California's San Luis Obispo County is home to the beachfront community of Cambria, which is situated halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on Highway 1. There are only three native forests with Monterey pines, and Cambria is located among them. The 8.5 square miles that make up the Cambria census-designated place are entirely land, according to the United States Census Bureau.

With an Indian summer and the warmest days occurring in August and September, Cambria has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate typical of the coastal areas of southern California. With pleasant days, chilly nights, and a lot of rainfall, winters are cool and rainy. The summers are hot and dry with occasionally hot days, chilly nights, and little any rainfall. There's often fog.

Thanks to its breathtaking setting along the Pacific Ocean with rocky cliffs, beaches, and characteristic Monterey pines, Cambria relies on tourism. It offers a variety of hotels and bed and breakfasts, mostly along Moonstone Beach Drive, as well as distinctive residential construction. Moonstone Beach, which gets its name from the moonstones that wash up on the shore, is a paradise for marine life and tide pools. The 1.5-mile Moonstone Beach Boardwalk offers opportunities for beachcombing and wildlife viewing. Six miles to the north is Hearst Castle and fifteen miles to the north is the Piedras Blancas Northern elephant seal rookery. Additionally, Cambria is home to the eccentric Nitt Witt Ridge, California State Historical Landmark No. 939, and the Cambria Historical Museum in the elegant East Village.

Along with cycling, hiking, and water sports like boogie boarding, surfing, and skimboarding at nearby beaches, Cambria offers a variety of leisure choices. Kayak fishing tours are also offered for aficionados of this well-liked past time. A mile of breathtaking Pacific Ocean beachfront is protected by the 430-acre Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, which is located just outside the town. With monuments like the public library, Veterans Memorial, and a museum, the preserve, which was once owned by Italian Swiss dairymen, now provides a peaceful setting for the neighborhood. The ecosystems and marine species at Cambria are also protected by a variety of marine protected areas, including White Rock (Cambria) State Marine Conservation Area and Cambria State Marine Conservation Area.