Family Owned and Operated Ocean-View Inn with Dog-Friendly Rooms

Situated just steps from the Pacific Ocean, the AAA Three Diamond–rated Cambria Shores Inn has unbeatable views of the water everywhere you turn. Take a seat in the adirondack chairs on the landscaped lawn to enjoy a sunset, or wander down the boardwalk to Moonstone Beach itself, just a few steps away. Cambria’s location nearly equidistant from Los Angeles and San Francisco make it the perfect spot a day trip.

The comfy, modern guest rooms are equipped with fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, and DVD players—feel free to borrow a flick from the more than 200 titles in the DVD library. To unwind, you can relax in your own soaking tub or opt for a relaxing massage or facial at Illuminate Spa and Boutique.

Each morning at 8 a.m., the innkeepers deliver a breakfast basket to your doorstep. It comes with fruit, fresh-baked pastries, and a carafe of orange juice. The Cambria Shores Inn gladly accommodates dogs ($15 fee per dog), though several rooms are set aside for those who don’t have dogs or have pet allergies.

Cambria, California: Coastal Village with Art Galleries, Beachfront Hikes, and Elephant Seals

The coastal town of Cambria lies about 10 miles south of San Simeon, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Though the village is small, it has a host of attractions, including 30 art galleries in the downtown area and an oceanfront boardwalk at Moonstone Beach, a popular beach in town. For an invigorating hike, head to Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, where a seaside hiking trail skirts coastal bluffs. About 14 miles north, elephant seals congregate along the wide beaches of the Piedras Blancas elephant-seal rookery. Piedras Blancas is a prime location for the massive mammals, as its sandy shores and shallow rocky areas provide shelter from storms, high tides, and predators.

Just a few miles away lies the famed Hearst Castle, the enormous estate that once belonged to newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. The building took more than 25 years to complete, has more than 150 elaborate rooms, and houses an astounding collection of Spanish and Italian art and antiques. Numerous tours crisscross the 127-acre estate throughout the day, acquainting visitors with the grand rooms, cottages, kitchens, and libraries wallpapered with Hearst’s collection of Family Circus comic strips.

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