Morro Bay
Morro Bay is lies midway between Los Angeles and San Fransisco along Highway 1, and just 10 miles or so northwest of San Luis Obispo and Highway 101. Hearst Castle is 20 miles north, in Canbria, while Paso Robles wine country is 40 miles northeast.
Morro Bay gets its name from the many "morros" or volcanic necks that dot the area. The volcanic cones are eroded away, leaving the solidified molten lava "necks" poking up above the ground, or in the case of Morro Rock, the sea.
Along the waterfront in Morro Bay is the Embarcadero, with everything a tourist needs to experience or remember Morro Bay; boat rides, restaurants, t-shirts and other trinkets abound.
Being that Morro Bay is actually a bay, there's no beach to play on. Just a few miles north on the edge of town, however, is Morro Strand State Beach. This is a shot from Morro Strand SB, back towards Morro Bay and Morro Rock.
We stayed at Morro Bay State Park, which was one of several options in the area (including Morro Strand State Beach). As state campgrounds go it's standard fare, with a picnic table and fire ring on a fairly open site that is a bit tight, by state park standards. The park sits between Morro Bay Golf Course and a marina that offers kayak rentals.
