Is Morro Bay vacation on your radar? I can guarantee you that no one can give you a better advice on things to do in Morro Bay than us. We live in San Luis Obispo County half of the year, just 30 min away from Morro Bay and we have explored the area extensively from East to West and North to South. Forget the weekend wonderers and random vacationers – locals know best! 🙂
In the many months that we spent in San Luis Obispo County we managed to discover lots of hidden gems, fun and educational Morro Bay attractions, festivals and other Morro Bay activities and thus we were able to put together the extensive guide for you on things to do in Morro Bay bellow. Since we are a travel family we put an emphasis on things to do in Morro Bay with kids.
But let us take a step back and talk about what IS Morro Bay. Morrow Bay is a small seaside town on California’s Central Coast roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Since both Los Angeles and San Francisco are located on the coast with lots of great beach towns nearby, Morro Bay attracts less tourists and that’s one of the big reasons we love it. Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, for instance, are choked with people on the weekends coming from San Francisco while Morro Bay is relatively peaceful.
In my list of things to do in Morro Bay below I tried to put together activities and attractions for everyone, whether you like hiking, water activities, museums, wildlife viewing and more.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #1 Hiking
Hiking is one of the top things to do in Morro Bay because there are so many hiking trails in and around town for all levels of abilities. Most of them have phenomenal views. And best of all – all these hiking locations that I will describe below are free of charge, you don’t pay for entrance or parking fee! Here is the list of our most favorite hiking trails in Morrow Bay.
Walk to the Morro Rock
Morro Rock is a symbol of Morro Bay so it is one place you cannot miss. The hike to Morro Rock can be as long or as short as you would like it to be. Most people park somewhere along the Coleman Dr. (free parking along the street) and then walk on the paved path along the road. It is a super easy hike, accessible, and great for strollers.
Morro Bay State Park
Morro Bay State Park is an interesting place because it has 2 locations not connected with each other. One is on the “mainland” and the other on a small peninsula between the Bay and the ocean. I like this Park because there are different habitats you can observe here while hiking: marshes, sand dunes, eucalyptus groves, etc. It is also a great place for wildlife viewing (see my Tip #4 Wildlife Viewing below for details)
Effin Forest
Effin Forest is located in Los Osos, a small beach town bordering Morro Bay. I cannot describe it any better than to say that it is like a magical forest. The main gem of this forest is pigmy oak grove, this is a grove of a unique form of Coast Live Oak that does not grow taller than 12 ft. I have never seen oaks like this before – the whole scenery seems to be as if from a fairy tale where a mean witch turned mighty oaks into dwarfs by a her magic spell.
But pigmy oaks is just a part of the forest – you can also find some native flowers here as well as beautiful flowering bushes. I strongly suggest hiking in Effin Forest at the end of winter or beginning of spring so that you could see all these amazing blooms.
Montana de Oro State Park
Montana de Oro State Park is located in Los Osos as well, a short drive from Morrow Bay. It is a big Park sprawling on the towering bluffs above the ocean. There are so many hiking trails here that one visit certainly won’t be enough. My favorite trail in the Park is the Bluff trail where you can see amazing ocean vistas as well as carpets of California poppies in spring.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #2 Beach Time
Since this coastal town is located right on the Pacific Ocean, beach time just had to be on my list of things to do in Morro Bay. There are many beaches in and around Morro Bay. The one thing you need to know is that there are Bay beaches sheltered from the ocean and the beaches that are facing the Pacific directly.
The most famous ocean facing beach is Morro Rock Beach followed by Morro Strand State Beach. The best sheltered beaches are probably in Morro Bay State Park, one next to Fairbanks Point and one one at the sand dunes across the bay but you need a kayak to get there.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #3 Kayaking
Kayaking is my personal most favorite thing to do in Morro Bay. I love kayaking in general but it is a truly special experience in Morro Bay because when you kayak in this Bay you are pretty much guaranteed encounters with sea otters. It is also a great location to kayak with kids because the Bay is protected from the ocean. Finally, the prices to rent kayaks in Morro Bay are the most affordable of any other kayaking destinations I have visited in Northern and Central California so far.
There are a couple of spots in Morro Bay where you can rent kayaks, we typically go to Rock Kayak Co.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #4 Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife viewing is the one thing to do in Morro Bay that you simply can’t miss. You can have amazing wildlife encounters in Morro Bay while hiking, kayaking, on a boat tour or simply strolling in town.
Sea Otters
Who doesn’t like sea otters? Unfortunately they are endangered and there are not many places where you can see them in the wild. Morro Bay is one of the locations where they live permanently and breed too. You can observe sea otters in the bay while kayaking, taking a boat tour but also just walking along the Bay.
The best two places to see sea otter from shore are:
1. Next to Morro rock, on the Bay side
2. At their nursery location at the Morro Bay T Pier. If you are lucky you will be able to see baby otters at the nursery, typically in spring and summer.
Whales
Morro Bay is blessed by its location. Different species of whales can be observed close to Morro Bay at different times of the year. Grey whales are migrating along the California coast from December to March. Humpback and blue whales come to feed here in summer.
The best way to do whale watching in Morro Bay is to book a whale watching tour that will take you into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean to see these magnificent creatures. Check out Morro Bay Whale Watching for more details.
Below is the calendar of best times to see different whales in Morro Bay area and some dolphins (the darker the blue stripe, the better the chance):
Birds
Morro Bay is a Mecca for sea birds. Here you can see many pelicans, egrets, herons, cormorants and many other species. The best places to observe the majority of these birds are on the Bay (while kayaking or on a boat trip) and around it, during the hikes in the marshes (boardwalks).
