Cappie’s Scoop: This place is huge! I started hiking a trail along the water called the Bluff Trail. It was really nice. Lots of flowers and some cool wooden benches made out of big sticks. Then I hiked up a big hill and I went into the forest. It was really green and quiet except for really loud birds chirping. Mom said we went at a good time because when the preserve starts to get dry, the foxtails will be bad so I’m glad I got to see it before that happened. Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: You will notice there are multiple trailheads to start your hike and even more trails to explore. We parked at the end of Windsor Road where there are four spots, but it’s also a residential area so you can park in front of the houses. Once you get up on the boardwalk, there are paper maps for the preserve and a nice sign to describe the ranch. We zig-zagged our way through the preserve seeing a little bit of everything to include the Bluff Trail, the Forest Loop Trail and the Ridge Trail to name a few. There are lots of coastal wildflowers and you pass a few pretty memorial benches made of wood.

Directions: From the town of Morro Bay, head north on CA-1 for about 21 miles. Then turn left onto Windsor Blvd and go to the end of the road, about 1.1 miles where you will see parking and the start of the boardwalk trail.

Cappie’s Scoop: Hikes along the beach are really nice but I wish I could go down to the beach and run into the water! This time I could only look at the beach from the boardwalk since no dogs are allowed on the beach. The boardwalk is really nice and there were still a lot of great smells! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: We started our hike on Moonstone Beach Dr. where the trail begins at the south end. It’s mostly a wooden boardwalk trail which is fun! Once the trail reaches the bluff, you have a view of the ocean. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on the beach. At the time of this post, about one mile in, the trail is closed for repairs to the boardwalk. We were only able to hike 2 miles RT.

Directions: From the town of Morro Bay, head north on CA-1 for about 21 miles. Then turn left onto Windsor Blvd and then a quick right onto Moonstone Beach Dr. There is a small dirt turnout/parking area immediately on your left just after you pass the El Colibri Hotel and Spa. The trail starts at the far end of the dirt lot away from the hotel.

Cappie’s Scoop: This trail started out very sandy and it felt like I was at the beach! There were lots of flowers to smell too. But then I walked under the trees and there was lots of poison oak around so mom held me close and made me walk in the middle of the trail even though I wanted to smell the poison oak! Once you make it to the top, you need to climb on the big rocks to get the best view. You can see the water and of course the biggest rock of them all, Morro Rock in the water! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: Have a map handy because there are a few connecting trails. We started our hike on the Exercise Trail to Black Hill Trail to the peak! Then on the way back, we took Grove Trail back to the Exercise Trail to complete a small loop. There were lots of flowers blooming on this trail and also poison oak so watch your step. There is also an option to drive up the road and park closer to the peak but parking is limited.

Directions: From the town of Morro Bay, head south on Main Street and into Morro Bay State Park for about 2 miles. You will see a small dirt parking lot on your left and the trail starts here.

Cappie’s Scoop: The first part of this trail is strange because I can’t see anything! There are very big bushes on both sides of the trail but mom said she had a nice view of the ocean. When I got to the dirt trail, then I was able to see the ocean and the beach we were going to visit! I decided to visit the cave first and it was pretty cool. Be careful not to get too close to the edge. After the cave, I went down to the beach and mom let me run around. I found a big crab on the beach and some other stinky stuff that mom kept telling me not to sniff. It was a lot of fun! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: The Shell Beach Bluff Trail takes you to Pirate’s Cove and Cave Landing. There are two trailheads for this hike. We started from Indio Dr. and the parking lot is very small with only five parking spaces. But there is parking in the residential area and that’s where we ended up parking. We enjoyed a great hike along the paved trail and when it ends, continue on the unused road which is mostly dirt. You eventually reach a dirt parking lot which you could also park in for this hike but we preferred the extended route. There are great ocean views along the way! Once you hike down to the cove and cave area, you can decide which one to see first. When you reach the beach, some say clothing is optional but everyone we saw kept their clothes on.

Directions: From the town of Morro Bay, head south on CA-1 and then continue south on US-101. Take exit 195 for Avila Beach Dr. which turns into Shell Beach Rd. Stay on Shell Beach Rd. for 0.3 miles and then turn right onto El Portal Dr. which turns into Indio Dr. The road ends at a gated community but on the left is a small driveway down to the small parking lot. If you don’t find any spots available, turn around and park on Indio Dr. along the street.

Cappie’s Scoop: Rocks are cool and they are even better when I can climb on them. This rock was way too big for me to climb on but next to it was a bunch of smaller rocks that I was able to check out. A lot of the rocks were stacked in a pile and that was very strange but mom said they are called cairns. Each night, mom and I watched the sunset next to big rock and that was a lot of fun but next time mom needs to remember to bring my sweater because it gets chilly when the sun goes down! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: You can also park next to Morro Rock in a dirt parking lot or a bit further down the road and walk along the harbor. Next to Morro Rock is a beach where dogs are allowed but only on-leash.

Directions: We parked at Coleman Park and walked along the Harbor Walk to Morro Rock.