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.