Blog

Montaña de Oro State Park This park features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. Naturalists and backpackers enjoy the solitude and freedom found along the park’s trails. There are also mountain biking and equestrian trails. The best-known beach is Spooner’s Cove, across from the campground. The […]

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery The Northern Elephant Seal migrates thousands of miles twice each year, from the open oceans to a land-based rookery, where it breeds, births, molts, and rests between trips. The Piedras Blancas rookery, on Highway 1, seven miles north of San Simeon is home to about 15,000 animals. The area is […]

Hearst Castle’s Majestic Tours Hearst Castle – in 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased 40,000-acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of Piedras Blancas, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown to […]

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Once the exclusive purview of the Chumash and Salinian Native American tribes, this breathtaking stretch of seaside bluff is now permanently protected from development. Thanks to the American Land Conservancy and the local chapter of SWAP (Small Wilderness Area Preservation), a favorite one-mile trail along the restless Pacific Ocean welcomes pedestrians, horseback […]

Central Coast Aquarium The mission of the Central Coast Aquarium is to cultivate a community dedicated to ocean stewardship. The Aquarium was born from a passion for the sea and community and is committed to providing opportunities centered around education, engagement and action. Based in Avila Beach, the center expands the aquarium visit by offering […]

Swinging Bridge Although not part of the Historical Society properties, the Swinging Bridge is an interesting historic site in Arroyo Grande. The only one of its kind in California, it is in the middle of town in an area known as “The Village.” The bridge is 171 feet long and swings 40 feet above the Arroyo Grande Creek. […]

Historic Huasna Township Drive The Huasna Valley is known for its prime farmland, supporting both fruit orchards and crops of vegetables, berries, flowers and herbs.  Huasna is located 20 minutes from the town of Arroyo Grande on the California Central Coast.  Vegetables grown in the Huasna area can be found every week at the local […]

Lopez Lake Recreational Area Lopez Lake Recreation Area, located just ten miles east of Arroyo Grande, is one of the top choices for camping, leisure trips and interpretive hikes and boating with Rangers. With 22 miles of shoreline and summer lake temperatures around 70, there is something for everyone; camping, fishing, boating, skiing, sailing, windsurfing, picnicking, hiking and […]

Avila Valley Barn Avila Valley Barn – While the rest of the world celebrates the harvest in autumn, the rich bounty of the earth lasts all year round at the Avila Valley Barn. Ripe peaches, juicy berries, crisp apples, and a cornucopia of locally grown vegetables are displayed in baskets and crates inside an open […]

Point San Luis Lighthouse Point San Luis Lighthouse – in 1867 President Andrew Johnson issued an executive order directing the Department of the Interior “to take the necessary steps to cause the reservation for Light House purposes of an area of land at Point San Luis.” The first pier at Port San Luis was built the next […]