fun to do kids cambria california   Travel for Kids
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Cambria and San Simeon

    Cambria
    Moonstone Beach – This beach is a gem, literally – you can spend hours on the black sand beach, searching for smooth translucent moonstones (birthstones for June). Better yet, one section of the beach is covered with silvery driftwood (perfect for forts), in another part, explore the tide pools.
      The Moonstone Beach Boardwalk has viewing platforms, stair access to the beach and benches where you can sit down to watch the sun set over the Pacific, while kids run the length of the boardwalk.
      Leffingwell Landing – At Leffingwell Landing are picnic tables and grassy area overlooking the ocean. While you're having lunch, keep your eyes peeled for sea otters, elephant seals, and in season, gray whales.
Hearst Castle
  Hearst Castle (Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument) If your kids have a hankering to build a castle on the hill, check out Hearst Castle, a mega building project in a stunning location. Don't miss the exhibits at the Visitor's Center, especially the section where you can touch materials used at the castle - marble, glass mosaics, ceramic tiles.
    At the castle you can fantasize about a family swimming pool like the Neptune Pool or the indoor Roman Pool lined with real gold-leaf glass mosaic tiles, a veritable Roman emperor's fantasy too. Enjoy homey touches of ketchup, yellow mustard and paper napkins on the table in the immense refectory dining room, decorated with Italian heraldic flags.
      The tour of Hearst Castle isn't for kids under 5. The round trip is over 1 ½ hours and is a formal, "don't touch" tour with lots of detailed but boring-for-kids information about the every aspect of the castle. No strollers allowed, and if you've got toddlers along, consider breaking up your group so little kids can go down to San Simeon beach (William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach).
    William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach – Beach where kids can play on the sand, or look for dolphins, pelicans and sea otters. There's also kayak rentals.
Northern elephant seal
  Elephant Seal Habitat (Piedras Blancas) – Elephant seals, the biggest seals, definitely have the best noses, and the new pups look the most like sausages (new pups are dark brown, bigger pups are silver-colored).
    From December to February you can see northern elephant seals – cows (moms), bulls (dads) and their pups – lolling on the beach or flipping sand on each other in convivial clumps. Don't be fooled – when you first look out on the beach, they look like a bunch of driftwood.
    Camp at the beach – San Simeon Creek Campground is the perfect place to camp, located right along a creek, with beach access. Campsites have picnic tables and fire rings (so be sure to bring marshmallows and firewood), and showers are available. There's junior ranger activities (such as scavenger hunts) and campfire programs.
family hotels cambria san simeon

Travel for Kids has so many fun things to do with kids around Cambria and San Simeon, but you'll need a fun place to stay.

Here's Travel for Kids list of family hotels in Cambria and San Simeon, all styles and price ranges, in neighborhoods that are comfortable for families, and near to places you'll want to explore:

Cambria and San Simeon family hotels
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