CA Coast Info

Best Western
San Marcos Inn

 

A fine motel located on the central coast of California in the small coastal fishing village of Morro Bay provides some of Morro Bay's finest lodging. Midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the San Marcos Inn is perfect for overnight accommodations or a week of relaxing and exploring nearby Hearst Castle®. If you need more information feel free to contact us.

Toll Free
(800) 772-7969



El Morro
Masterpiece Motel

El Morro Masterpiece Motel delivers an aesthetic experience - from the authentic Spanish-Moorish architecture to the finely framed prints which decorate the corridors and rooms with artistic works from the master painters of the Renaissance to the Moderns. Enjoy a charming, value-priced boutique inn that is situated just minutes from the magnificent waterfront.

Toll Free
(800) 527-6782



Cayucos | Cambria | Baywood / Los Osos | Morro Bay
San Simeon | Hearst Castle | Pismo Beach
:: Coastal Wedding Information ::


For Lovers of the Outdoors...

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean on Highway 1, just west of 101, is the seaside community of Morro Bay. With its rich and varied array of State Parks and Reserves, Nature Preserves, agriculture lands and open space, the Morro Bay estuary, seashore and coastal lands are a nature enthusiast's paradise. It's also one of the best-kept secrets among the CA Coast Communities. Count on an unhurried pace, less crowded places to visit, and undiscovered treasures.

Morro Bay Harbor and the Embarcadero

Morro Rock raises 576 feet into the air at the entrance of the harbor and is home to the Peregrine Falcon. Grab a bag of homemade salt water taffy and find a spot to watch the fishing boats unload the catch of the day. Have your camera ready for those special shots of the brown pelicans, harbor seals and cute little otters where the harbor is their playground. Walk or drive out to the rock and see why Morro Bay is considered a surfers paradise.

Morro Bay Surfing near Morro Rock and the EmbarcaderoMorro Bay means a Fresh Fish dinner on the bay, visiting several Art Galleries, Golfing, Bird Watching, Surfing. Boating, Kayaking, Hiking or just plain relaxing.

Places to see when you visit include Montaña de Oro State Park, Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, the Elfin Forest, the pier and village shops at Baywood Park, and Los Osos Oaks State Reserve. 

White Egret- Estero Bay - Morro Bay, CaliforniaMorro Bay Harbor is home to one of California's largest and most productive commercial fishing fleets and provides area restaurants and fish markets with the freshest of seafood.

Morro Bay is also a bird sanctuary providing a nourishing habitat to more than two dozen threatened and endangered species. The last estuary of its kind between Mexico and Northern California, Morro Bay is a major stop of the Pacific flyway. More than 70 migratory bird species make their winter home here.

Morro Bay's Public Golf Course is our best kept secret! The beautiful 18 hole course overlooks the ocean nestled near the Great Blue Heron Rookery and Natural History Museum.

Or try some of these other great golf venus:

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Avila Beach Golf Resort
6460 Ana Bay Drive
Avila Beach
Phone: 805-595-4000
http://www.avilabeachresort.com/

Seaside resort between San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach. The back nine transverses a tidal estuary. Golfers of all abilities will enjoy the challenge of this scenic course.

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BlackLake Golf Resort
1490 Golf Course Lane
Nipomo
Phone: 805-343-1214
http://www.blacklake.com/

"Come for the service, stay for the golf." California Oaks, sparkling water pools and scenic coastal hills are all part of the natural beauty of this unique golf course.

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Chalk Mountain Golf Course
10000 El Bordo Road
Atascadero
Phone: 805-466-8848
http://www.chalkmountaingolf.com/

Ideally situated among lush, ancient oak groves. A meandering creek, rolling hills, and undulating greens add to the charm and character of this challenging golf course.

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Cypress Ridge Golf Course
780 Cypress Ridge Pkway
Arroyo Grande
Toll-Free: 888-781-GOLF (4653)
Phone: 805-474-7979
http://www.cypressridge.com/

This new Peter Jacobsen Signature Course is as challenging as it is beautiful. Mature cypress trees, lush green fairways and cool fresh ocean air make us a golfers' paradise.

