One Of California's Cutest Beach Towns Is A Hidden Village With Stunning Gemstone Shores

There is nothing more carefree than a drive up the California coast. You've got the ocean on one side of you for miles and miles. The weather is perfect more often than not, and while cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego are wonderful, there are charming little beach towns dotted along the way that are ideal for a vacation stop. One of the cutest is the little hidden village of Cambria, right along California's Central Coast. It's just a 15-minute drive south of the famous Hearst Castle and a bit over two hours northwest of Santa Barbara. The town itself is a haven for artists, with galleries, charming shops, and dining spots. However, one of its loveliest draws is Moonstone Beach, where colorful stones give the shoreline a gemlike look.

While California has plenty of hidden beaches along its coast, Cambria's Moonstone Beach is an unusual one. Around two miles from downtown, this "gemstone" beach features smooth stones in all sorts of colors. While they're not actually moonstones, they include chalcedony, agates, jasper, quartz, and other rocks. You can take great pictures, but leave the rocks behind: California State Parks prohibits removing rocks from state property, including the parts of Moonstone Beach within Hearst San Simeon State Park. The beach also has a seal-viewing deck where you can watch the adorable animals, and labeled spots to look for whales. (You may also see surfers riding the waves.) With the proper fishing license, you can do some rock and surf fishing, look for sea creatures in the beach's tide pools, or enjoy the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk. This 2-mile out-and-back boardwalk is ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible.

The town of Cambria feels lost in time and is a joy to explore. If you're up for some shopping, make sure you visit some of the art galleries in town. Ephraim Pottery West Coast Gallery on Main Street carries pottery and work from local artists and sits in a photo-worthy building with a pretty cupola. The Vault Gallery, also on Main Street in an old bank building, showcases sculpture, paintings, photographs, and holds exhibitions and book signings. For more browsing, Lucia Apothecary has bath and body products like body wash, perfumes, and scrubs, while Verde of Cambria sells teas and honey. Stash Local Goods sells gifts and local items like Cambria mugs, picnic snacks like jerky, jams, and kettle corn, and even candy to fuel your exploration.

If you're ready to dine, check out The Sow's Ear. This restaurant on Main Street is open for dinner and serves dishes like lobster corn dogs with shrimp mousse and a roasted jalapeño cornbreading, Sow's Ear Macaroni and Cheese, and chicken-fried steak. You can also hit Linn's, whose roots date to 1977. It's best known for its olallieberry products, especially the Olallieberry Pie, which was featured on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." In addition to featured dishes like pot pies and the Ollieberry Burger, you can get classic breakfast omelets, lunch items like Dungeness crab melt, quiche, and polenta with roasted vegetables, and visit their gift shop. If you want to do some wine tasting, Cutruzzola Vineyards has a tasting room on Main Street that's open every day but Tuesday and is walk-in, kid-, and dog-friendly.

Cambria's Hearst San Simeon State Park is one of the oldest state parks in the California State Park System, offering camping, swimming, hiking, and fishing. It also has picnic spots, restrooms, and boat-launch access. Less than 10 miles north of the campground, just above Cambria, is the Piedras Blancas Northern Elephant Seal Rookery. It's free to visit, and you can see elephant seals year-round, with pupping season peaking in late January. I've been here several times, and it's spectacular to see these creatures. However, if the wind is blowing in from the shore, there is a powerful scent, so be warned. The viewing platform is wheelchair accessible, parking is plentiful, and no drones are allowed. There are no restrooms, though, so plan ahead.

You can find more outdoor beauty at the 437-acre Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, where you can walk along ocean bluff trails or through the forest. It's free to visit and open every day from dawn until dusk, and just within walking distance from town (under 2 miles). The preserve houses over 400 types of birds, and you might even see whales and otters from the bluffs.

The closest major airport to Cambria is San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP), around 39 miles away, and it's worth stopping in the hidden-gem town of San Luis Obispo while you're there. If you're looking for a bigger airport, Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) in Fresno is around 146 miles away. However, if you're flying into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), visiting Cambria is a good excuse for a road trip up the coast. Cambria is about 4.5 hours away, and there are plenty of beautiful places to stop along the way on Pacific Coast Highway.