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Central Coast State Parks Association | CCSPA Central Coast State Parks Association | CCSPA
  • Who we Are
    • Mission and Vision
    • Board & Staff
    • Join Our Team
      • Job Opportunities
      • Board Service
      • Internships
      • Volunteering
    • Transparency
    • Partnerships
    • Sponsor Recognition
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Our Impact
    • Programs
      • School Groups
      • Traveling Museum Exhibits
    • Press & Publications
      • Podcast
      • Blog
      • In The News
    • Awards
    • Nature Notes Newsletter
  • Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Adventures With Nature
    • CCSPA Film Screening Event
    • Mind Walks Lectures
    • Butterfly Ball
  • Visit
    • Parks We Support
      • Cayucos State Beach
      • Harmony Headlands State Park
      • Hearst San Simeon State Park
      • Estero Bluffs State Park
      • Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
      • Montaña de Oro & Spooner Ranch
      • Morro Bay State Park & Museum of Natural History
      • Morro Strand State Beach
      • Oceano Dunes & Oso Flaco Lake
      • Pismo State Beach
    • Nature Stores
    • Local Resources
  • Support
    • Become a Friend of CCSPA
    • Business & Corporate Giving
    • More Ways To Give
  • Store
  • Donate

CCSPA Blog

Central Coast State Parks Association | CCSPA / CCSPA Blog

Secrets of the Tide Pools, Part 1

One of my favorite things about living on the Central Coast is the accessibility to and beauty of our beaches. I love being able to easily drive from any part... read more →
  • March 31, 2021
  • Monica Rutherford
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Invertebrates, Lifestyle, Outdoor Recreation, Species Identification

Wild and Natural

Sand Spit doesn't sound like much of a name for a beach with miles and miles of wild, natural beauty. Sounds more like something ugly or dangerous. And it probably... read more →
  • March 25, 2021
  • Renne Gardner
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Environment, Habitat, Outdoor Recreation

Ice Plant- The Iconic but Destructive Piece of California Coastal Landscape

This plant is quite iconic to the California Coast; along highways you see bright green carpets stretching wide next to the glistening ocean. You often see spots of hot pink,... read more →
  • March 18, 2021
  • Jaden Husser
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Botany, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Habitat, Outdoor Recreation

Nature Nooks: Montaña De Oro

https://soundcloud.com/user-210939374-242894923/ccspa-wots-1 Forest trees, sandy dunes, and ocean water all meet at Montaña De Oro State Park. It is this diversity in landscape that draws out nature enthusiasts like Cal Poly... read more →
  • March 12, 2021
  • Marcus Cocova
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Environment, Lifestyle, Outdoor Recreation, Photography

Dune Plant Adaptations

Red Sand Verbena with leaves sticking up Wherever we find ourselves, we may be in situations where we need to adapt. From an unexpected confrontation to a new job, some... read more →
  • March 4, 2021
  • Jaden Husser
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Botany, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Habitat

Central Coast State Parks Coffee Blends: Coffee Roasted Locally

The idea for Coastal Peaks Coffee, a local coffee roasting company and wholesale distributor, emerged a little after 1989 when owner Mike Knight started a small coffee business called simply... read more →
  • February 26, 2021
  • Maureen McNamara
  • No Comments
  • Advocacy, Business, Environment, Lifestyle, Meaningful Merchandise

Bristle Worms

Last month during a low tide on the day of the full moon, Faylla Chapman and a few of our friends visited the Morro Bay mudflats. We came upon an... read more →
  • February 16, 2021
  • Sally Krenn
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Flora and Fauna, Invertebrates, Marine Biology, Species Identification

Mud Stories, Part 1

Windy Cove, below the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, contains a mud flat within Morro Bay.  This mud flat can be very extensive on a low tide, especially if... read more →
  • February 9, 2021
  • Faylla Chapman
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Habitat, Invertebrates, Marine Biology

Woodrats – Cuter than Mickey Mouse!

Say the name “rat” and a nasty, sneaky Norwegian stow-away rat comes to mind. Erase that image and imagine a multicolor, fur-coated, big eared rodent with a fuzzy tail as... read more →
  • January 12, 2021
  • Norma Wightman
  • No Comments
  • Flora and Fauna, Habitat, Species Identification, Uncategorized

“Sea Pickles” Invade Local Beaches

Every walk on Morro Strand State Beach is an adventure. On December 24 while strolling along looking at birds I noticed some most unusual organisms at my feet. Dozens of... read more →
  • December 29, 2020
  • Norma Wightman
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Flora and Fauna, Invertebrates, Marine Biology, Photography, Species Identification, Uncategorized
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Recent Posts

  • Cerro Cabrillo: A Climber’s Perspective May 29, 2025
  • Musings along Montaña de Oro’s Coon Creek Trail April 24, 2025
  • The Butterfly Effect January 7, 2025
  • Tri-Tip Challenge July 4, 2024
  • Estero Bluffs State Park April 30, 2024

Contact Us

202 Tank Farm Road (Suite H2) San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Phone: 805.548.0390 E-Mail: info@centralcoastparks.org Web: centralcoastparks.org

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© 2023 CCSPA (Tax ID #: 51-0198869). All Rights Reserved. Photos by Mike Baird and Highway 1 Road Trip