Family fun abounds on Highway 1! When the whole gang’s ready for adventure, head for our special slice of California coastline. Here, kids of all ages are encouraged to explore, play and learn—all backdropped by pristine beaches, historic lighthouses and awesome eats. Whether you pack the station wagon, woody or minivan, you’re on your way to epic outdoor fun, thrilling wildlife viewing and memories to last a lifetime. If togetherness is your goal, we’re your best stop. Everyone can agree on this road trip. Hop in and let’s roll!
Make new animal friends
Bring a pair of binoculars and find unexpected coastal critters along Highway 1
Dolphins, seabirds and otters, oh my!
Sea life thrives along Highway 1’s diverse terrain. Simply take a quick look around! Keep an eye out for dolphins at play in Pismo Beach surf, Sea Otters lounging in Morro Bay and seabirds soaring high through the Cayucos sky. Each winter, whales also make an appearance along the coast, inspiring awe in even our littlest visitors. Follow our handy Highway 1 Whale Trail for the best places to catch a massive fluke, breach or spout!
See the seals
Say hello to Highway 1’s famous elephant seals. With unique, trunk-like noses, they’re fun to observe at the The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon. Get your wiggles out and watch these captivating creatures from a free, accessible viewing point. Depending on the season, you might see males challenge each other or even witness a birth! Got questions about these behemoth beasts? Head to the on-site Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center, where helpful docents are on-hand to educate all ages.
Tide pool exploration provides hours of fun along Highway 1. At Montaña de Oro State Park in Los Osos, each tide pool is a universe unto itself, complete with a cast of colorful characters. Visit during low tide, when receding waves reveal starfish, urchin, sea anemone, crabs and even gelatinous sea slugs. Another great place to pool your efforts? Morro Strand Beach (north of Yerba Buena Street), Cayucos Beach (South of Ocean Front and D Streets), Shell Beach (off the rocky reefs), and in Cambria, at the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes with a good grip and take care along slippery, rocky terrain.
A trip to the aquarium
Kids splash into a fascinating undersea world at the Central Coast Aquarium in Avila Beach. Offering an up-close-and-personal brush with coastal wildlife, the museum’s saltwater touch-tank contains bumpy starfish, slippery seaweed and a host of aquatic friends. Here, young ones are encouraged to explore, play and learn how to help conserve precious ocean life for the next generation. Be sure to check out the aquarium’s online schedule for an array of public events, including special celebrations and educational spotlights.
Travel for Good
Stewardship Travel for Good
Keeping Highway 1’s marine life happy isn’t just easy—it’s fun! Check out our Stewardship Travel for Good program for enriching kid-friendly activities all along Highway 1. Beach cleanups, trail restoration projects, museum offerings and park tours: whatever your involvement, it helps in a big way. Roll up your sleeves and create unique memories at the same time. The best part? Your family will have made its own special mark on our coastal wildlife habitats. We thank you in advance for your support!
Go seaweed foraging
Forage for your own wild snacks in the tidepools of Cayucos. We’re talking about Marley Family Seaweeds, the family-owned tour company designed to get you and the kiddos hunting for tasty wakame and nori. Splash into a whole new way to dine and learn about edible seaweed spices and sustainability all at the same time! In case you were wondering, each tour includes some scrumptious tasting opportunities for everyone to enjoy.
Join the crew
Family members are transformed into seafarers and scallywags with thrilling adventures along the docks.
Discover a shipwreck
Cayucos’ scenic Estero Bluffs trail is more than a manageable coastal outing for the whole family. There’s mysterious secrets buried in the sand just waiting to be uncovered! In fact, little sea captains have the unique chance to discover a real life shipwreck while exploring this breezy trail perched above the Pacific. Spy the wreckage from the trail or head down to the cove below. Playtime is even more exciting with a shipwreck surrounded by shimmering tide pools!
Kayak together
Along Highway 1, the family that paddles together, giggles together. Jump in a kayak and tour the mysterious waters surrounding Pismo Beach’s Dinosaur Caves Park. Discover ancient rock formations, captivating sea caves and local wildlife waiting around every bend. Afterward, enjoy the 11-acre, ocean-front, bluff-top Dinosaur Caves Park, complete with playground and jungle gym. Stay for sunset, the perfect family photo opp.
Stand on water
Highway 1 is a great place to learn how to Stand Up Paddle board (SUP) for the first time. What’s SUP? Kids and grown ups will get a kick out of the activity, which allows you to glide along the ocean’s surface. Try SUPing in Avila Beach and Baywood Park, where the ocean is calm and panoramic views are fantastic.
Play pierside
Highway 1’s many piers offer so much more than an afternoon stroll. Cast a fishing line off the Cayucos Pier, enjoy a bite to eat at the Harford/Port San Luis Pier, watch the surfers hang ten along the Pismo Beach Pier or keep vigil for traveling whales at the scenic San Simeon Bay Pier. No matter what time of year you roadtrip through HIghway 1, it’s always an excellent time to walk the plank.
Make history
Little historians time-travel along Highway 1’s historic lighthouses and museums.
Illuminating lighthouses
Highway 1’s historic lighthouses have sparked imagination and wonder for generations. Sign up for a tour of the Piedras Blancas Light Station in San Simeon and explore the Fog Signal Building lighthouse lower level. Tours include a half mile trail of easy walking at your own pace (be sure to bring binoculars to better enjoy views of elephant seals and other wildlife). Another lighthouse excursion worth shining light on? Kayak back in time to the Point San Luis Light Station in Avila Beach, a favorite among locals and visitors. Launch from the Harford Pier and enjoy an easy paddle to a truly stunning locale. From this historic vantage point, enjoy the lighthouse grounds, ocean views and even a secret rope swing jutting out over the Pacific.