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Dairy Creek Golf Course
2990 Dairy Creek Road
San Luis Obispo
Phone: 805-782-8060
http://www.slocountyparks.com/facilities/dairycreek.htm

Designed by John Harbottle, we offer a true test of golf, without disturbing the natural habitats and beauty of the land. Built along rolling hills with enchanting views.

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Eagle Creek Golf Course
13000 Atascadero Road
Atascadero
Phone: 805-461-7500
http://www.atascaderochamber.org/subAttractions.asp?ItemID=22&level=3

A 9-hole course priced to fit everyone's budget, where precision is the name of the game. Exceptionally pure greens where water comes into play on 7 holes.

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Hunter Ranch Golf Course
4041 Highway 46 East
Paso Robles
Phone: 805-237-7444
http://www.hunterranchgolf.com/

The only 4 1/2 star facility on California's central coast. Meandering through stands of century old Oaks, a sparkling lake adds to the test. In the heart of the Paso wine country.

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Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course
11175 Los Osos Valley Road
San Luis Obispo
Phone: 805-781-7309
http://www.slocity.org/parksandrecreation/golf.asp

Rated one of the best-maintained layouts on the Central Coast. Low fees, quality maintenance, great views & friendly staff make this an experience worth repeating.

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Links Course at Paso Robles, The
5151 Jardine Road
Paso Robles
Phone: 805-227-4567
http://www.linkscourseatpasorobles.com/

Designed in the tradition of the historical Scottish layouts. Four sets of tees accommodates the novice and challenges the advanced player. Fun and challenging.

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Morro Bay Golf Course
201 State Park Rd
Morro Bay
Phone: 805-782-8060
http://www.slocountyparks.com/facilities/morrobay.htm

A favorite for anyone who wants to feel they're playing a Pebble Beach-like track at a fraction of the cost. Situated inside Morro Bay State Park, the ocean views are stunning.

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Paso Robles Golf Club
1600 Country Club Dr.
Paso Robles
Phone: 805-238-4722
http://www.centralcoast.com/pasoroblesgolfclub/

Enjoy the lowest golf prices on the central coast. Former country club with championship course; now open to public.

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Pismo State Beach Golf Course
9 LaSage Drive
Grover Beach
Phone: 805-481-5215
http://www.pismogolf.com/

Beautiful golf course located next to the ocean. A unique and inexpensive golf experience that will keep you coming back.

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River Oaks Golf Course
700 Clubhouse Dr.
Paso Robles
Phone: 805-226-2096
http://www.riveroaksgolfcourse.com/view.asp?id=200&page=3454

Beautiful new challenging 6-hole course that can be played as 6, 9 or 18 hole course. Golf pro on site.

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Sea Pines Golf Course
1945 Solano Street
Los Osos
Toll-Free: 888-732-7463
Phone: 805-528-5252
http://www.seapinesgolfresort.com/


Kids will love the new Tidelands Park at the south end of the Embarcadero. The location is perfect to watch boats come and go.

Morro Bay and Tidelands Park right on the Bay

Take home a unique treasure from the famous Shell Shop, ride on the Tiger's Folly, a popular replica of an old Mississippi River Boat, visit the Specialty Shops at the Marina Square and ride around the town on the Morro Bay Trolley.

Just a few miles down the road is Los Osos, gateway to the magnificent Montana de Oro State Park. The parks' name, meaning Mountain of Gold, is believed to have come from the color of the hillsides in spring. Today, Montana de Oro is home to over 8,000 acres of rugged wilderness and jagged coastline. One of the state's most breathtaking parks, it is a favorite of hikers, bicyclists, campers, and surfers.

