– The Friends of the Elephant Seal will celebrate the grand opening of the expanded Elephant Seal Visitor Center on Saturday, July 16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The new 1000-sq.ft. Elephant Seal Visitor Center provides informative exhibits, in-depth resources, educational programs, a live-streaming seal cam, and unique elephant seal gifts. The San Simeon-based Visitor Center provides an easily accessible location to help visitors learn more about the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery before or after their visit to the Elephant Seal Viewing Area, 7.8 miles to the north.
As the National Park Service reports 118 confirmed cases of gastrointestinal illness among park visitors, one hiker relates a dramatic rescue recently of hikers.