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San Simeon Pier
San Simeon Pier
Get up close to marine animals and mansions
In the autumn, visitors to this pier are treated to up-close glimpses of migrating humpback whales feeding just off the Central Coast. The pier is located at the William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach, which is protected under the California Marine Life Protection Act, and is home to a sea otter reserve and part of a colony of 15,000 elephant seals that stretches into neighbouring Cambria.
While a lot of visitors pack onto the pier to catch glimpses of the sea life, the best way to explore the area is by kayak. Cubby Cashen, owner of Sea For Yourself Kayak Outfitters, leads guided tours that launch beside or beneath the pier (you can also hire a kayak for self-guided exploration). Cashen, who for the past 14 years has explored and studied the cove, says every outing yields a different discovery. 'Today I saw seals, otters, a sea lion and about 10 different types of birds, from ospreys to pelicans,' he says.
The sights aren’t limited to the ocean either. Hearst Castle, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’s estate-turned-historical-monument, sits majestically atop the hillside directly opposite Highway 1.
Alex Farnum
Central California
Central California
Discover the Central Coast
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From the epic grandeur of Big Sur to the Mediterranean-style stretch of Santa Barbara coastline nicknamed 'the American Riviera', this region of picturesque hamlets, jagged sea cliffs and rolling wine country has long attracted - not surprisingly - writers and artists mesmerised by its dreamlike beauty.
Monterey served as California’s first capital when the state’s first constitution was signed in in the coastal city in 1849.
Take the epic Highway One drive between San Francisco and Los Angeles to discover secret beaches and soaring cliffs along Big Sur, stroll a redwood trail, spy a sea otter at the incomparable Monterey Bay Aquarium and sip Pinot Noir at sunset in the romantic Santa Ynez Valley.
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Courtesy of Ventana Big Sur
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Casa de Fruta Courtesy of Casa De Fruta
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