Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rockery

Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery is about six miles north of San Simeon. There is a parking lot boardwalks and vista points with seal educational and interpretive signs. Look for the Friends of the Elephant Seals docents in blue windbreakers, they are often there to provide information and answer your questions.

In 1990 less than a dozen elephant seals were counted in a cove just south of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, since that time their population has exploded and now there are way more than a thousand. Most of the elephant seals life is spent in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean but there is always something going on the beach for you to observe and enjoy. Use the elephant seal activity calendar to learn what to expect when you visit.

Monarch Butterfly Migration

Great numbers of the monarch butterflies appear on the Central California Coast starting in late October and a few are still seen as late as February. Late fall also signals the beginning of the monarch mating season. After mating they will continue their migratory journey to find the right place to lay their eggs. They will lay their eggs on milkweed because this is the caterpillars favorite food.

It is delightful the way they will fill the air fluttering all around you but what is really impressive is their habit of gathering together by the thousands to fend off the chill of the evening on Monterey Cypress and Eucalyptus trees. When they do this they can almost completely cover the trees foliage so all that can be seen is solid masses of butterflies.

The Monarchs migration can cover three countries, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and will take three generations to complete. These most amazing creatures can travel 80 miles a day and single insects have been known to travel up to 2,000 miles. Monarch butterflies have also been seen flying up to 4,000 feet high.

Monarchs can be viewed anywhere on the Central Coast that there is a profusion of flowers; they are especially fond of Pride of Madera and Blue Sage.

Whale Watching on the Central Coast, the Pacific Grey Whale Migration

The California Grey Whale migration is generally highest on the central Coast from December through April. December to February the Grey Whales are heading south. They are best viewed in late February when you will see them heading back north to Alaska. When they are migrating north they stay closer to shore and some will be moving slower because they are accompanied by their calves. All the Grey Whales migrate past the Central Coast twice a year; once in late-fall early-winter headed south to Mexico to calve, and again in the late-winter early-spring heading back to Alaska to feed.

Binoculars help but the very best way to enjoy these amazing giants is to take a boat excursion. The closest excursions are offered by Virg's Landing in Morro Bay 805-775-1222.

Area attractions courtesy of Ragged Point Inn and Resort; all distances and drive times are from Ragged Point.
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Leaving Ragged Point heading south to the south through Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, San Simeon Acres, Cambria, Harmony, Cayucos, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo and points south to L.A.:
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Ragged Point is 10 miles north of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse; approximate drive time: 20 minutes. The beautiful Piedras Blancas Light Station just north of Hearst Castle's San Simeon was built in 1875; limited public tours are allowed; reservations are required and all tours leave from the Hearst Castle Visitor Center in San Simeon; call 888-804-8608 for information.

Ragged Point Inn is 9 miles north of Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery. There is a parking lot and vista points with seal educational and interpretive signs. Docents in blue windbreakers are often there to provide information and answer questions. It is only a short drive from here to Hearst Castle's San Simeon.

La Casa del Sol, Hearst Castle Guest House

RPI resort is 15 miles north of Hearst Castle and San Simeon; approximate drive time: 30 minutes. The land bought by George Hearst and the dream house built by his son William Randolph Hearst now the William Randolph Hearst State Monument open to the public. At San Simeon (this is Hearst Castle's San Simeon not to be confused with San Simeon Acres) there is a general store, bed and breakfast, pier, historic safe harbor, California State Beach and numerous buildings of significant historic importance. Most of the north coast beaches are gravel the one at San Simeon is nice soft sand.

The Ragged Point Inn and Resort Hotel is 18 miles north of San Simeon Acres; approximate drive time: 30 minutes. San Simeon Acres is a row of hotels, motels, a few restaurants and souvenir / gift shops, there is good beach access and the San Simeon Chamber of Commerce is also there at 250 San Simeon Drive, Suite 3B, (805) 927-3500.

Ragged Point Inn is 23 miles north of Cambria; approximate drive time: 40 minutes. A quaint village with many hotels, motels, gift shops, and other tourist friendly stuff. In the Cambria area there are miles of accessible beaches, camping, and a California State Park just north of town. Although there are many hotels, motels, lodges, Bed and Breakfasts scattered around Cambria the nicest ones are in a row of hotels and motels on Moonstone Beach. Cambria is about a half hour drive from Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

Our hotel is 27 miles north of Highway 46 East; approximate drive time: 45 minutes. This is the crossover to Highway 101, wine country and destinations east. Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce This turnoff is just south of Cambria a little over a half hours drive from San Simeon.

The Ragged Point Inn and Resort is 30 miles north of Harmony; approximate drive time: 50 minutes. One of the smallest towns in California, population 18; there is an old creamery with art galleries, arts and crafts, pottery, and fine art glass. A small winery, Harmony Cellars overlooks the town.

35 miles south is the town of Cayucos; approximate drive time: 1 hour. A true California Beach Town with all the amenities. It is about a 50 minute drive from Cayucos to Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

45 miles south is the City of Morro Bay; approximate drive time: 1.25 hours. A tourist friendly harbor and fishing village. A crossover highway, Highway 41, also cuts over here for Highway 101 and destinations east. Atascadero Chamber of Commerce It is about an hours drive from Morro Bay to Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

55 miles south is the City of San Luis Obispo; approximate drive time: 1.50 hours. The S.L.O. County seat and college town, California State Polytechnic University, with perfect weather. The closest airport to the Ragged Point Inn and Resort is also here the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. It is over an hours drive from San Luis Obispo to Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

Between San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria is a grouping of delightful California beach towns, Shell Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Oceano are among them. Located just south of San Luis Obispo off Highway 101, a person could explore the attractions in this area for a month and still have missed some hidden jewels. This is a classic California beach area that should at least be sampled; it is most famous for Pismo Clams and their monumental sand dune environments. It offers one of the few places in the U.S. where you can actually camp and ride your A.T.V. right on the beach.

Ragged Point Inn is 85 miles north of Santa Maria; approximate drive time: 2 hours. An exploding inland agricultural and retail shopping center. Santa Maria is about an hour 30 minutes from Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

155 miles south is Santa Barbara; approximate drive time: 3 hours. An old California Mission City, tourist friendly with a nice harbor and sandy beaches. The University of California Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport are here.

The Ragged Point Inn and Resort Hotel is 265 miles north of Los Angeles; approximate drive time: 5.25 hours. This is a big area you probably heard of. The drive from Los Angeles to Hearst Castle at San Simeon takes about 5 hours.

TRY THIS NICE ONE: SloCountyWineries.com