On Hwy-1, 40 miles North of San Luis Obispo. The preponderance of half-timbered gift shops can be off-putting, but Cambria repays a leisurely exploration on account of its rural serenity and for the commendable work of a small band of local artists and artisans displayed in a dozen galleries along Main Street. Country lodges, bed-and-breakfast inns and good quality restaurants are another feature of this pine-shrouded town, and it has some fine beaches off which seals – and surfers – can often be seen.

You’ll find the Cambria Historical Museum (http://www.cambriahistoricalsociety.com/museum.html) here, which celebrates Cambrian history and Nitt Witt Ridge, which is a house that has been carved out of the cliffs by eccentric artist Arthur Beal, it is definitely worth going to see if you’re in Cambria.