When it comes to beaches along this stretch of the Central Coast, variety is the name of the game.
Avila Beach
There’s the fun-in-the sun spirit of balmy Avila Beach; it’s known for gentle waters that are perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking, and for trails like the Bob Jones City to Sea Trail and the docent-led Pecho Coast Trail that will take you to the historic Point San Luis Lighthouse. Stay at Avila Village Inn and stop by Custom House restaurant, with outdoor seating right on the beachside promenade, to check out the local catch.
Pismo Beach
There are the broad, flat sands at Pismo Beach—one of California’s best strips of coastline for long strolls at sunset—plus Pismo Beach’s signature pier, stretching out some 1,600 feet above the waves. During monarch migration season (November through February) nature lovers can witness the mesmerizing sight of trees swathed in the creatures at the Monarch Butterfly Grove, and during low tides, the adventurous can explore numerous sea caves.
Piedras Blancas
There are the rocky coves at Piedras Blancas, home to thousands of enormous elephant seals that spend their days mating, molting, and napping, making the site an outstanding destination for wildlife watching. It all happens in the shadow of the historic Piedras Blancas Light Station, established in 1875, which visitors can explore through guided tours that delve into maritime history and coastal ecology. It all also makes for a pretty unbeatable photo opp.
Oceano Beach
South of Pismo, Oceano Beach has wide-open sands perfect for horseback riding and camping, while off-roaders can head to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (it’s one of the few beaches in the state where this can be done). Don’t have an ATV? Rent a dune buggy or other 4-wheel ATV from one of the onsite rental businesses. Hikers, meanwhile, can tackle the Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve Trail that offers a 2-mile round-trip hike through the dunes.
More Beaches in San Luis Obispo County
Surfing, especially for those who don’t mind riding a steady succession of beachbreaks, is popular in several locations; check out the scene at Pico Creek near San Simeon, Cayucos, or Montaña de Oro State Park, about 25 miles north of Pismo. Tidepoolers will want to check out Moonstone Beach in Cambria, where you can also view sea otters, whales, and dolphins from the mile-long Moonstone Beach Boardwalk; 20 miles down the shore fro there is Morro Bay State Park, where there’s kayaking, estuary views, and coastal hiking with Morro Rock in the background.
In springtime, take a leisurely hike along the flower-filled coastal terrace of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, in low-key Cambria, or stroll along the boardwalk at lovely Moonstone Beach. Just north of Cayucos, Estero Bluffs State Park offers wide-open ocean views from trails skirting the bluffs—a great place for whale watching, especially December through March. For an unforgettable experience, wind through the surreal shifting landscapes of Oso Flaco Lake, where a boardwalk leads through a section of one of the world’s largest coastal dune systems. While there, look up to spot lace lichen—the West Coast version of Spanish moss—draping the branches of trees.
In addition to Piedras Blancas, Montaña de Oro, and Estero Bluffs, the county is lucky to have several more state parks on the coast. Don’t miss Hearst San Simeon State Park, Harmony Headlands State Park, and Los Osos Oaks State Natural Preserve.