Birders Descend on Morro Bay for the 2017 Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival - January 13-16
Find Great Lodging Specials and Discover the Morro Bay January and February Food and Wine Passport with Discounts Perfect for Love Birds

Morro Bay, CA, December 22, 2016 – Winter is the perfect time to visit Morro Bay, CA and enjoy the fantastic coastal destination with sunny days perfect for lovebirds, with romantic hikes and cozy nights by the fire, and bird watching considering the quaint town is located along of the Pacific Flyway. In fact, winter is birding season and the Morro Bay National Estuary Preserve and its 800-acre wetland are home more than 250 species of land, sea, and shore birds, both migratory and resident and dozens of endangered species including Peregrine Falcons. Lovebirds flock to Morro Bay in the winter to enjoy the romantic sunsets, restaurants and cozy hotel rooms, so book your romantic getaway today! Find a plethora of bird watching and love bird lodging specials throughout January and February here, including offers to stay two nights and get third night half-off!   Plus, every hotel guest in Jan/Feb will receive our Food & Wine Passport with over $90 in food offers.

“Winter is definitely for the birds here in Morro Bay, and we love birds,” says Jennifer Little, Executive Director of Discover Morro Bay. “Our Winter Bird Festival is very special because we are blessed to share our home with the Morro Bay National Estuary, where hundreds of birds, animals and plants, live in the beautiful landscape that’s Morro Bay. We also welcome lovebirds at this time of year because Morro Bay is the perfect place to express your love for one another.”

Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival

Every Martin Luther King weekend, more than 500 bird lovers from around the world attend the annual Winter Bird Festival. Morro Bay is a globally important bird area, making it the perfect place to see, photograph, and learn about birds. Morro Bay is on the Pacific Flyway. More than 200 species can be sighted during the Festival weekend. While you’re in town, kayak through the National Estuary Channels, sail the bay and watch a variety of birds take flight, or hike near Morro Rock, a key haven for the once endangered bird, the peregrine falcon. Online registration for the 2017 Festival is open. Can’t make it to this year Festival? Don’t worry, just down load the list of hundreds recommended birding activates here and you can come when the time is right for you to visit.

Love Birds Paradise 
Morro Bay is a lovers’ paradise with plenty of romance, adventure, culture and gastronomies to fall in love with for a passionate Valentine getaway, destination wedding or the perfect proposal. Visually recognized from the north, south, east and west for miles away by the stunning Morro Rock sitting beautifully on the Pacific Ocean, Morro Bay offers romantic sunset after romantic sunset from a plethora of lodging properties located right on the waterfront.

Not to mention that some of the world’s best-known aphrodisiacs are sustainably farmed at the Morro Bay Oyster Company. Situated on the pristine bay, this 130-acre marine farm can be seen by paddle board, kayak or from a guided tour with Lost Isle Adventure Tours. Looking for a romantic dining experience on the bay? Book an evening sunset or Saturday brunch cruise with one of the many tour operators along the bustling Embarcadero. Aside from abundant restaurants with amazing ocean, rock and bay views, serving a variety of award-winning local wines and sustainably caught seafood, visitors can find wine tasting rooms and wine bars in town. Staxx Wine Bar & Bistro o and Bella VinosWine Bar offer romantic settings, great views and warm and friendly atmospheres along with amazing menu items to nosh on while enjoying the company of loved ones. Wine tasting rooms like Chateau Margene and MCV are great ways to learn about local wines and how they are crafted. And if craft brews are your elixir of choice, look no further.The Libertine Pub offers patrons a cozy atmosphere, live music and an expansive beer selection with 48 beers on tap at all times, including their own on-site brews that focus on barrel aged “wild ales.”

January and February Food and Wine Passport
In January and February, hotel guests are invited to experience the Discover Morro Bay Passport. Just show your room key and relish the following:

  • Enjoy two for one wine tasting at the new Chateau Margene tasting room featuring the delicious varietals the near-by winery is know for including Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux style blends.
  • Receive a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees and two drinks at Dutchman’s Seafood House, serving fresh, local seafood along with burgers, steaks and amazing salads all prepared with seasonal ingredients from area farmers. 
  • Savor a free 8oz chowder with any purchase at Giovanni’s Fish Market, family owned and operated in Morro Bay for over 25 years.
  • Delight in a free dessert with your entrée at the Great American Fish Company, which has the largest selection of seafood on the Morro Bay Embarcadero.
  • Enjoy a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees at La Vida Roca, a Mexican Restaurant and Cantina with rooftop dining.
  • At MCV Wines, enjoy a two for one wine tasting. They focus on unique and interesting blends that revolve around Petite Syrah.
  • Staxx Wine Bar & Bistro is also the place to enjoy a two for one wine tasting. Staxx is the hottest new bistro in town!

The Winter Bird Festival is just one example of the exciting events that take place in Morro Bay. On top of that, this bustling seaside village offers temperate Mediterranean weather, making it a must-do winter destination for all kinds of outdoor adventurers.  For information on all the exciting things to do and see in Morro Bay, visit www.morrobay.org.

About Morro Bay
A true gem, this seaside fishing village with bustling waterfront offers a picture perfect getaway for travelers who seek food, wine and outdoor adventures found in a gorgeous natural setting. Located along coastal Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County just south of Big Sur, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Morro Bay offers year round activities in an unspoiled slice of California. Recently recognized in as her home in Finding Dory, Morro Bay was named as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, and outdoor activities are a way of life. From ocean-side golf, kayaking, sailing, hiking, fishing, surfing, biking, and bird watching, to kite flying, shopping, dining, wine bars, local craft brews and miles of unspoiled beaches, there is something for everyone.

Sitting majestically between the beach and the harbor lays the iconic and historic landmark Morro Rock, welcoming travelers from miles away as they approach Morro Bay. Located just minutes from world-renowned Hearst Castle, historic missions, breathtaking Montana de Oro State Park, and surrounded by vineyards from Paso Robles to Edna Valley, Morro Bay is a destination designed to fit any style and budget for families, couples or groups. Morro Bay also offers a myriad of year-round events including food, wine and music festivals, art fairs and car shows unique to the town. For more travel information visit http://www.morrobay.org or follow Morro Bay on its Facebooktwitter orPinterest pages.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Susan Hartzler 
Public Relations Manager 
Mental Marketing 
818-585-8641 
shartzler@mentalmarketing.com

PUBLIC CONTACT:

Jennifer Little 
Executive Director 
Discover Morro Bay 
805-225-7411
jlittle@morrobayca.gov