Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Moro Bay is a great photo op - Moro Rock - is a great image - the south camp ground/ boat launch area has tons of Otters & birds.
We used to take 3 to 5 days to go from Montery to Moro Bay - just so much to see & do.
IMHO
Harvey

boydimages Loc: California

NV, My wife and I will also be in this area next week. Good places mentioned here. For the elephant seals the best time is morning. Don’t arrive at posted sunup time. There are low hills to the east and the sun needs to get above these. They now have a boardwalk along the cliff to separate people from them. This is birthing time along the beach. Many pups will be seen. You will experience the screaming between mothers and the newborn pups. They do this to be able to recognize each others voice if separated along the beach. Expect to see several hundred at this time of year.

In Morro Bay: Photographing along the T-piers early in the morning can be good. Many California Gulls and pelicans. We enjoy photographing the fishing boats docked here. If you travel along the embarcadero to the north you will come to “The Rock”, Morro Rock. The road will bend to the left and head toward the rock. After making this turn you can go to the right into a huge parking area and photograph the surfers, waves and sometimes wind surfers. If you turn to the left into the smaller parking areas there is normally a group of sea otters hanging out in the water. Your 300 will be enough unless you want tight face shots of them. Look close at them and you may see them floating with babies on the stomach.

If you travel south along the embarcadero you will come to the boat launching area. Nice area to photograph gulls and pelicans. Look at the cliff area that overlooks this area. Find a place on this cliff to be at sunrise. You can drive along the road on top of this cliff. From this road drive into the new looking housing complex for the best places to be at sunrise. This will be just before you get to the golf course. At sunrise Morro Rock will have warm light and the light on the boats in the harbor will be very nice.

While in San Simeon you might want to check out the pier area. There is an old store and school here that you can photograph. Not the best place for wildlife though. In Cambria be sure to stop in the “Visions of Nature” photo gallery. Bill LaBrie is a very talented photographer. There is also several galleries in Morro Bay that have photos. You will find these in the Marina Square shopping area along the embarcadero.

While Morro Bay you will find many good places to eat. For fish and chips we go to Giovanni’s along the embarcadero. This is a walk up. We normally get our food and head out toward Morro Rock.

Enjoy your trip.

boydimages Loc: California

NV, The road at the top of the bluffs in Morro Bay is called Main St., this will turn into State Park Rd. If you follow this to the golf course there is a heron rookery on you right that might be good. Also if you keep going across from the state park campground you can turn into a parking area along the boats moored here. A restaurant on the right is good. Going to the left go to the end of the parking area. You can walk around the bay area and get some good photos on Morro Bay harbor from here. Morning and late are the best times.

I noticed your from Nevada. Traveling down highway 1 is a wonderful trip. Start in Monterey area and head south. Don’t be confused by the short milage of the trip. It will take all day. Much of the time you will be driving below 40 mph.

In Monterey head toward Pacific Grove and along the ocean. Great area to photograph but maybe not wildlife except gulls. You may see some whales off shore. The only place for breakfast in Monterey is the "Old Monterey Cafe" on Alvarado St.

In Morro Bay you can take a whale watching trip.

nvphotographer Loc: Fallon, Nevada

Yes I have a 1.4. Thanks for the tip about the condors.

nvphotographer Loc: Fallon, Nevada

Thank you for the info.