Pacific Coast Hwy 1 Side Trips

On Saturday mid-afternoon of the Paso Robles SlowBowl weekend we took a break from wine tasting and drove back to the Coast hwy to do some sight-seeing with fellow slowtravellers Jane and Ken. Here are some of the things we saw.

You can see on this map how close Paso Robles is to the coast. We drove first to a little town called Harmony, then to Cambria and Moonstone beach and then up the coast past San Simeon to Piedras Blancas beach.

Harmony is a small group of buildings just a few miles south of the intersection of Hwy 46 and Hwy 1 near Cambria. Most of the official 18 residents come from surrounding farms and ranches. The Town of Harmony grew up around a dairy, founding in 1869.Until 1907 the creamery changed hands several times. In these early days rivalries and feuding among dairy farmers caused chaos in the valley. After one shooting death, a truce was called. All agreed to live henceforth in harmony, and from this the name of the towne was derived.
In its heyday, the village boasted a large residence for management, bunkhouses for employees, a general store, a livery and stable, blacksmith, feed store, post office and a school house.
The Harmony Dairy produced besides milk and cream some of the finest butter and cheese in the state. In those days, Highway 1 ran right through the town and motorists were treated to ladles of buttermilk from the dairy.
William Randolf Hearst was a familiar face as he stopped off for fresh dairy products on his way to his ranch. Rudolf Valentino and Pola Negra stopped in Harmony on their way to visit Hearst.
Eventually, the dairy business shifted to San Luis Obispo, and in the late 1950s Harmony Dairy was closed. For many years the town was abandoned with the exception of the post office which remained open.

What you will find in Harmony now are two small shops which include a glass blowing facility and and pottery shop. Also there is the winery on the hill.
The town of Harmony seems to have seen its hey day, which is disappointing for a town with the history and charm that this town once must have had. The little post office which had remained open in recent years appeared now closed. We have fun wandering here before heading up the coast to Cambria, Moonstone Beach

and the Elephant Seal breeding grounds at Piedras Blancas beach.

We were told that the town has been bought and there is hope of a revitalization.

There is a nice ceramics shop.

The Harmony Chapel still performs wedding ceremonies.

Jane, Ken, Mike and Barb walked in "Harmony" this day.

Moonstone Drive and Moonstone Beach form the third section of Cambria. Moonstone Drive follows the coast on a scenic loop that parallels Highway 1. Rather than the more common white sand beaches of southern California, Moonstone Beach is made up of small pebbles, polished smooth by the sea. Spend some time combing the sand for driftwood and gemstones; you're sure to find hidden treasures including jasper, jade, and the moonstone agates for which the beach is named

The Northern Elephant Seal, is an extraordinary marine mammal. It spends eight to ten months a year in the open ocean, diving 1000 to 5000 feet deep for periods of fifteen minutes to two hours, and migrating thousands of miles, twice a year, to its land based rookery for birthing, breeding, molting and rest. The Piedras Blancas rookery, on Highway 1 seven miles north of San Simeon on the California Central Coast, is home to about 15,000 animals. The area is open for viewing every day of the year and there is no admission fee or reservation required.