Central Coast CA kayaking?
 

Hi all,

Just further refining our itinerary for our family trip (2 adults + 2 school age kids) to California this July. We have the option to either rent kayaks in Elkhorn Slough early afternoon on our way from SF to Pacific Grove OR rent kayaks in Morro Bay in the morning on our way from Pacific Grove to our next leg in Cambria.

I am leaning somewhat towards kayaking in Elkhorn Slough (with lunch at Phil's to try cioppino + artichokes) so that frees us up to do a dune buggy adventure in Pismo Beach.

I am not very sporty so would appreciate views on where it will be calmer and easier to kayak. We've done kayaking in France (Gardon river and Dordogne river) but I found it hard and that was going with the current! We would be looking to rent for 1-2 hours.

Thank you!

Forgot to add -- even if we dropped kayaking in Morro Bay, is it still worth a photo stop to see the Morro Rock and/or walk around the Embarcadero and stop for taffy?

Thanks!

I'd choose kayaking at Elkhorn - it's very easy and calm and there's a lot of wildlife to be seen.

Elkhorn is very easy. Love seeing the otters. I don't recall current being an issue.
Monterey Bay is good too. Went on guided tours both places.

Love Phils for lunch.

Elkhorn Slough, for sure. First place I ever kayaked and it was great! Water was calm and there was lots of wildlife to view - seals, otters, tons of birds.

Not real sure what you would do in Morro Bay.

Morro Bay is definitely worth a stop. The rock is pretty amazing and you can see otters and seals in the harbor. But for kayaking I would pick Elkhorn.

Kayaking in Elk Slough, lunch at Phil's, dune buggies at Pismo is perfect. I would just do a drive by of Morro Bay and the rock.

Thanks, all! Looks like we have a plan.

100% Elkhorn Slough. Even if it wasn't the better choice, you don't want to rely on the morning being clear enough. Morning fog is a definite possibility.

Thanks, janisj. We did see something on their website about the afternoons being windier? But that is still better than fog I guess?

Coastal fog is rarely the pea-soup variety that sits on the ground and obscures your views. It is mostly a higher level, marine layer - more of overcast conditions than what most people think of as fog.

Check out my recent trip report on kayaking Elkhorn Slough as part of our San Fran/Monterey vacation. Saw many mom/pup otter pairs!! It is a great place to kayak. (have done it once in fall, once in spring--awesome!)

If you're not very sporty I would skip the dune buggy at Pismo, especially in July with the 2 hr wait just to sign up. Head to Lake Lopez instead.

You do know that you can't take the coastal road to drive from P Grove to Cambria, right? A bridge is out and won't be repaired until late this year.

My daughter and I just did the 2.5 hour guided Elkhorn Slough kayak trip this morning. We have only kayaked once before and this was very calm and fun. We saw a lot of sea otters, seals, and sea lions plus many birds. They have wet suits, windbreakers and paddle pants there for you at no extra cost. Morning is better for the wind but they said they seldom have to cancel for wind even in the afternoons. Our guides were good and talked a lot about the wildlife. Very fun outing.

Debbie is right. If you have Cambria as a destination you will need to take the 101 from PG to Paso Robles then 46 to Cambria.