Today we're heading out on a luxury motor yacht with Sanctuary Cruises for a private whale watching charter. This is one of the top orca and whale watching companies in Moss Landing in Central California, providing group and private tours of the Monterey Bay. We'll encounter all kinds of marine wildlife up close, including orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, dolphins, sea lions, and sea birds.
Read MoreCurrently there are 16,000 western monarch butterflies at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove along CA Highway 1. If you're wondering where to see monarchs in California, this butterfly colony is one of the largest in the state and can be enjoyed every November thru February during the monarch winter migration. This is one of my top things to do in Pismo Beach & along the central coast.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie hotel review on Lucia Lodge along the Big Sur coastline. Located along Pacific Coast Highway 1, aka Cabrillo Highway, this Big Sur hotel is a great place to stay when taking a road trip along California's central coast. This week I'm reviewing the Honeymoon Cottage, Room # 10, which is one of the original cabins built 100 years ago with a panoramic ocean view.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting the Golden Gate Overlook in the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Located in the San Fran Headlands, this popular viewpoint of the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the top things to do in the Bay Area because of the straight on views of the bridge and its access to hiking & biking trails, which take you beside old SF military ruins & beaches.
Read MoreThis week we're celebrating the start of Spring by heading up the California coastline into Big Sur. We'll discover my top 12 highlights, including spots like Limekiln State Park, McWay Falls, Bixby Creek Bridge, and Treebones Resort.
Read MoreToday we're exploring the grounds of the Adamson House in sunny Malibu, CA. A part of the California State Park System, this historic structure and museum are a beautiful spot to learn about Los Angeles and Malibu history and enjoy some local art and architecture. Here we'll enjoy some great views of the Malibu Pier and Lagoon, as surfers that frequent this popular beach.
Read MoreMcWay Falls along Highway 1 is one of the most magical waterfalls in all of Big Sur, California. Located 35 miles south of Carmel inside of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park along the central coast, this 80 foot waterfall is actually a tide fall during high tide (meaning it pours directly into the Pacific Ocean).
Read MoreToday we’re heading into Big Sur in the Los Padres National Forest to the Pacific Valley Bluff Trail just 16 miles north of Ragged Point. Just north of Treebones Resort, Sand Dollar Beach, & Jade Cove, this easy hike provides fields of wildflowers and California poppies, as well as views of sea stacks and the rugged central coastline.
Read MoreToday we're hiking the steep trail down to Young Creek Beach to view Black Swift Falls near Ragged Point Inn and Resort. This short but strenuous hike offers magnificent views of the waterfall and California's Big Sur coastline.
Read MoreToday we're reviewing the Autonomous Tent at Treebones Resort on the southern edge of Big Sur. Treebones is a premier Big Sur glamping resort unlike any hotel you've stayed in. Offering unique accommodations, such as yurts, a human nest, and a treehouse, Treebones is truly an eco resort, honoring the coastal land and habitat it sits on.
Read MoreToday we're exploring Garrapata State Park along Cabrillo Highway in Big Sur, California. This central coast Highway 1 destination is filled with picturesque rocky shorelines, hiking trails, wildlife, and redwood trees.
Read MoreToday we're exploring sea caves below Dinosaur Caves Park and Margo Dodd Park in Pismo Beach, California. This rugged coastline in the Shell Beach community is perfect for kayaking, snorkeling, and bird watching.
Read MoreToday we're heading out along the central coast to one of the largest state parks in California, Montana de Oro State Park. Located just 6 miles southwest of Morro Bay near San Luis Obispo, CA, this park boasts a unique habitat that covers over 8,000 acres, including 7 miles of rich shoreline with 3 unique beaches and vibrant tide pools.
Read MoreLocated inside Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach, El Matador is one of Malibu's most beautiful "not so secret" hidden gems. From striking 100 foot sheer cliff-top views to towering sea stacks, this is a magical beach.
Read MoreToday we're exploring San Carpoforo Creek Beach in Hearst San Simeon State Park at the base of the Big Sur coastline of central California. Just a short drive from Ragged Point Inn and the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, this hidden gem features rugged cliffs, sea caves, a lagoon, and wildlife.
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