Stay, Play, and Sustain: A New Way to Travel
Scratch the surface here and you will discover ways to turn your vacation into an immersive, eyes-wide-open meaningful experience. Sure, you can hike the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve in Cambria, but why not go further and travel for good? Grab a free clean-up kit and lend a hand picking up any litter on the trails. A visit to the Point San Luis Light Station encourages wonder, but why not kayak into a secret beach with a guide before hiking up to the lighthouse? Either way, just by visiting your entry fee helps provide stewardship and preserves this historic landmark! Engaging with locals, you can’t help but fall in love with this remarkable place we call home. Thank You!
Look for this logo
When you see this logo, you can partake in a Travel For Good activity along the Highway 1 Road Trip. Feel good about your travel.
Stewardship Travel for Good
Want to make a difference while on vacation? Make your travel experience more meaningful with the Stewardship Travel for Good program activities along Highway 1. Get involved, create unique memories, and make your vacation more fun. From beach cleanups, trail restoration, museums, and parks tours, your contributions make a difference. Help keep Highway 1 beautiful by participating in sustainable activities while on vacation.
• Feel good about your travel.
• Meet new people.
• Learn from local experts.
• Understand how your donations help.
• Make a difference when you travel.
• Help keep our stretch of Highway 1 beautiful for everyone.
Stewardship Program Awards
Poppy Award winner
Sea Star Award winner
Stewardship Travel for Good Activities
With your help, we can preserve and conserve this special stretch of Highway 1.
A menu of more than 50 attractions along the SLO CAL stretch of Highway 1 offers opportunities for visitors to become better acquainted with our wondrous natural playground. That might mean a solo excursion, family outing, or group event. It might mean that you fill a need ― and fill your heart. Fifty miles of protected coastline, a national marine sanctuary, 13 state parks, a scenic byway, and multiple wildlife preserves provide plenty of ways to start. After all, there’s no better way to connect here than to do good here.
Ways to Become a Highway 1 Steward
Wildlife Viewing
Enjoying the essence of coastal San Luis Obispo County often revolves around our abundant wildlife. From sea otters and snowy plovers to grey whales, elephant seals and Monarch butterflies, many species make their home here, even if briefly ― just another aspect that sets our stretch of Highway 1 apart. When viewing wildlife, there’s no reason to shy away; neither should animals be threatened by human presence. We’ve provided a set of wildlife viewing tips to encourage safe engagement with the creatures we know and love here. Be sure to read through them before any viewing outing.
Learn MoreBack To Nature Tours
Whether it’s a longtime fascination with Western Monarch Butterflies or a new affection for seaweed, traveling our stretch of Highway 1 brings out the nature-lover in just about everyone. Our 100 miles of unspoiled coastline is the stuff dreams are made of, and a good guide can help you make the most of it. Here, we offer a customizable and dynamic Back to Nature Tour that includes experiences for anyone who wants to get in touch with their wild side. Choose your own adventure with options for guided or self-guided tours, wildlife spotting, farm visits, time in the water, history and heritage, scenic adventure, and hands-on stewardship. Then settle in for a journey to the natural wonders of one of the most beloved slices of coastline in the world.
Learn MoreHistory & Heritage Trail
The SLO CAL stretch of Highway 1 is home to nine heritage sites on the Historical National Register, and many other landmarks. This trail is tailored to highlight locales 100 years old or more across 72 miles along our stretch of Highway 1. Walk where Charlie Chaplin once walked, see the coastline from a lighthouse, dine in a sea captain’s home, and stand at the iron doors of the town jailhouse. Embark on the whole trail, or pick and choose the sites you want to visit most.
Learn MoreCoastal Discovery Trail
Our stretch of coastline along Highway 1 boasts incredible riches. Some include a sea otter preserve, whale watching view, migration destinations for elephant seals and Monarch butterflies, and national estuary, to name a few. The Coastal Discovery Trail encourages visitors to dive deep on these treasures that span the coast here.
Stewardship Travel Articles
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Ten Amazing Wildlife Experiences to include on your next Highway 1 Road Trip
There’s no doubt about it—Highway 1 is wild. With Elephant Seals sunbathing, Monarch Butterflies fluttering and seabirds soaring, there’s countless wildlife experiences unfolding along Highway 1’s 100 miles of Pacific coastline.
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Smithsonian Magazine Recognizes Elephant Seal Efforts
From Sarah Kuta at Smithsonian Magazine Volunteers with Friends of the Elephant Seal educate tourists to prevent conflicts, inspire awe and keep the marine mammals safe I hear them long…
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5 Highway 1 Road Trip Beach Cleanups
It feels good to do good! Soak up the sun while diving into Stewardship Traveler for Good activities along awe-inspiring Central Coast beaches this September.
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Ten Adventures this Summer on Highway 1: Your Guide to the Best Kept Secrets
Coast the road less traveled with these Highway 1 hidden gemsThere’s something magical about cruising down Highway 1 in summer: The salty breeze tousling your hair, the sparkling Pacific unfurling like a…
