Hospitality and stewardship harks back to the 16th century, and it’s still alive and well today in Cambria. Locals welcome visitors and strangers from all walks of life to visit and share in the natural and historic destinations that make this little village so unique. We encourage locals and visitors alike to explore Cambria’s natural beauty, while also keeping it beautiful.
While Cambria is a fun and fabulous town with memorable people and places, it also has some very earth-friendly opportunities to explore Cambria’s natural beauty and stewardship.
Walk Back in Time: Cambria Museum & Historic Buildings Self-Guided Walking Tour
2251 Center Street Cambria, CA 93428
Phone: (805) 927-2891
Website: www.cambriahistoricalsociety.com
What: Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Cambria
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Reservation Needed: No, unless outside of the regular museum hours listed above. If so, then call (805) 927-2891 to make arrangements.
Cambria has a rich history dating back to the 1860’s. Visitors and locals alike enjoy the self-guided walking tour that visits 26 historic structures throughout the small and welcoming town. Start your tour at the well-preserved Cambria Historical Museum downtown. There, you’ll purchase the walking tour guide book, “Historic Cambria – Treasures of the Past.” The cost of the book is $10, with all proceeds benefitting the Education Program at the Museum. You can start with a docent-led tour of the Museum prior to embarking on your exploration of the historic East Village.
The Cambria Historical Museum is located in the former Guthrie-Bianchini house, which was built in 1870. The building was designated in the National Register of Historical Places in 1980 and opened in 2008 as the Museum, after significant restoration. In addition to educating Cambria area residents and visitors about the history of the various people who have lived in the area, it provides a gathering place for small social functions and serves as a park in the beautiful Heirloom Garden. The Museum property hosts speaker events, festivals, and serves as the hub for information in the East Village. The Museum store provides visitors with books by local authors from pioneer families, paintings, old-fashioned children’s toys and books, and more.
Stewardship Travel is about adding a bit of “doing good and feeling good” to your vacation. This activity selection includes:
- A learning activity and/or outing
- An educational center
- A conservation/heritage donation opportunity through Cambria Historical Society
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Docent Nature Walk
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria, CA 93428
Phone: (805) 927-2202
Website: www.cambriaranchwalks.com
What: Docent-Led Nature Walk at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
When: Monthly
Reservation Needed: Yes, contact Cambria Ranch Walks at (805) 927-2202 or reservations@cambriaranchwalks.com to make arrangements.
The Ranch is far from the largest of coastal ecosystems, but packs more biological diversity into a confined area than many larger properties. It is bordered on the north by a mile and a half of riparian habitat that encompasses tidal effect zones, seasonal freshwater marches and wetlands dotted with birds. The Monterey pine forest (part of three remaining native stands in the world) serves as habitat and cover for wildlife moving between the coastal range and the ocean bluffs.
To learn about the upcoming docent-led walks at the Ranch, visit the Docent Walk Schedule page of Cambria Ranch Walks. Walks are generally held on Saturday or Sunday, topics of discussion vary and the walk is led by an expert in the field. The walk is limited to 25 people so reservations are required and can be made by calling (805) 927-2202 or emailing reservations@cambriaranchwalks.com.
Stewardship Travel is about adding a bit of “doing good and feeling good” to your vacation. This activity selection includes:
- A learning activity and/or outing
- A conservation/heritage donation opportunity through Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Monthly Work Day
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria, CA 93428
Phone: (805) 927-2856
Website: www.ffrpcambria.org
What: Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Restoration & Stewardship Days
When: Monthly, on the third Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon
Reservation Needed: Yes, contact Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve at (805) 927-2856 or ffrpcambria@sbcglobal.net to make arrangements.
Acquiring property for public access and open space is only the beginning of the process to save land for future generations. Some lands are closed to the public to preserve them. It is the belief of Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, that by remaining open to the public, the Preserve can serve as the much-needed connection to nature we all crave. But keeping it open and in a natural state means taking care of the land and its few improvements. No funds were given with the purchase of the Preserve for this, so this work needs to be done by volunteers.
Restoration activities and locations vary from month to month. The biggest job is to remove invasive, non-native plants so that the native vegetation can thrive and be enjoyed. Removing invasive plants encourages wildflowers to return from the seeds still in the soil. A thriving native habitat provides better forage and shelter for wildlife, so in addition to more wildflowers visitors get to see more wildlife.
Volunteer work days are held on the third Saturday of each month, from 9 a.m. to noon. The project and meeting place are announced by e-mail prior to each work day. Sign up by calling (805) 927-2856 or email ffrpcambria@sbcglobal.net. You can also participate in mustard and radish removal efforts, which are held almost every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Enjoy good exercise and great scenery while doing good work.
Stewardship Travel is about adding a bit of “doing good and feeling good” to your vacation. This activity selection includes:
- A hands-on stewardship/caring activity
- A conservation/heritage donation opportunity through Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Cambria, CA 93428
Phone: (805) 927-2856
Website: www.ffrpcambria.org
What: Self-Guided Tour of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
When: Daily during daylight hours
Reservation Needed: No
Once the exclusive purview of the Chumash and Salinian Native American tribes, this breathtaking stretch of seaside bluff is now permanently protected from development. Thanks to the American Land Conservancy and the local chapter of SWAP (Small Wilderness Area Preservation), a favorite one-mile trail along the restless Pacific Ocean welcomes pedestrians, horseback riders, and bicyclists while protecting the home of many endangered species, including red-legged frogs and Monterey pines. Now completely ADA accessible, it’s a precious reminder of what a small group of dedicated citizens will do to preserve the natural beauty of their community.
