The Museum of Natural History served over 10,000 visitors in its first two years alone, and now some 65,000 thousand people visit the Museum annually, including 14,000 school children who participate in docent-led school programs that support California's required science and social studies standards at no cost for admission.

Location
The Museum of Natural History is located in Morro Bay State Park and is within minutes of the Heron Rookery, Montaña de Oro State Park, the El Moro Elfin Forest and Audubon's Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. The Museum overlooks Morro Bay which is both a State and National Estuary.  Entry fees are $2 for adults and free to children 16 and under. The Museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Construction on the Museum's three-phase Modernization Project began in 1993 with a remodel of the entry, gift shop, and restrooms. In 1997, Phase II -- the rotunda area -- was completed. The Phase III Modernization of the main hall became a reality in 2002, featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits especially created for the Morro Bay site. The new exhibits were developed and designed by Exhibit Group Giltspur, a prestigious internationally known design firm that was selected after a nationwide search. Giltspur has also created exhibits for the Smithsonian and the J. Paul Getty Museum.

The new exhibits provide current scientific information related to the estuary and bay ecosystems and allows visitors to learn about tidal forces, geology, erosion, human impacts on the land and how to preserve and protect the environment and all its living creatures in a fun, hands-on learning environment.

Several of the exhibits feature touch screens that provide visitors the opportunity to find out what the forces of nature are doing at that moment in time. Visitors can build a sand dune, operate the hydrologic cycle and dig into the food pit to create their own food chains.

PISMO NATURE CENTER
Located in the Pismo State Beach - Oceano Campground, this Nature Center links the visitor to the plants, animals and cultural history in this State Park. Interactive, hands on exhibits on birds, animals, Monarch butterflies, the fresh water lagoon, native plants, and Chumash culture make learning fun for all ages. There are also many mounts of local animals on display and a collection of video presentations on local natural history.

Docents trained in interpretation are on site to answer your questions. 
Several docent led walks start from this Nature Center. Check the current Adventures with Nature schedule.

Special programs are also given for campers, Elderhostels, scout groups, garden clubs, service clubs, senior citizens and other organizations. School program docents offer interpretive programs on Monarch butterflies, fresh water lagoon life, turtles & tortoises and Chumash culture for teachers and students.

Nature Store
A small but unique gift store, located in the nature center, specializes in educational and interpretive material relating to the cultural and natural history of this area. You are not likely to find this selection of items carried in your local stores:

--Books and educational material and postcards on nature, such as local birds, plants, flowers, and animals, including sea creatures

--Local history about the Native American people, the Dunites who established a small community in the Pismo Dunes in the 1930's and the Oceano lagoon

--Information on walks, hikes and bike rides in San Luis Obispo County

--Activity books and toys for children, as well as souvenirs and gifts

This is a great resource for teachers, parents and grandparents! The Nature Center's summer hours, beginning June 1 and running through Labor Day, are 1:00PM to 4:00PM Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Winter hours are the same on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.

Location
From the town of Pismo Beach, travel south 2 miles on Hwy. 1 to Pier Avenue, then go west 2 blocks. Oceano Campground is on the right. The nature Center is to the right of the entrance.

Hearst Castle®, San Simeon State Historical Monument
In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased 40,000-acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of Piedras Blancas, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown to encompass 250,000 acres.

Originally known as "Camp Hill," its wilderness offered a place for family members and friends to "rough it" on camping trips. Despite elaborate arrangements with separate sleeping and dining tents, Hearst envisioned more comfortable accommodations. His simple instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan in 1919: "Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something"

Hearst and Morgan's collaboration was destined to become one of the world's greatest showplaces. As they were planning and constructing his dream home, Hearst renamed the rocky perch from which it rose "La Cuesta Encantada" - The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways.

The estate's magnificent main house, "Casa Grande," and three guest houses are of Mediterranean Revival style, while the imposing towers of Casa Grande were inspired by a Spanish cathedral. The blending of the architectural style with the surrounding land, and Hearst's superb European and Mediterranean art collection, was so seamless that world-renowned architectural historian, Lord John Julius Norwich, was moved to say that "Hearst Castle is a palace in every sense of the word."