Holland Inn

ONE PADDLE, TWO PADDLE, NO MORE

by travelgourmet

Spending some time in Morro Bay and want something different to do? Maybe, you already know about doing it. So, give it a go and go paddle a kayak at KAYAK HORIZONS in the Embarcadero area. They have been around long enough to know what you need as to the equipment and degree of experience from beginner to advanced that may require a short lesson in how to paddle, free of charge. They have the kayak that fits your needs. Prices may vary, but a basic single is $9 per hour and a basic double is $12 per hour. Half day rentals get a great break in price. All gear and equipment is provided by Kayak Horizons as well as a safety talk.

The Museum of Natural History

by Yaqui

Built in the 1960's this musuem has kept up with times by building additions. We made sure we checked out this musuem when we were here. It has some really wonderful dispays that teaches everyone of the local wildlife and fauna. Not to mention the lovely veiw it has also. Lots of local school children come here to learn about protecting the environment.

Entry fees are $2 for adults and free to children 16 and under. The Museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

The seconed place my geology...

by elighadams

The seconed place my geology class visited was called Montana De Oro. it was a quit little beach far from any cities. there, we explored rocks and many of us learned what poisen oak looked like. this place was unique in the fact that it has very distinctive wave cuts. Wave cuts reresent the old sea cliffs that are still present today. there you can sea the present wave cliff and about three others. they look like steps going up the mountain side.
there were also some beautiful tide pools.

Big Lump of Rock

by npsdguy

"Picturesque town by the sea"

Morro Bay is a great little seaside town with a small tidal port for a handful of fishing and leisure boats. We've stayed here a couple of times on coastal road trips. There are plenty of seafood restaurants to choose from and lots of small gift shops, they even have a small aquarium which is fun to visit.
If you're lucky and walking along the quayside, you might see some sea otters floating on their backs, either snoozing or munching on sea urchins. Also, there are numerous sealions swimming about, especially when the fishing boats are in port!
The bay is defined by a huge lump of rock that is the remains of an ancient volcanic plug, now home to many seagulls!

"Sea Otters"

We saw some sea otters playing in the bay near the large rock. We had gotten up early and were walking off our breakfasts before heading on up the coast to Hearst Castle. The bay was still-calm and a couple of sea otters were cleaning and preening themselves in the water near some rocks, close enough that we could get some pictures!

The Bay, The Rock and The Power Station

by johngayton

After the urban sprawl of San Diego and Los Angeles, Morro Bay was pure pleasure! Even the power station overlooking the bay, sitting almost on the Embarcadero, has a certain majestic presence despite its ludicrous incongruousness.

For a seaside resort city of over 10,000 inhabitants the place has a "village" feel to it and being early May wasn't overwhelmed by tourists - this is great little place:)

Situated about midway between LA and San Francisco, Morro Bay marks the beginning of the coastal section of Highway 1, heading north from San Luis Obispo. This is a relatively new city, having only achieved city status in 1964 (the population in 1939 having been around 400!), but manages to have a much older character and for its location is surprisingly undeveloped - I think local ordinance prohibits buildings over 3 stories. The main industry, apart from tourism, is fishing and it claims to be the busiest fishing port on the central California coast.

Of course being a working fishing port Morro boasts some excellent fish restaurants. Locals are friendly and there are some great bars - there's even a little brewery. Despite being set up as a tourist destination, hotel prices are pretty reasonable (especially in May!).

Poor old Morro Rock is the last of the series of "Nine Sisters", all of volcanic origins (the word "Morro" meaning pebble in Spanish). Since the late 1800's the rock was continually quarried for use as building stone, including the construction of the breakwater at Port San Luis Obispo and, ironically, to provide the material for the jetty linking itself to the mainland. The rock is home to many bird species including the Peregrine Falcon and since 1968 has been protected by being designated a State Landmark (no 821).

The Duke Energy power plant (formerly owned by Pacific Gas and Electricity) contributed majorly to the development of the city both as an employer and as a major local tax contributor.

As a building it initially strikes one as a bit of an out-of-place monostrosity. To me though it does seem somehow to fit - its three 450ft stacks and its simple blockhouse main structure having a simple elegance.

At present there are plans to demolish the plant and replace it with a more modern unit with smaller stacks and a less visible prescence but these plans are subject to local objections and, at the time of writing, seem to be in abeyance.