The 9 Best Things to Do in Morro Bay California: My Top Activities in 2026

Morro Bay is for sure one of those California towns that surprised me quite a bit, mainly because I didn’t really know what to expect before I got here. But in the end, I had such a great time.

I spent 3 full days in Morro Bay as part of my 1-month California road trip, and looking back, I just had so much fun. I got to see sea lions, otters and whales, eat some amazing seafood, and just relax a little bit after some pretty busy days in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Morro Bay isn’t necessarily the activity capital of California, but there are still a few really fun things to do around here. And since I actually got to experience quite a few of them myself, I figured I’d put together this guide on the best things to do in Morro Bay California to give you some ideas for your own trip.

Best Things to Do in Morro Bay – My Experience

If I had to pick the one thing I enjoyed most about Morro Bay, it would for sure be the wildlife. I just get so excited every time I get the chance to see wild animals in their natural habitat, and it’s honestly one of my favorite things to do when I travel.

We got to see the cutest otters right around the harbor, but then we also saw so many sea lions from super close, which was awesome. Especially compared to San Francisco, where there are hundreds of people watching the sea lions at Pier 39, here it was basically just us, which I really liked.

And then, of course, the highlight was whale watching. If you’re looking for some top-tier but also affordable whale watching, I really recommend Morro Bay. I felt like whale-watching tours got more expensive the closer we got to Los Angeles and San Diego, so Morro Bay was a really good place to do it without spending a fortune.

I also have to mention the seafood, specifically the oysters. I know that’s not really an activity, but it was definitely one of the things I enjoyed most while I was here. For oysters, we went to Tognazzini’s, and for fried seafood, I hiiighly recommend Giovanni’s Fish Market!

My Favorite Activities in Morro Bay CA

1. Try to Spot the Otters in Morro Bay

One of the coolest and also completely free things to do in Morro Bay is trying to spot the sea otters here. I had seen loads of videos of them on Instagram beforehand, so obviously I had to try to find them myself.

And oh my god, they’re so freaking cute.

We saw quite a few of them playing around in the water, but a lot of them were also just completely passed out, floating around on their backs and snoozing away. It was sooo adorable. I could’ve stood there watching them for ages.

From my experience, the two best places to see them were Morro Bay T Pier and Sea Otter Heaven, so definitely check those out if you want to see them while you’re here.

2. Explore Morro Rock

The iconic landmark of Morro Bay is, of course, Morro Rock, which is basically impossible to miss. It’s this huge boulder sitting right offshore in front of the town, and it’s pretty damn impressive to see in person.

But I actually found the story behind it even more impressive.

Morro Rock is a volcanic plug, which basically means it’s hardened lava that got stuck inside the vent of a volcano. So technically, there’s basically a 23-million-year-old ancient volcano sitting underneath Morro Bay, which is pretty cool if you ask me.

We walked all the way out toward Morro Rock and around the area, which made for a really nice post-lunch walk. Other than that, though, I’d say Morro Rock is probably more of a sightseeing and photo-op kind of thing.

3. Go Whale Watching!

Whale watching is one of my absolute favorite things to do, and I feel like whenever I get the chance to go whale watching, I do it.

We booked our whale-watching tour online through Viator, which is what I usually use for tours, and we had such a great time.

We saw a bunch of dolphins, spotted humpback whales, and just had a really fun time out on the water. Even the boat ride itself was cool, and our guides were super knowledgeable about the whales and the area, which made the whole experience even better.

This was probably the highlight of my entire time in Morro Bay. I’m always going to say yes to a whale-watching tour, but this one was definitely worth it.

Check Prices & Availability: Whale Watching Tour Morro Bay

4. Eat Oysters at Tognazzini’s

The seafood here in Morro Bay was honestly some of the best seafood I’ve had in California, but I guess that shouldn’t really surprise me since I’m basically right at the source here.

I had some delicious oysters with a cold beer at Tognazzini’s, which I highly recommend. And then I had what might genuinely be the best popcorn shrimp of my life at Giovanni’s Fish Market. I’m not even kidding. That stuff was SO good.

So if you’re into seafood, definitely check out both of those places.

I’ve also heard great things about Morro Bay Oyster Company, where you can buy freshly caught oysters and they’ll shuck them for you right there. Unfortunately, they were closed when I was visiting, so I didn’t get to try them myself, but that one is definitely on my list for next time.

5. Visit the Sea Lions in Morro Bay

Next to the whales and otters, the sea lions are another awesome animal hanging out in Morro Bay, and they’re basically impossible to miss.

They usually hang out at the Sea Lion Dock, which is a big platform right out in the bay, and those guys can be LOUD. Seriously, you’ll probably hear them before you even see them.

