LillsnJills]

The restaurants in Cambria truly are a gem. We had very memorable meals at The Sow's Ear Cafe and Robin's Restaurant, and lovely pastries and desserts at Linn's (known for their olallieberries) -- all in the part of town that's up the hill. I did hear about the severe water shortage in Cambria, which seemed worse than the rest of California. I think over the summer, I read the town had just a few month's worth of water left and they were taking extraordinary steps to bring in or treat water. I don't know what the status of that is. It's a real shame because Cambria's soft water from the tap is one of the things my DW and I love most about the town.

The Sow's Ear used to be one of our hands down favorites. We loved the service, the food and the atmosphere - the rustic feel of the dining room reminded us both of New England, where my wife's from. Sadly, the last few times we ate there, both service and food quality had declined quite a bit, and an attempt to bring this to the owner's attention was met with a brusque brush off. If you find yourself back in the area, try the Black Cat Bistro at the other end of town. It's a much smaller dining room, but the food is outstanding, as is the service. It's become our favorite upper scale restaurant on the coast.

Agree that Linn's is the place for amazing desserts - can't go wrong with anything they make. The rest of their food is amazon as well - we actually had our post-wedding dinner here with a few friends last year.

I really do hope Cambria can get their water woes resolved. It's such a beautiful town. I'd dearly love to live there - there's a few parcels of land I've seen for sale that'd be amazing to build on. But the water authority isn't issuing any permits due to the shortage (which, really, has been going on for years but is critical now due to the drought), so no building can take place. From what I've read, there's literally hundreds on the waiting list as it is.