This 581-foot mound is actually a volcanic plug and sits close to shore. Don't even think about climbing on the rock - as a protected site, disturbing the bird life on the mound is illegal. However, from afar it makes a wonderful subject for a panoramic photo of the Morro Bay shoreline.

Just the name makes your mouth water! Every cookie is freshly baked. This Central Coast bakery greets you at the door with a tray of right-out-of-the-oven samples. Gluten-free customers are welcomed with open arms, too!

Quite possibly one of the loveliest and most unique beaches you can visit. Instead of sand, this shore is strewn with smooth pebbles (some of them moonstones, of course) and people claim its sunsets rival that of the Hawaiian Islands. Better still, it’s rarely crowded. Can’t beat that with a stick (or stone).

Commissioned by publishing tycoon, William Randolph Hearst, and designed by architect Julia Morgan, this estate is also known as San Simeon and took over 20 years to construct. Hearst and his lover, Marion Davies, hosted lavish gatherings here attended by Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, and Winston Churchill, to name a few.

As most of us have figured out by now, eating a ton and lying listlessly on a beach is, quite unfortunately, not going to result in a cute figure. At least we’re not alone. Weighing between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds and measuring up to 20 feet long, the male elephant seal makes even an SUV look tiny. Watch them on shore as they wiggle, splash sand on their bodies, and make growling noises at each other.

It's a 120-foot drop easily accessed by a quick 10-minute hike. While many waterfalls in California dry up in the heat of summer this one still has a nice flow. You can swim in the hole but the water is COLD! Bring your dogs, kids, and sturdy shoes to trek over slippery rocks and enjoy! The falls are free to visit. Hours are not listed but it's reasonable to expect the park is open from sunrise to sunset.

A small section of the Big Sur coastline is known to be strewn with nephrite jade making it very popular among rock collectors and amateur geologists. Most of the jade is found on the ocean floor near the shore but, of course, care and expertise should be exercised if attempting to dive for it. You can also look for the semi-precious stones which have washed up onto the shore. All jade must be collected by hand meaning no excavation is allowed.

These stunning cliffs in Big Sur can be seen from the incredible Lucia Lodge. To stay the night can run you almost $300 during the high season. Fortunately, you can view the seaside bluffs from the comfort of the dining room or while visiting the old-fashioned general store. The lodge itself was built in the 1930s by the Harlan family and features 10 cabins and rooms.

Casual-hikers will be happy to know that it isn’t a long nor difficult trek to the beautiful McWay Falls in Big Sur. In fact, the Waterfall Trail is the shortest in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and it offers some pretty awesome coastal views. Definitely a not-to-be-missed landmark for anyone traveling along Highway 1.

This is a hike that gets straight to the point. A steep decline with a footbridge takes you quickly to the cove. Along the way enter a cool wooden tunnel. Exit to find an ocean with waves crashing against rocks - a picture-perfect place to spend a short amount of time or the entire day. The cove is open from 8 AM to sunset every day. Dogs are not permitted.

Although you can visit this stunning place any time of the year, you only have a short window of opportunity to see its best feature in its full glory. The Keyhole Arch is named for a strange sandstone formation sitting right in the middle of the beach. End of December to mid-January, the sun will cast a golden ray of light through the keyhole of this formation casting a single, perfectly formed ray of light across the sand.

Take a picture of the gorgeous Bixby Creek Bridge and you will have contributed to its title of “one of the most photographed features on the West Coast.” Frequently used in automobile commercials, television shows, and Hollywood films, the 700-ft, open-spandrel arch bridge was completed in 1932 as part of a public works project during the Great Depression and has since become a regional landmark.

A beautiful hiking trail with great views and small waterfalls takes you to the dunes while wooden stairs lead you to the ocean. This state park is a beautiful example of the typical Big Sur coastline of California. The park is open from sunrise to sunset every day.

This scenic nature preserve has been called the "crown jewel" of California's 280 state parks. With the natural beauty that California is so famous for, this is really saying something. Point Lobos is a protected marine area, where seals nurse their pups and sea lions frolic. People come here to scuba dive, paint, study nature, or snap some amazing photos.