Pelican Cove Inn on California Coast at Cambria

Hotel with Suites, Swimming Pool and Long Boardwalk Beside the Beach

May 21, 2009
Donna Dailey

Pelican Cove Inn, Cambria, California - Donna Dailey

Walk along the beach, watch wildlife and relax in cozy oceanside accommodation at Pelican Cove Inn on California's Central Coast, just outside the rustic town of Cambria.

A few miles south of Hearst Castle and on the edge of the rustic village of Cambria, the Pelican Cove Inn (formerly the Pelican Suites) offers comfortable but affordable accommodation on California's gorgeous Central Coast. Here seals laze on the rocks as the waves come crashing in, and the distinctive shapes of pelicans can be seen in the sky over the bay. A boarded walkway winds behind the beach, passing right outside the entrance to the Pelican Cove Inn.

Rooms and Suites at the Pelican Cove Inn

Many of the rooms at Pelican Cove have balconies with either full or partial views of the ocean. Rooms are spacious and decorated in a traditional manner, with lots of wooden furniture and brass lamps. Fine artworks add to the luxurious feel. Rooms also come with a working fireplace, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, robes, and a coffee maker.

The larger suites at the Inn all have either a balcony or a patio with full or partial views of the Pacific Ocean. Guests wanting to book for a special occasion such as a birthday, honeymoon, or anniversary should ask for one of the suites which has a full ocean view. Some suites also have window seats. All have whirlpool tubs, canopied beds, and mini-refrigerators.

Beachside Hotel with Free Extra Amenities

Every guest at the Inn receives a complimentary cooked buffet breakfast, as well as an afternoon wine and cheese tasting, and a late evening dessert buffet selection which includes such treats as cheesecake, chocolate cake, carrot cake and cookies. In addition there is complimentary tea and coffee in each room, free wifi internet access throughout the property, and a heated swimming pool. Parking is free and the Inn is a no-smoking hotel.

Coastal Wildlife and Gardens at Pelican Cove Inn

Coastal wildlife like seals and pelicans can be seen on the rocks and beaches right outside the Inn's front entrance. Just a few miles up the Pacific Coast Highway beyond Hearst Castle is Piedras Blancas Beach, the best place on the whole Pacific Coast for seeing elephant seals. A short drive to the south, Morro Bay is a prime spot for watching sea otters, seals, peregrine falcons and more.

Pelican Cove Inn has cultivated its own gardens, including a riparian area – this is the ecologically-significant zone alongside a stream, where particular species of plants develop. Elsewhere in the Inn's grounds are colorful displays of flowers.

Cambria Accommodation Near Hearst Castle

The Pelican Cove Inn is found along Moonstone Beach, a beautiful stretch of coast on the outskirts of Cambria. This small artists' colony is a favorite with travelers on the Pacific Coast Highway, with its rustic buildings, pleasant restaurants and small shops selling local arts and crafts.

Cambria is also a popular base for visiting Hearst Castle; its entrance is only seven miles away. The Inn is about 150 miles north of Santa Barbara, and makes a good base for exploring the Paso Robles wine country just inland.