Hi - at the end of May, I%26#39;ll be visiting California with my 7-year-old niece. We will be driving up the coast from Santa Monica to Morro Bay before heading inland to visit family. My question is - is there anywhere along the coast that we can stop to see wildlife? I know that San Diego has places to rent kayaks and see the seals and sea lions, but is that also offered anywhere between Santa Monica and Morro Bay? Are there any little towns where we can stop (I know about Solvang) that a young child would enjoy?
Marine life on the California Coast
About 30+ minutes drive north of Morro Bay, ~10 minutes north of San Simeon is a fantastic colony of elephant seals. If you like animals this is one of the best viewing opportunities for large marine life on the Central Coast.
http://www.elephantseal.org/index.html
Santa Barbara is a good place to stop for a young child. There is an ocean themed playground and a carousel at Chase Palm Park. There is a large playground at Alameda Park.
Renting kayaks is also great at Shell Beach or Morro Bay. Shell Beach is more for intermediates and Morro Bay is better for beginners.
Marine life on the California Coast
Depending on how active your 7 year old is and how much time you have, you might want to consider stopping in Ventura and taking a boat out to the Channel Islands.
From the Channel Island Nation Park Page:
Over 2,000 species of plants and animals can be found within the park. However only four mammals are endemic to the islands. One hundred and forty-five of these species are unique to the islands and found nowhere else in the world. Marine life ranges from microscopic plankton to the endangered blue whale, the largest animal to live on earth.
Visitors to the park may enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, such as SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming, bird watching, kayaking, whale watching, and sailing. On the islands, one may camp, hike, picnic, and explore tide pools, isolated beaches, and rugged canyons. Park naturalists conduct interpretive hikes on the islands throughout the year.
Anacapa is a great island for your first visit; it is the closest island to the mainland (1 ½ hour boat ride) and consists of dramatic, steep cliffs, with hundreds of sea birds and marine mammals. Snorkeling, kayaking, and diving are all excellent in the rich kelp beds around Anacapa.
Companies providing transportation to the islands
Public transportation to the park islands is available year-round by three park concessionaires.
Island Packers (805) 642-1393 e-mail; for boat travel departing from Ventura and Channel Islands Harbors to all of the islands.
Truth Aquatics (805) 962-1127, info@truthaquatics.com ; for boat travel departing from Santa Barbara Harbor to all of the islands.
Channel Islands Aviation (805) 987-1301, cia@flycia.com ; for air travel to Santa Rosa Island.
Unfortunately all the Elephant seals will have returned to sea by the end of this month. So, don%26#39;t drive up there for that. I highly recommend the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History - created just for 7 year olds.
Also, the kayaking is great for beginners in Morro Bay as someone else said. And quite inexpensive.
I always tell people with children to stop in Pismo. The boardwalk is always full of people and lots of shops and great food to take out on the beach with you. It%26#39;s an old beach town, with a huge beach.
There is a Dune Center in Oceano as well as the Pismo Nature Center - both state park facilties with much for children to do.
In Montana de Oro state park, 10 minutes south of Morro Bay, there is an old Ranch House with a LIving History program the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month I believe at 11:00 AM. Great program. And you can go tide pooling at the right time of day in Corralina Cove in Md%26#39;O. Just ask a docent at the Ranch House.
If you go to Catalina Island,(take a ferry from Long Beach to Avalon)there%26#39;s a seal rocks cruise and undersea tour. I%26#39;d say though this is an old day excursion to explore the island and it%26#39;s surroundings.
www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/Tours.php
The sea lions have also returned to Newport Beach
usatoday.com/tech/science/2005-10-02-sea-lio…
You and your child could be spellbound by the elephant seals in the 100%26#39;s (moms and pups) covering the beach at a designated viewing area between San Simeon and Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. North a little distance from Morro Bay if you want to make that jaunt before turning inland. I just returned from there on Friday, 5/12 and was totally thrilled.
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