Elephant Seals - San Simeon

California travel expert Veronica Hill of http://www.CaliforniaTravelExpert.com tours the Elephant Seal Rookery at Piedras Blancas in this episode of "California Travel Tips."

Located just 9 miles north of San Simeon, this is the best place to view elephant seals in California.

Join Veronica Hill of California Travel Tips at this amazing vista point and learn more about these giant pinnipeds.

Located on a convenient vista turnout right off Highway 1, the Elephant Seal Rookery is home to a colony of between 7 and 10 thousand northern elephant seals.

Though they live off the California coast, northern elephant seals migrate twice a year, sometimes traveling as far as the Aleutian Islands or Hawaii.

Male elephant seals can weigh up to 9,000 pounds, dive at depths of up to a mile and hold their breath for almost 2 hours.

While at sea, elephant seals eat a diet of fish and squid. On land, they do not eat. They survive off their rich blubber, often spraying sand on their backs to keep cool.

Docents are on hand daily to answer questions about the colony, who can be seen mating, giving birth, fighting for females and molting, depending on the time of year you visit.

In January, the females give birth to a single pup after an 11-month pregnancy. Only half make it to adulthood.

Hunted for their blubber, they neared extinction during the 1800s. They are named for their trunklike, inflatable snouts.

Next time you're driving along scenic highway 1, check out the elephant seals. It's free, it's fun and educational.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• California
• travel
• tips
• elephant
• seals
• seal
• rookery
• facts
• Piedras
• Blancas
• San
• Simeon
• Cambria
• molting
• pups
• mating

[jerdeb4evr]

WE photo'd some on the rocks off Stewarts Point West of Healdsburg. We took the Skaggs Springs road over from Dry Creek Valley. To call that road winding would be a misnomer. It would suggest I's in it . The proper word for that road would look like this..wsczwmzcswvcsmw. If you lay that over the road map it should just about fit it.

[CaliforniaTravelTips]

Wow. Sounds difficult to get to. The one in Piedras Blancas near Hearst Castle is right off PCH. Check it out next time you're down that way. They have docents there to answer your questions, and the stretch of beach is beautiful (but smelly!)

[Axxeleration84]

I has their buckets...

[ChefTips]

Too funny! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Next time you're in the area, check them out! It's smelly, but really cool!

[AsktheBuilder]

Veronica,

This was great. I never realized that these creatures had their own place in California. Now I understand why people are always telling their kids to throw sand on me when I lay out on the beach.

[myreview]

I often survive off my rich blubber in the winter months too!