San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
SPRING BLOOMS BOLDLY ON A HIGHWAY 1 ROAD TRIP
TThe sun is out, and breezes roll effortlessly off the Pacific, across the beaches, and onto the central coast filled with wineries, hiking trails, and points of interest. Whether you prefer to scan the skies for hawks and the rare California condor, pedal along a paved trail with the family, or find a floral explosion during the Superbloom, your Highway 1 Road Trip is calling.
The Superbloom & Spring Birds Are Back!
An inspection of California beaches reveals much more than sand. Uniquely adapted to thrive in an arid, ever-shifting environment, coastal strawberries and other flora appear just above the beach line. Download the Wildflowers on Highway 1 Map and head out to survey a kaleidoscope of color including swaying lupines, seaside daisies, and, of course, waves of California poppies.
Springtime on a Highway 1 Road Trip comes into bloom without having to travel far at all. Anchor your crew in Avila Beach, then head out and back on the 5-mile Bob Jones Trail from town to sea. Dismount to observe migrating songbirds and seek nests of resident sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, and several hummingbird species if you look closely. Claim Point San Luis Lighthouse as your sunset spot. Ready for a break from the beach? Stretch your legs with a hike in Elfin Forest, watch herons hunt for food at Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, or catch a glimpse of foxes, bobcats, and other mammals roaming beneath the Los Osos Oaks.
Back to the Beach
Beach treasure appears in every direction here, and we have your treasure map. Download the Highway 1 Beaches Map to launch your adventure. Head south from the shipwreck below Estero Bluffs to Morro Rock. You’ll encounter tidepools to investigate, potential sea otters, migrating whales, and other marine mammals, juxtaposed
with stunning sunlight and shadows of the granite dome in the distance. Share your images over a sunset beverage on one of many patios located steps from the beach.
The 437-acre Fiscalini Ranch Preserve hides in plain sight just outside of Cambria. It is a trail-rich environment with Monterey pines and wetlands teeming with reptiles and amphibians, just steps from the beach and only a few minutes from the Moonstone Beach boardwalk.
Farther south, Oceano Dunes offers yet another breathtaking sandscape. The largest dune complex in California is also a habitat for an array of coastal wildflowers and the rare snowy plover, which nests each spring in a protected area here.
Whatever beach, meadow, or headland you wish to explore, the California Highway 1 Road Trip will take you there.