Morro Bay

Best known for the often-painted, majestic Morro Rock, a 576-foot volcanic “plug” that dominates the bay and provides the scenic backdrop for everyday life, Morro Bay is part fishing village, part retirement community, part artists’ haven.

Annual events from the longstanding Harbor Festival to the newer Avocado & Margarita festival and Art in the Park provide lots to do for the whole family. They roll up the sidewalks early in Morro Bay but fabulous restaurants and good live music do abound. You’ll find everything from Japanese sushi to fine French bakeries here, and check local listings for a surprising number of venues hosting classical, rock, and jazz musicians.

Visitors are drawn to the expert fishing, great golfing, unique art galleries, and fascinating antiques. And please don’t miss the Morro Bay Museum of Natural history. Located in a one of the area’s prettiest settings, it’s so much more than an educational experience.

Come for the day to fish, golf, and just enjoy the scenery. A day trip to Morro Bay is the only way to experience the relaxing and inspiring place that has drawn so many here.

History

Prehistorically settled by the Chumash people, the little city gets its name from the early Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo who named it El Morro, meaning “crown-shaped hill,” in 1542. Before the fishing industry took hold, the natural bay first served as a port for exporting dairy products. In 1870, Morro Bay’s founder Franklin Riley laid out the streets that would become the city we know today.

Divers discovered the riches of red abalone colonies found in Morro Bay’s waters and a bustling abalone industry eventually expanded to include halibut, sole, rockfish, and albacore. The latter four are still plentiful, but abalone is artificially farmed today.

During World War II, the Navy filled in the land along the shore, forming today’s Embarcadero, a beautiful bayside walkway filled with shell shops, restaurants, and galleries. A portion of Morro Bay is now a designated bird sanctuary, and Morro Rock is home to the federally protected peregrine falcon.

Weather

Average temps for Morro Bay range from 42 to 62 in the winter; 50 to 70 in the summer. Morning fog is predictable, and sometimes sticks around all day, especially during the summer months. True, much higher temps have been recorded, but Morro Bay is typically a pretty cool place by California standards – which lends to the brooding mood that artists thrive on.