Do the Dana Adobe
Looking for a Highway 1 history lesson that breathes new life into our storied landscape? Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Dana Adobe Cultural Center in Nipomo, a fascinating relic of early California Rancho history. Nearby, kiddos will marvel at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, one of the largest remaining dune complexes in the state. The Dunes Visitor Center showcases this landscape’s fascinating heritage, including Hollywood movie magic and compelling Bohemian lore. Plus: your family can actually ride along the sand, either by horse or ATV!
Chug into the Oceano Train Depot
Highway 1’s Oceano Train Depot unites avid train enthusiasts and little conductors alike. Here, grandfather and grandkid come together to marvel at the museum’s artifacts, complete with miniature working trains and time-worn railroad equipment.
Stroll the school house
Freely explore a historic Highway 1 school house, complete with desks and old fashioned learning materials. Located in the family friendly Village of Arroyo Grande, the one-room Santa Manuela Schoolhouse is nestled along a babbling creek and ancient swinging footbridge. Trek bravely along this quivering route suspended above the water for a real thrill for the books. Afterward, be sure to keep an eye out for roaming chickens who call the Village home!
Find Harmony
You won’t ever want to leave Harmony, Highway 1’s tiniest and happiest town. This delightful storybook road stop is famous for its glass blowers and miniature post office. Check out a hanging frame photo opp and tour the cozy chapel where folks still get hitched today. Just look for the “Population: 18” sign off the highway and try not to blink—this hidden hamlet is hard to forget, easy to miss.
Let’s eat!
The pickiest eaters will love these famous foods along Highway 1. Plus, after-meal playtime is never far from reach!
Chowder’s on at Splash Cafe
Highway 1 is known for excellent clam chowder—and Splash Cafe’s is world famous for a reason! Dig into a hot sourdough bread bowl at this Pismo Beach institution to taste why. Nearby, witness the wonder of Mother Nature at the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, ground zero for fluttering butterflies (look to the Eucalyptus branches for an astounding sight).
Ocean views at Schooner’s
Feed the whole family at Schooners in Cayucos, a tried-and-true local fave. Serving up fresh seafood, steaks, fish and chips and burgers since 1993, this casual, family-friendly restaurant is known for its unrivaled ocean views. With indoor and outdoor dining options and a nautical-theme, even the kids will appreciate the whimsical atmosphere. For the adults, wine, beer and cocktails make a great pairing alongside an ocean sunset.
Tasty treats at Brown Butter Cookie Co.
Salty sweet perfection comes straight from the oven at Brown Butter Cookie Co. in Cayucos. Here, shortbread cookies make a warm and tasty mid-day treat. After everyone’s sweet tooth is satisfied, hit the sandy Cayucos Beach playground for a little extra hang time by the water.
Seafood for all at Custom House
Pull up a chair at Custom House, Avila Beach’s modern coastal hangout overlooking the sand. You can’t go wrong, no matter your order (but take it from us: the flaky fish and chips are out of this world). Nearby, Pirate Park & Playground provides a memorable after dinner romp.
Cruise to Rock N Roll Diner
Kids will love the retro-styled train car environs of the Rock N Roll Diner in Oceano—plus, the milk shakes and grilled cheese aren’t bad either! Nearby, rev your engines along the surf and kick up some sand. Yes, families are invited to hop on an ATV for a high-octane spin along Oceano’s moon-like dunescape.
Juicy finds at Jocko’s Steakhouse
Slide into a table at Jocko’s, Nipomo’s world famous old fashioned steakhouse. Santa Maria-style barbecue cooked over fragrant oak coals is the staple here, but kiddos can just as easily savor a burger and fries. Nearby, Nipomo Regional Park offers up a relaxed play area with slides, jungle gym and more to let off excess steam.
Stop at Sebastian’s General Store
Heading to Hearst Castle and hankering for a quick lunch? Stop at Sebastian’s General Store, located along Highway 1 in San Simeon and adjoining Hearst Ranch Winery tasting room. Delicious french fries and made-to-order American grub make for an easy, crowd-pleasing lunch everyone can agree on. Nearby, hidden treasure awaits when kids hunt for moonstones on Moonstone Beach in Cambria.
Taste the Spoon Trade
Serving upgraded American fare and creative local ingredients, Grover Beach’s Spoon Trade is a great win-win for kids and parents, too. Enjoy a modern twist on the comfort classics they love plus an extensive drinks menu to boot. Afterward, allow us to take the keys: Pile into a Hummer and embark on an off-road dunes adventure provided by Pacific Adventure Tours in Oceano.
Classic comfort at Apple Farm
Time-honored flavors hit the spot at Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo. A cozy family-friendly restaurant, inn and gift shop, you’ll savor recipes just like grandma used to make (with a wine country twist parents can appreciate). Nearby, ride the historic trolley down Monterey Street to downtown. Your destination? The interactive SLO Children’s Museum, located adjacent to scenic SLO Creek.
See you on the road!
There’s no doubt about it: Highway 1 is a fantastic family-friendly playground on the Pacific. From whales and wine to exciting outdoor excursions and historical sites, there’s always more to discover just around the bend. Ready to wow the kids? A world of coastal wonder awaits. Where will your next family Highway 1 road trip take you?