Stewardship Travel is about adding a bit of “doing good and feeling good” to your vacation. This activity selection includes:
- A learning activity and/or outing
- A conservation/heritage donation opportunity through Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Cambria Beach Clean-up – Fiscalini Ranch
Windsor Blvd. at Wedgewood St., Cambria, CA 93428
Phone: (805) 927-2856
Website: www.ffrpcambria.org
What: Beach clean-up at Fiscalini Ranch
When: Annually, on the third Saturday of September
Reservation Needed: No, but for detailed meeting location and times, contact the seasonal hosting website calendar starting September 1.
California Coastal Clean-Up Day, an annual beach and inland waterway clean-up, is the state’s largest volunteer event. When combined with the International Coastal Clean-Up, organized by the Ocean Conservancy and taking place on the same day, California Coastal Clean-Up Day at Cambria becomes part of one of the largest volunteer events in the world. Coastal Clean-Up Day is a great way for families, students, service groups, and neighbors to join together, take care of our fragile marine environment, show community support for our shared natural resources, learn about the impacts of marine debris and how we can prevent them, and to have fun!
Stewardship Travel is about adding a bit of “doing good and feeling good” to your vacation. This activity selection includes:
- A hands-on stewardship/caring activity
- A conservation/heritage donation opportunity through Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Annual Cambria Wildflower Show
1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
Phone: (805) 927-2856
What: Wildflower Show
When: Annually, on the last weekend in April
Reservation Needed: No
Have you ever wondered about the wildflowers, shrubs and trees you see flowering on your spring walks and drives on the Central Coast? Do you have questions about what makes a wildflower a native or an alien? If you have, you can have your wildflower questions answered at the Annual Cambria Wildflower Show, presented by Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. See 500 bouquets of wildflowers identified for your convenience and all under one roof, plus talk to the experts. The Show is held annually on the last weekend in April. Check the website for further details.
Wildflower books and seeds, along with native plants will be for sale. There will be light fare and beverages available in the Wildflower Café during the show. There is also a photo contest with the winner determined by popular choice.
The purpose of this show is to enhance the enjoyment of wildflowers by education through viewing. Permitted and trained teams of collectors will be picking flowers for educational purposes, from habitats with large populations, so that people can learn to respect them in their natural habitats. Visitors will see a display of fresh wildflowers collected from the Monterey County line to the Morro Bay Estuary, and from the coastal bluffs to the ridge of the Santa Lucia mountains. Each bouquet will be labeled with its botanical name and family, along with its common name.
Stewardship Travel is about adding a bit of “doing good and feeling good” to your vacation. This activity selection includes:
- An educational center
- A conservation/heritage donation opportunity through Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Thanksgiving Weekend Tree Planting at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria, CA 93428
Phone: (805) 927-2856
Website: www.ffrpcambria.org
What: Planting of Monterey Pines at the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
When: Annually, during Thanksgiving weekend
Reservation Needed: Yes, contact the Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve at (805) 927-2856 or ffrpcambria@sbcglobal.net to make arrangements.
Join Fiscalini Ranch Preserve in its annual restoration Thanksgiving Weekend Tree Planting. Visitors and locals help plant, mulch and water hundreds of rare and endangered Monterey pine trees to help replenish the native forest at the Preserve. So far over 1000 trees have been planted with a good survival rate. The trees are grown from disease-resistant seeds collected from nearby trees and grown by volunteers for this purpose.
For 2013, Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is creating a healthy forest study. Instead of planting a tree this year, all participants are invited to participate in the Fiscalini Healthy Forest Walk and Talk. Learn from the trip docent about successful past forest plantings and what it takes to bring native plants back!
Acquiring property for public access and open space is only the beginning of the process to save land for future generations. Some lands are closed to the public to preserve them. It is the belief of Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, that by remaining open to the public, the Preserve can serve as the much-needed connection to we all crave. But keeping it open and in a natural state means taking care of the land and its few improvements. No funds were given with the purchase of the Preserve for this, so this work needs to be done by volunteers. It is rewarding to see what a difference one to three hours of work can make!
Stewardship Travel is about adding a bit of “doing good and feeling good” to you vacation. This activity selection includes:
- A hands-on stewardship/caring activity
- A conservation/heritage donation opportunity through Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Piedras Blancas Light Station Tours
San Simeon, CA
Phone: 805-927-3719
Website: http://piedrasblancas.org/
What: Tour the historical Piedras Blancas Light Station and Grounds
When: Tours are offered every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning year-round.
Reservation Needed: No reservations needed for groups less than 10 people.
Visitors meet at 9:45 a.m. at the former Piedras Blancas Motel located 1.5 miles north of the light station on Highway 1. Do not wait at the gate to the light station! Wheelchairs and strollers are available upon request. Sorry, no pets. Tours may be canceled due to inclement weather.
No tours offered on federal holidays. $10 adults, $5 ages 6-17, no fee for ages 5 and under.
Coastal Discovery Center
W.R. Hearst State Beach, San Simeon
Phone: (805) 927-6575
Website: http://montereybay.noaa.gov/vc/cdc/planyourvisit.html
What: The Center offers interactive exhibits and education programs which highlight the cultural and natural history of Old San Simeon, California State Parks, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
When: Open weekends and holiday Mondays: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Reservations Needed: No
The Coastal Discovery Center is a joint venture between the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and California State Parks. Located on beautiful San Simeon Bay, the Coastal Discovery Center celebrates the connection between land and seas.
The Center offers interactive exhibits and education programs which highlight the cultural and natural history of Old San Simeon, California State Parks, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The interface of land and sea is unique, drawing people for its rich bounty, economic opportunity, recreation and inspiration. Protection of these special places preserves them for use and enjoyment for generations to come.
Free Admission, Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.