Two Fun Days in Morro Bay, California

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Family on a bay cruise using binoculars
Cruising in the Morro Bay. Photo Credit: Mimi Slawoff

Originally published in 2015 and updated for 2025

Marine life, clean beaches and budget-friendly lodging and attractions make Morro Bay a good choice for a family vacation on California’s Central Coast.

For a small fishing village in Central California, Morro Bay (population: 10,500) sure has a lot of fun family-friendly activities. No matter what you’re doing, you get a clear view of the town’s claim to fame: the 581-foot high Morro Rock, a State Historic Landmark. Whether you’re there for one day or longer, chances are you’ll fall in love with this quaint and charming town located about 15 minutes north of downtown San Luis Obispo and near famous attractions. We did.

Morro Rock mountain in the background with the sea in front.
Morro Rock. Photo Credit: Mimi Slawoff

Morro Bay’s coastal location midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco makes it an easy and scenic commute for California travelers. From our home in Valencia – a suburb of Los Angeles – it’s a beautiful coastal drive to Morro Bay. Between work and college classes, we planned for just a two-day visit, so my husband, three college kids and our dog Trooper (Morro Bay is super dog-friendly) got an early start to arrive by noon and make the most of our stay.

Morro Rock Beach

Our noon arrival was perfect timing for a picnic lunch at Anchor Memorial Park (named after local fisherman lost at sea) on the waterfront. The small park has views of the bay, marina and Morro Rock. From there, we walked along a paved path with our excited and curious 12-year-old lab, Trooper, to the beach closest to Morro Rock, where he chased after shore birds and lunged into the small waves. Along the short walk, we saw a colony of otters swimming and floating in the calm bay.

Sea lions sunning on a pier with coastal houses across the bay.
Sea Lions sunning on the pier. Photo Credit: Mimi Slawoff

Bay Cruise

Captain Stew’s Bay Cruise is a great way to get on the water while soaking up some fun facts about the area. On the 45-minute narrated tour, we got the scoop on best beaches for kids and dogs, learned that cod is the most common fish caught in local waters and that Morro Rock is one of nine local volcanic plugs and was climbable until 1968. Our friendly captain cruised close to otters and a barge piled with about 80 barking sea lions. You can hear and see these sea lions from shore but they’re much more fun to see up close as they wriggle, wrestle and dive in and out of the water.

The Waterfront and Embarcadero

Mom and pop shops, laid-back eateries (lots of seafood options), water sport rentals and a couple of small public parks with picnic tables line the small, scenic waterfront and embarcadero. Unlike many other beach cities, here you can sit at bay-view tables and chairs placed adjacent to restaurants and shops without making a purchase to watch the marina scene. That’s one of the many things we like about Morro Bay – nature and a welcoming, laid-back ambiance. Plus, hotels, activities and attractions are priced low, making a family vacation easy on the wallet.

At The Shell Shop we browsed through displays and exhibits of shells from more than 22 countries. The variety of shells, clams, corals, specimens and other items was impressive. Since 1955 the shop owners have been traveling and collecting these exquisite treasures, so there’s a lot to see.

After an afternoon at the beach and exploring the small town, we walked to dinner at the family-owned Tognazinni’s Dockside Restaurant. The family owns and operates three side-by-side restaurants: the original restaurant, Dockside Too and Dockside Three. We ate at Dockside Too, which features live music and a dog-friendly patio that overlooks the bay. The casual eatery offers a good selection of seafood, sandwiches and burgers that you order at the counter and eat outside on plastic chairs and tables.

Kayak Horizons

Kayakers watching sea lions play
Getting close to sea lions at play while kayaking in Morro Bay. Photo Credit: Mimi Slawoff

A trip highlight was a morning kayak around the serene bay, an estuary where numerous sea lions splashed alongside us and curious otters swam nearby. As we settled into our kayaks, the shop’s owner advised us to cross the bay to make paddling easier with the rising tide. We maneuvered around colorful, bobbing boats and took photos of the wildlife around us. The ride back was a breeze as the current carried us along. What an exhilarating start to the day!

Morro Bay State Park

Dog running on the foot trails overlooking the water at Morro Bay State Park
Morro Rock Nature Preserve with trails, beach and room for Trooper to roam. Photo Credit: Mimi Slawoff

The pretty 2,770 2-acre state park has forested walking trails, a lagoon ideal for stand up paddling, the Morro Rock Natural Preserve, the Heron Rookery Natural Preserve, the Morro Bay Star Park Golf Course and the Museum of Natural History (free admission for ages 18 and younger). Free park admission.

Where to sleep

We stayed at the very modest Rockview Inn & Suites, less than a five-minute walk to the waterfront and about a 10-minute walk to the Morro Rock and beaches. Like many small beach and mountain towns, lodging can be quirky but decent.

The Rockview was clean and the family suite was spacious enough for our family of six (that includes Trooper). Three double beds (one in a separate bedroom), a mid-size fridge, microwave and 32-inch flat screen TV made this basic hotel comfortable for a short stay. Our view was of the parking lot, but walking a few short steps we could see Morro Rock and the waterfront.. The free WiFi worked well after the owner rebooted the router for our room. Front desk staff was helpful in providing maps and information about their favorite beaches, parks and restaurants.

Native Angeleno and seasoned travel journalist Mimi Slawoff writes for numerous print and digital publications. She is also the author of Oldest Los Angeles (Reedy Press, 2022). A lifelong world traveler, Mimi is an award-winning journalist who writes about outdoor adventures, cruises, Europe and cultural activities. Mimi has three grown kids and lives with her husband and their dog, Maya, in Los Angeles.
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