what to do when you have 24 hours in cambria
Cambria is a small beach town on the coast with a laid-back, surfer vibe that makes you feel like you’re back in time. Restored motels / roadside hotels line the street along the beach. There are a bunch of great walks that take you along the coast, and the beaches are beautiful.
ITINERARY
STAY: White Water Cambria (hotel review below)
DAY 1
Lunch at Linn’s Restaurant. Make sure you get one of their homemade pies.
Hike: Harmony Headlands State Park (4.3 miles).
Get cheese and wine from Soto’s True Earth Market (or White Water - their cheese plate is TDF) and have a picnic on Moonstone Beach.
Dinner at Sea Chest - they don’t take reservations, so we biked over from our hotel on the earlier side as it’s close by, put our name down, and then went back to the hotel for a drink until the table was ready. People also bring fold up chairs and sit outside the restaurant with drinks while they wait. Food is fine, not outstanding, but a good vibe and depending on your table, the view is great.
DAY 2
Grab coffee and walk along Moonstone Beach - it’s a really nice walking path.
Borrow a bike from White Water (they have a bunch of beach cruisers for the taking) and bike around Cambria.
Brunch at Hidden Kitchen and explore Cambria’s town.
Walk: Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.
Head home!
HOTEL REVIEW
White Water: a recently renovated roadside motel that is now very chic and well designed. The interiors are beautiful, especially the lobby. It’s a great place to get a drink or light bites, and they have games and books as well. All the staff is really nice and since it is a small hotel, care to get to know you. They even bring coffee and breakfast to your room in the morning.
Cambria Beach Lodge: same owner as White Water. I think it has a similar aesthetic, but White Water is nicer (3-star vs Cambria Beach Lodge’s 2-star).
