Harmony, CA

California's Biggest Little Town

Driving down California’s famous Highway 1, visitors pass by many stunning coastal towns. Names like Monterey and Cambria conjure up images of quaint coastal towns and beautiful stretches of rugged coastline on one side and California’s Coastal Range on the other. It’s easy to pass by Harmony without ever knowing it. Located about halfway between Hearst Castle and San Luis Obispo, Harmony is the tiny town that’s home to just 18 residents, but with an outsized reputation and quite a few interesting things to do. Harmony was founded in 1869 around what was a burgeoning dairy industry. By 1901, the Harmony Valley Dairy Co-op was created, and for a time, the town was the self-proclaimed center of the Central Coast’s dairy industry. With that came a stable, a blacksmith, dorms for the dairy employees, a school and a U.S. Post Office, which made Harmony’s establishment official.

For the next 50 years or so, Harmony was a thriving dairy town but also one that the well-heeled from Hollywood would often stop at while on their way as guests at San Simeon, William Randolph Hearst’s castle just up the road. When the creamery closed in 1955, much of the population and its businesses were lost. That is, until it was rediscovered by California’s counterculture who loved it for the peaceful rural vibe that eschewed the urban lifestyle they were escaping. These days, Harmony is still a one-block town that covers just two-and-a-half acres yet has more than enough to fill a weekend holiday. Attracted to its secluded and peaceful atmosphere, visitors love the fun collections of businesses, friendly residents and its unique history. The Harmony Creamery was completely restored in 2015 and now offers some of its famous, “udderly awesome ice cream”. Not far away from the creamery (nothing is too far in Harmony anyway) is Harmony Glassworks. There, guests can watch local artisans blowing glass and offering a collection of colorful glass creations that range from artful animals to trinkets and tableware.

Continuing with the town’s focus on artistic creations, is Harmony Pottery Works and its hand-made stoneware, porcelain and raku. As its name implies, Harmony Pottery Works is filled with handmade potter and ceramics as well as tiny trinkets, jewelry and other keepsakes. Just up the hill from there is where wine lovers head to Harmony Cellars Winery to taste the cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, chardonnay and rieslings that the Central Coast of California is known for. The dog-friendly tasting room and patio have tastings throughout the year along with cheeseboards and charcuterie. One thing that makes Harmony so idyllic is its stunning natural environment and brilliant weather. The best way to take it all in is to check out the Harmony Headlands State Park. Created relatively recently in 2003, the 748-acre park features unspoiled California coastline that provides incredible views, native flora & fauna and solitude. The one-and-a-half-mile long trail leads guests to grassland with a marine terrace and picture-perfect views of the Pacific Ocean.