A few weeks ago, Chris and I took a little day trip up to San Simeon to go for some hikes on the beach and explore a new part of the Central Coast.  It was a beautiful day to walk along the pier, check out the tide pools, and visit with the elephant seals (from a distance, of course!). 

After our day of adventures, we were in the mood for some ice cream, and stumbled upon a gem of a town in nearby Harmony, CA.  Harmony is located close to San Simeon and Hearst Castle right off of scenic Highway 1, so it’s in an ideal location for beach goers in town for the day or anyone needing a fun stop as they drive up the coast.  While Harmony is in fact a small town (with a population of 18), it boasts fun art shops and galleries with glass and pottery goods for sale, and some of the best ice cream I’ve had in California.

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Harmony Valley Creamery serves small-batch ice cream made with fresh, local California ingredients – and I’m here to tell you that it is so good.  We stopped by the ice cream truck and indulged in a scoop of salted caramel – which was in fact, perfectly salty, delightfully caramel-y, and full of rich, fresh dairy flavor.  This ice cream completely lives up to their “Udderly Awesome” claim, and truly pays homage to Harmony’s roots as a small town focused on raising dairy cows.

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Next time you are on a road trip up Highway 1 in the Central Coast, plan on making a stop in Harmony to tour the galleries and get a delicious scoop of ice cream.  You will be pleased with the town’s charm, and its amazing ice cream!