Average Daily Temperature

Morro Bay & Los Osos

»

Winter :: Sunny days, clear nights
High 61, low 40

»

Spring :: Breezy days, cool nights
High 63, low 48

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Summer :: Foggy mornings, sunny afternoons and nights
High 67, low 54

»

Fall :: Warm, sunny days, cool nights
High 71, low 49

Morro Rock

An ancient volcanic formation composed mainly of igneous rock, Morro Rock is part of a chain of un-erupted volcanic intrusions that run from the city of San Luis Obispo west to the Pacific Ocean. Material from the rock, dacite, is believed to be twenty-four million years old.

Morro Bay Farmers' Market

» Thursdays, 3-5pm - Young's Giant Foods, North Main Street
» Mondays, 2 - 5pm - 2nd & Santa Maria Streets, Los Osos
» Los Osos/Baywood Park Farmers' Market

The 2005 Morro Bay, CA, population is 10,309. There are 2,007 people per square mile (population density).

People Morro Bay, CA United States
Population 10,309 293,655,400
Pop. Density 2006.7 80
Pop. Change 0.01% 5.88%
Median Age 45.4 37.6
Household Size 2.04 2.58
RACE    
White 92.72% 77.53%
Black 0.58% 12.35%
Asian 1.08% 3.58%
American Indian 0.94% 0.89%
Other 4.68% 5.65%
Hispanic 11.95% 12.73%
FAMILY    
Married, w/children 10.79% 27.90%
Married, no children 29.75% 31.04%
Single, w/children 6.14% 9.43%
Single, no children 5.75% 30.05%
Divorced 16.99% 7.64%
Separated 2.28% 2.82%
Widowed 8.94% 7.42%
Now Married 47.25% 57.73%
Never Married 24.54% 24.39%

Family in Morro Bay, CA,

The median age is 45.4. The US median is 37. 47.3% of people in Morro Bay, CA, are married, 17.0% are divorced.

The average household size is 2.04 people. 10.8% of people are married, with children. 6.1% have children, but are single.

Race in Morro Bay, CA

92.7% of people are white, 0.6% are black, 1.1% are Asian, 0.9% are native American, and 4.7% claim "other."

12.0% of the people in Morro Bay, CA, claim Hispanic ethnicity (meaning 88.1% are non-Hispanic).

As of 2005, Morro Bay's population is 10,309 people. Since 2000, it has had no population growth.

The median home cost in Morro Bay is $650,000. Home appreciation the last year has been up 14.00 percent.

Compared to the rest of the country, Morro Bay's cost of living is 82.00% higher than the U.S. average.

Morro Bay public schools spend $5,498 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 19 students per teacher in Morro Bay.

The unemployment rate in Morro Bay is 4.10 percent (U.S. avg. is 5%). Recent job growth is 2.44 percent.

Economy in Morro Bay, CA

The unemployment rate in Morro Bay, CA, is 4.1%, with job growth of 2.4%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 15.3%.

Morro Bay, CA, sales tax rate is 7.3%. Income tax is 6.0%.

The income per capita is $26,432, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $42,020.

Economy Morro Bay, CA United States
Unemployment Rate 4.10% 5.00%
Recent Job Growth 2.44% 1.30%
Future Job Growth 14.08% 9.06%
Sales Taxes 7.25% 6.00%
Income Taxes 6.00% 5.02%
Household Income $41,383 $44,684
Income per Cap. $26,105 $24,020

Housing

The median home value in Morro Bay, CA, is $650,000. Home appreciation is 14.00% over the last year. The median age of Morro Bay, CA, real estate is 29 years.

Renters make up 34.7% of the Morro Bay, CA, population. 22.2% of houses and apartments in Morro Bay, CA, are unoccupied (vacancy rate).

Housing Morro Bay, CA United States
Median Home Age 29.3 27.2
Median Home Cost $650,000 $208,500
Home Appreciation 14.00% 13.62%
Homes Owned 43.12% 64.07%
Housing Vacant 22.21% 14.48%
Homes Rented 34.67% 21.45%
Property Tax Rate $7.85 $0.00
Apartment Rent $923 $653

Morro Bay, CA Health

There are 244 physicians per capita in Morro Bay, CA, . The US average is 170.

