The central coastal town with a scenic boardwalk keeps Fido fit as a fiddle
Along Highway 1 rests some of California’s most intoxicating scenery. With over 656 miles running mostly along the coast, eye candy abounds. Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and a stone’s throw from San Simeon and Hearst Castle, Cambria is a great place to stop to break up a north-south road trip or as a stand-alone get away. Four-legged, furry people are welcome too adding to Cambria’s attraction. This caused the tail of Rerun my Labrador to wag incessantly. Highway 1 Discovery Route The bed Cambria’s newest star is White Water, a pet-friendly lodge on Moonstone Beach that opened four months ago by combining and redesigning two properties. What resulted is a peaceful,25-room inn. The magnificent, airy lobby has floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking coastal views and Claude Monet-inspired sunsets. Rooms and suites come in a range of sizes. Mine was 400 square feet and decorated in a well-balanced wedding of subdued beach chic to minimalist Northern European. The electric fireplace visible from the seating and sleeping area gave us a choice of where to curl up; for Rerun, that meant either the portable bed/crate that travels with her or the one White Water had conveniently waiting for her. Ocean views from the bed and large bathroom with free-standing tub delighted me almost as much as the fresh homemade scones delivered in a morning picnic basket with coffee in an old-fashioned thermos. For those that enjoy bike riding, there are complimentary beach cruisers. Proof that White Water takes hospitality seriously: When after 10,000 miles of pandemic road trips Rerun’s ID tag link disintegrated, the general manager found a spare key ring, fixed her collar and was duly rewarded with slobbery kisses. whitewatercambria.com The meals The ocean view patio at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill is a prime spot as the sounds of surf add to the dining experience. Owner-chef John MacKinnon has been at the helm since 1993, and it has thrived, even during a pandemic with its trifecta of ocean view, delicious food and pleasant staff. The Cioppino I devoured had abundant shellfish and tender crab legs and swam in a perfectly spiced marinara.
