Return to main articleOff-Season Beach Bargains
San Simeon, California
What It's Like: Winter temperatures stay comfortable (in the fifties and sixties), perfect for spying two-ton elephant seals and migrating gray whales from the long stretches of empty beach. What to Do: Walk the rugged, lovely coastline at William Randolph Hearst State Beach, with its coves and rolling breakers and the dramatic bluffs above studded with outcroppings of native Monterey pine. Set aside time to visit the vast Hearst Castle, the newspaper magnate's fanciful Shangri-la. Where to Stay and Dine: Yes, the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort is a Best Western, but the king ocean-view rooms have wood-burning fireplaces and private patios, and are priced from $139 a night. Head down the coast to the next town, Cambria, for a nice dinner at the Black Cat (1602 Main Street, Cambria; 805/927-1600; www.blackcatbistro.com).