As a side note, you may find a Heron Rookery Natural Preserve on the map of Morro Bay in the vicinity of Morro Bay State Park. We visited it twice and we never saw more than a couple birds there. May be it was a popular birding spot earlier and now birds moved elsewhere, I don’t know for sure, but this is one place I wound not recommend wasting your time on.
Monarch Butterflies
Monarch butterflies come to winter in coastal California from November to February. They typically love to spend their time in sheltered eucalyptus groves. In Morro Bay area you can see these beautiful creatures in Coastal Access Monarch Butterfly Preserve in Los Osos (2-98 Monarch Ln, Los Osos, CA 93402).
Please, note that when it is cold outside monarchs huddle together with their wings closed so it is hard to see them even though there are thousands of them up in the trees. The best time to observe these butterflies is on warm sunny days after 11 am.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #5 Exploring Local Museums
There are a couple of great museums in Morro Bay that we absolutely love. I definitely suggest putting them on you list of this to do in Morro Bay, especially if you travel with kids.
Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History is relatively small but it has lots of things to explore. I love their outdoor whale exhibits (real bones!) and fantastic views of Morro Bay. Inside they have educational exhibits focused on flora and fauna of the area with a strong conservation theme throughout. Our kids absolutely loved all hands-on activities at the Museum.
Museum of Natural History is part of Morrow Bay State Park and it is located at 20 State Park Rd, Morro Bay, CA 93442.
Morro Bay Maritime Museum
Another museum in Morro Bay that I find really interesting is Morro Bay Maritime Museum. Most of its amazing exhibits are outdoors – real boats and submersibles. And the new exhibition has just been unveiled this year specifically for children – Kids Cove. Here kids can do some fun hands on activities like learning to tie sailor knots and explore centuries old canons from a tall ship.
Morro Bay Maritime Museum is open on weekends and the entrance is FREE of charge. In pre-covid times, if there were volunteers available when you visit, they were super happy to do a tour of the exhibits for you. It was such a fun and educational experience! I hope they are doing it again now that covid restrictions are less strict – just inquire inside the main building when you arrive.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #6 Fishing
Fishing is a great activity to enjoy in Morro Bay. If you fish from the beach you will need a license but you don’t need one if you fish from a pier. Try Morro Bay T Pier to fish in the Bay or Cayucos Pier in the neighboring town of Cayucos to fish in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #7 Surfing
In California where there is ocean, there is surfing. But some beaches are definitely better than others for this activity. Morro Strand Beach is popular with windsurfers and Cayucos State Beach is great for regular surfing. Even if you don’t practice these types of sport yourself it is lots of fun to watch the pros do it, and this spectacle is free of charg!.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #8 Playgrounds for Kids
One way or another playground time needs to find its way on your list of things to do in Morro Bay with kids. There are several playgrounds in town but I would like to draw your attention to one specifically. It is called Tidelands. It is located right on the Bay with splendid views of Morro Bay and Morro Rock. It has cool ocean themed installations that kids love to climb on. Tidelands address is 301-351 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA 93442.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #9 Enjoying Salt Water Taffy
When we travel we love to taste local deserts and sweet things. There is no trip to Florida without Key Lime Pie or visit to Canada without maple syrup candy. Morro Bay is famous for slat water taffy.
We love to stop by Carousel Taffy where you can get FREE samples and there are dozens of flavors to choose from. We try not to go overboard purchasing sugary stuff but sometimes we allow a little treat for ourselves – it is a symbol of vacation time, the most delicious thing to do in Morro Bay with kids.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #10 Attending a Festival
Morro Bay has lots of fun events happening throughout the year, some of which are very unique to this area, such a Lighted Boats Parade in December and Morro Bay Kite Festival in April. To learn about best upcoming events in Morro Bay check the city website.
Things To Do In Morro Bay: #11 Day Trips to Nearby Attractions
There are lots of great attractions and destinations within less than an hour drive from Morro Bay that I strongly recommend visiting.
Elephant Seals
Elephant seals are the biggest attraction in San Simeon. You can see them on the beach and in the water pretty much most of the year. I guarantee you that both kids and adults will love observing these animals in the wild. And the best thing? It is totally FREE to visit them. For detailed information about visiting elephant seals check Friends of Elephant Seals.
Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is on of the most unique destinations in California if not the entire U.S. It is a gorgeous 100 years old historic estate with a huge castle, several supporting buildings, beautiful gardens, amazing indoor and outdoor art collections and Roman pools. Before it became a California State Park it was a private residence of a William Randolph Hearst, a famous California businessman.
Hearst Castle was closed to visitors for over a year but it is set to re-open to public in 2 months. It is conveniently located in San Simeon, not far from elephant seals beach.
Paso Robles
Paso Roble is a famous wine growing region of California located just 30 minutes drive from Morro Bay. Beyond its 200 wineries which are the most famous attractions in the area, locals know that there are so many great things to do in Paso Robles with kids beyond just visiting family friendly tasting rooms.
From farms to animal encounters to unique Wild West experiences and everything in between Paso Robles has a lot to offer. And most of those attractions will be equally interesting for both kids and adults.
When is the best time to visit Morro Bay?
Morro Bay is a great destination any time of year but you need to manage your expectations. Early summer days can be colder with fog than some winter days. My most favorite time in Morro Bay is spring and fall.
Where to stay in Morro Bay?
Lodging in a beach town can be expensive, especially on weekends. I suggest staying in San Luis Obispo which is a short 20 minutes drive away if you are travelling on a budget. If you are interested in some cool hotels in San Luis Obispo, I have a guide for you on my blog.
Where to eat in Morro Bay?
Morro Bay has a lot of seafood restaurants along Embarcadero for all budgets. If you want to explore other types of cuisine, I suggest visiting San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Morro Bay, California. If you found this article about things to do in Morro Bay with kids useful, please, share it with others as it may help them with their travel plans too.
