Morro Bay

 We were excited to get back to the beautiful Pacific Ocean and stay at the seaside town of Morro Bay. This small town has a giant rock (Morro Rock!) which is a 576 foot high volcanic plug (similar to Devils Tower in WY) that you can drive to and walk around but no climbing. Peregrine falcons call that rock home.

The Navy built a base here in WWII and subsequently built out the breakwaters around Morro Rock to protect their base.  There’s a neat maritime museum which has ships and submersibles you can walk around and peer into, along with a movie to watch.

 

PG&E built a power plant here in the 1950s and its three stacks are quite the industrial landmark in town.  The plant closed in 2014 and there is talk of converting the building to a battery storage facility. Residents are divided.

 

Abalone, those beautiful irridescent shells seen in jewelry and knick knack shops, was a big industry here until they were overfished and declined dramatically. Now the town has an oyster aquaculture farm where we watched loads of oysters harvested at the Morro Bay Oyster Co.  We hung out and watched these otters and their otter babies float blissfully in the sun.

 

We loved the small town feel, the prime walkability, super mild climate and all of the kitschy stores selling t-shirts and souvenirs.  We had amazing clam chowder, calamari steak, fish & chips and fish tacos. Keeping this one on our list of places to return!