We got lucky and saw one hanging out right by the shore next to Giovanni’s Fish Market, which was super cool because we got a really close look at it.

If you want to see more of them, though, I’d definitely walk along the waterfront and keep an eye out toward the Sea Lion Dock. Once you know what you’re listening for, you really can’t miss them.

6. Walk the Embarcadero (Waterfront)

The Embarcadero is basically Morro Bay’s waterfront, and it’s a really nice place to just walk around for a while. There are loads of seafood restaurants, little shops and places to stop for a drink or something to eat along the way.

You can walk along the main road, but there’s also a path behind the restaurants that runs right along the water, which I actually preferred. It’s much more relaxed, and you get some really nice views over the bay while you’re walking.

It’s also one of the best places to keep an eye out for the sea lions, so you can easily combine this with trying to spot them. And honestly, with all the boats, wildlife and views of Morro Rock, it’s just a really nice way to spend an afternoon in Morro Bay.

7. Visit the Shell Shop

The Shell Shop in Morro Bay is such a fun and quirky little place, and yes, as you probably already guessed, it’s a shop that sells shells.

I didn’t end up buying anything because I really didn’t have much space left in my suitcase, but it would definitely make for a pretty cool souvenir if you do. They have everything from tiny little shells to absolutely massive ones, and they even have shark jaws hanging on the walls, which were honestly pretty damn cool and impressive.

I’m not usually someone who goes out of my way to visit souvenir shops, but this one was actually really fun to walk around and look at everything.

8. Walk the Morro Bay State Park Boardwalk

Just south of Morro Bay is Morro Bay State Park, and it’s such a beautiful part of the area. It’s a really marshy landscape with some awesome views over the ocean, and there’s a boardwalk that I thought was absolutely perfect for a morning stroll.

Especially when you get one of those mornings with blue skies, sunshine and that little bit of chill still in the air, walking around with a coffee in your hand is honestly pretty hard to beat.

This was actually one of my favorite things we did in Morro Bay. It was just so peaceful and relaxing, and a really nice way to start the day.

It’s also a great area for bird watching, so definitely keep your eyes open while you’re walking around!

9. Take a Day Trip to San Luis Obispo

And lastly, whenever you’re in Morro Bay, I’d also highly recommend either taking a day trip to San Luis Obispo, or stopping there if you’re doing a California road trip.

SLO, as the locals call it, is one of the cutest towns in the area that I’ve been to. It has this really beautiful historic downtown with some gorgeous old buildings, but there are also loads of cool restaurants, bars and cafes around town.

And if you’re into wine, you’re in luck because there are tons of vineyards and wineries around the area that are definitely worth checking out.

I can personally recommend Sextant Winery and La Lomita Wines, which were both really nice.

FAQs About What to Do in Morro Bay California

Is Morro Bay Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. Morro Bay is a quaint and relaxing little seaside town with some really cool wildlife, amazing seafood, and it’s actually pretty affordable to visit, at least compared to places like Santa Barbara.

How Many Days in Morro Bay Do I Need?

If you’re planning on going whale watching and doing some of the other activities around Morro Bay, I’d say 2 days is probably plenty. You could easily spend 3 days here if you want to slow down a little more, but it’s a pretty small town and there isn’t a huge amount going on, so you really don’t need that much time.

What Is the Best Place to Stay in Morro Bay?

Since Morro Bay is pretty small, the number of hotels is a little limited. We stayed at the Harbor House Inn and had a great experience. It’s a cute little hotel that had recently been renovated when we stayed there, with comfortable beds, spacious rooms, and it was really affordable too.

What Is There to Do in Morro Bay?

For me, Morro Bay was all about the wildlife. The otters, the sea lions and the whale watching were definitely the highlights for me, but I also really enjoyed just eating good seafood and fresh oysters right on the waterfront.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Morro Bay

Of course, Morro Bay doesn’t have a huge amount going on in terms of activities, but I actually think that’s part of the appeal. I think that’s also why people come here in the first place: to slow down, relax, and not feel like you have to be doing something every second of the day.

At least for me, that was kinda what I needed. We had spent the days beforehand hiking all over Big Sur, so getting to Morro Bay and just slowing down a little bit was honestly pretty damn nice.

And even though it’s a small town, there’s still enough fun stuff to do to easily fill a weekend. You can go whale watching, look for otters and sea lions, walk around Morro Bay State Park, eat some incredible seafood, or even head out to some of the wineries around the area.

So yeah, I really enjoyed Morro Bay, and I hope this guide on the best things to do in Morro Bay California gave you a good idea of what to expect and what to do on your next visit.