Meet the Scientists brings the public face to face with the marine biologists, ecologists, and conservation specialists who study this stretch of the Central Coast year round.
The 2026 lineup features the NOAA gray whale survey team, a speaker from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and a representative from the Central California Marine Animal Response Team sharing the latest research on marine mammal diseases along the Central Coast. The setting alone is worth the trip. Piedras Blancas sits on a rugged, windswept point about six miles north of Hearst Castle, surrounded by the California Coastal National Monument and home to elephant seals, sea otters, seabirds, and migrating whales. Lunch is served after the talks.
This is a great morning for naturalists, families with curious kids, and anyone who has ever stopped at the elephant seal vista and wondered what the scientists down the coast are actually working on. Reservations are required and space tends to fill quickly. To register, visit piedrasblancas.org/events or follow the registration link from the Piedras Blancas Light Station Instagram post.
If you are planning a coastal day, there is plenty more along the North Coast worth your time. The full HelloCambria event calendar is the easy way to see what else is happening.
