Harmony California Hearst Castle
Side Trip
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Harmony,
California is on your way to Hearst Castle. Take time to stop
and visit this little town on your next trip along Highway One.
The Swiss people from the northern counties of California came
to this area because of the vast grasslands in San Luis Obispo
County. Some of them, known for raising great dairy farms, settled
her after leasing property from land owners in the area, including
William Hearst, who built Hearst Castle. The Swiss were thrilled
with the grass, the climate, and the gently rolling hills and
stayed. The Harmony Valley Creamery was established in the 1860’s
to service the surrounding dairy farms. The Harmony Valley Creamery
Association was comprised of these farms and thrived for over
90 years. William Hearst and his guests often stopped at the
creamery to pick up fresh buttermilk and butter. With their
Harmony Valley Creamery, the residents were granted a post office,
making it an official town. The post office has operated since
1915 but is one the verge of being closed down. Be sure to sign
the keep the post office open petition when visiting Harmony.
Plan On spending at least 30 minutes in town longer if you go
up the hill to Harmony Cellars winery. |
Things
to do Harmony, California:
Back roads Gallery is a small gift and art shop. Harmony Glassworks
is an excellent little glass making and blowing shop where you
can watch demonstrations, get a tour, or even take classes.
The winery that is on the hill is Harmony Cellars.
They sell award winning wines, offer wine tasting, a gazebo, and
a gift shop. You can roam around; take beautiful photography of
the views from the top of the hill where you can see the coast
and the rolling hills from all directions. The Harmony Post Office
is closed but you can sign a petition to reopen it and take a
peek inside. The road that runs through the center of town used
to be the main highway along the coast but know dead ends into
a field. You can make this a short day trip of itself or add it
to your day trip to the surrounding towns of Cambria, Cayucos,
San Simeon, or Morro
Bay. The trip does not take long from Templeton, Paso Robles,
San Luis
Obispo, or the Five Cities area. Harmony is a nice little
side trip on a journey along US Highway one. |
Directions: Take Highway 1 and
about 3 miles north of the 46 junction you will see a line of
buildings, turn into the driveway and you have reached Harmony.
There are a few shops that are worth making a day trip to and
visit the winery on the hill to finish off your day. |
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