Morro Bay is my favorite California coastal place to visit.  It is located just south of San Luis Obispo.  This quaint and fairly quiet fishing community has wonderful scenery, seafood, and diverse activities.  Jeremy and I have been there several times and always find new places to visit and activities to do.

During a recent trip, we flew down to Paso Robles Airport in our light sport airplane.  It was about an hour flight from Pine Mountain Lake Airport.  After we picked up our rental car, we first visited the local Paso Robes wineries.  This region is known for very good Zinfandel wines.  One of our stops was the Peachy Canyon Winery.  Afterwards, we drove to our hotel in Morro Bay and arrived around sunset.  The next morning, we head to the nearby State Park, Montana de Oro.

As with Morro Bay, nature is all around in this state park.  There are both migrating and indigenous birds the hug the coastline.  Pelicans and seagulls are often seen slope soaring the sea cliffs.  Sand Pipers chase the incoming surf in search for food.  Hawks can be seen flying overhead hunting.  Occasionally, you can witness a kill.

Tidal pools are teaming with life.  Along the Bluff trial, you can stop off and see orange, purple and red starfish hugging the rocks.  Green colored sea anemone and hermit crabs occupy much of the remaining rock.  Bright colored green kelp cover the sand stone rock.  The surf periodically pounds the tidal rocks bringing in new sea life.

Montana de Oro is painted with wild flowers.  The region is carpeted with California Poppies, Indian Paintbrush, and Ice plants to name a few.  The fragrant air is sweet and salty.  Small birds, butterflies, bees and lizards can be seen weaving in and out of this natural garden.

The topography varies from sand beaches and dunes to rocky sea cliffs and steep hill sides.  There are several views of the Pacific meeting land’s edge.

To me, this seems to be the closest to heaven on Earth.  The sounds, the smellls, and the views overwhelm the senses.  If you plan to visit the Central Coast of California, I suggest taking time to visit this area.

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