Air quality in Morro Bay, CA, is 31 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). This is based on ozone alert days and number of pollutants in the air, as reported by the EPA.

Water quality in Morro Bay, CA, is 30 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators.

Superfund index is 69 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). This is upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts.

Health Morro Bay, CA United States
Air Quality (100=best) 31 48
Water Quality (100=best) 30 55
Superfund Sites (100=best) 69 71
Physicians per Cap. 244.1 169.7

Morro Bay, CA Crime

Morro Bay, CA, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 10, is 4. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 3.

Morro Bay, CA, property crime, on a scale from 1 (low) to 10, is 3. Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. The US average is 3. 

Crime Morro Bay, CA United States
Violent Crime 4 3
Property Crime 3 3

Morro Bay, CA Climate

Morro Bay, CA, gets 9.0 inches of rain per year. The US average is 38.8. Snowfall is 11.8 inches. The average US city gets 24.4 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 47.

On average, there are 284 sunny days per year in Morro Bay, CA, . The July high is around 91 degrees. The January low is 29. Our comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 62 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44. 

Climate Morro Bay, CA United States
Rainfall (in.) 18.9 38.8
Snowfall (in.) 0 24.4
Precipitation Days 47 112
Sunny Days 284 205
Avg. July High 79.2 86.4
Avg. Jan. Low 40.2 21.6
Comfort Index (higher=better) 62 44
UV Index 5.3 4.3
Elevation ft. 537 1,058

Morro Bay, CA Education

Morro Bay, CA, schools spend $5,498 per student. There are 19 pupils per teacher, 1,738 students per librarian, and 503 children per counselor in Morro Bay, CA, schools. 

Education Morro Bay, CA United States
School Expenditures $5,498 $6,058
Pupil/Teacher Ratio 18.8 15.9
Students per Librarian 1738 907
Students per Counselor 503 546

Morro Bay, CA Transportation

The average one-way commute in Morro Bay, CA, takes 22 minutes. 74.8% of commuters drive their own car alone. 12.2% carpool with others. 0.0% take mass transit and 8.2% work from home. Morro Bay is known as a bedroom community of San Luis Obispo. 

Transportation Morro Bay, CA United States
Commute Time 22.1 27.4
COMMUTE MODE    
Auto (alone) 74.43% 71.32%
Carpool 12.53% 14.52%
Mass Transit 0.00% 2.00%
Work at Home 7.95% 5.46%

Morro Bay, CA Cost of Living

Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. An amount below 100 means Morro Bay, CA, is cheaper than the US average. A cost of living index above 100 means Morro Bay, CA, is more expensive.

Overall, Morro Bay, CA, cost of living is 181.7. 

Cost of Living Morro Bay, CA United States
Overall 181.7 100
Food 112.3 100
Housing 311.8 100
Utilities 115.6 100
Health 110.9 100
Transportation 108.9 100
Miscellaneous 102.2 100

Morro Bay, CA Religion

43.4% of the people in Morro Bay, CA, are religious, meaning they affiliate with a religion. 27.7% are Catholic; 8.2% are Protestant; 2.2% are LDS; 4.6% are another Christian faith; 0.7% in Morro Bay, CA, are Jewish; 0.1% are an eastern faith; 0.0% affiliate with Islam.

Religion Morro Bay, CA United States
Percent Religious 43.42% 50.03%
Catholic 27.67% 21.92%
Protestant 8.19% 19.12%
LDS 2.22% 1.57%
Other Christian 4.55% 4.66%
Jewish 0.69% 2.16%
Eastern 0.09% 0.05%
Islam 0.02% 0.54%

Morro Bay, CA Voting

5.5% of the people in Morro Bay, CA, are registered as Democrats. 52.7% are registered Republican. Remaining are independent: 0.8% liberal, 0.8% conservative, and 0.2% other. 

Voting Morro Bay, CA United States
Democrat 45.519% 48.147%
Republican 52.689% 50.849%
Independent Liberal 0.842% 0.491%
Independent Conservative 0.775% 0.450%
Independent Other 0.176% 0.063%