An early morning paddle, fresh seafood lunch, and sunset sip at a local vineyard. All in a day's bike ride at Pismo Beach, where wave and wine lovers are in for a treat.
Situated roughly half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California's Central Coast, Pismo Beach is a quiet, quirky community with a population of just over 8,000.
Famed for its wide, sandy beach, fresh seafood, excellent wineries, and offbeat, casual charm, Pismo Beach invites you to unwind. Yet catch a glimpse of the coves and caves that dot the city's coastline, and you might feel the urge for adventure too. Here's our favourite way to spend a day in this classic California beach town.
What to do
Cave explorer.
We set sail with Central Coast Kayaks (1879 Shell Beach Road) on their Cave Excursion kayak tour, which took us on a three-hour exploration of caves, coves and arches that are only accessible by water.
Our helpful guide, Evan, taught us novices the proper techniques on-shore, before taking us out into calm waters where we could hone our new skills. A gentle paddle took us past tiny ocean islands, where pelicans perched and sea lions bathed in the morning sun. Soon, we were full-on cave exploring, working with the waves to maneuver through narrow arches and inside the hollow cliffs.
Price Single kayak $99; tandem kayak $190
Directions: Take Bus 21 or cycle 15 minutes from downtown Pismo Beach.
Set sail.
Not feeling the paddling? Hop on the Seaweed Express shoreline tour with Avila Beach Boat Charter, departing from nearby Port San Luis. The small size of the speedboat allows access to many of the hidden caves and coves along the coastline. Directions: Take the Avila Beach Trolley.
Apples and grapes.
Taste and tour on a bike ride along the Bob Jones Trail. There are several small, family-owned wineries located in nearby Avila Beach and Avila Canyon.
Kelsey Vineyard (1947 See Canyon Road) is nestled in the woods of See Canyon, and it's easily reachable by bike. The Kelsey family has owned the winery and tasting room since 1999, sourcing many of their grapes from their vineyard 30 miles north in the small town of Creston. Try the bright, crisp In-a-gadda-da-vino chardonnay, the grape that the Central Coast wine region is most famous for. Tasting is $5. When you're finished, cruise over to Creekside Farm Orchard (1691 See Canyon Road) to sample some fresh hard cider.
Prefer not to ride? The cluster of wineries in Avila Beach are all accessible by the Avila Beach Trolley, which runs throughout the spring and summer. For general information about wineries in the area, visit the Avila Wine Trail website.
Where to eat
Breakfast of champions. The adorable Mon Ami (230 Pomeroy Ave.) cafe whips up its delicious crepes right in the dining room. We started with a savory bacon, eggs and mushrooms, and finished with a sweet symphony of fresh berries.
Seafood and sun. Marisol (2757 Shell Beach Road) is an ideal spot for no-fuss lunch and dinner, offering a wide selection of simple meat and seafood dishes like Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Sushi Fried Rice. There’s an outside patio with ocean views, or you can even eat your supper by the poolside.
Windows on the water. With its spectacular coastal views and delicious “coastal fusion” cuisine, Ventana Grill (2575 Price St.) is a great venue for fine dining. The restaurant is situated on a bluff and juts out over the cliff edge, and its spectacular ocean and sunset views pair perfectly with fresh catches and Mexican spice.
Where to stay
Rooms with views. Although they are a bit removed from the center of town, the oceanfront hotels along Shell Beach Road are tough to beat. Cliffs Resort (2757 Shell Beach Road, from $195 per night) features a good-sized swimming pool and hot tub as well as gym and spa. The rooms are spacious and modern, and many offer ocean views. The resort also offers a complimentary shuttle service from the Amtrak station in San Luis Obispo. Bikes are available to rent for $8 per hour, and it’s a 20-minute cycle into the city center. Bus 21 stops at the nearby Spyglass Inn and takes you into town.
Pier pleasure. Set one block from the Pismo Beach Pier, the Pismo Beach Hotel (230 Pomeroy Ave., from $99 per night) is a casual spot offering easy access to the beach and all town attractions. This beautifully restored historic hotel was the setting of the Clark Gable film Strange Cargo, filmed here in 1937. Perks include continental breakfast, gas-burning stoves, and a lovely Spanish-style courtyard. The hotel offers an array of rooms, ocean-view suites, and apartment suites with full kitchens.
Getting there
From Oakland, take Amtrak’s Coast Starlight from Jack London Square to San Luis Obispo. Then, take Bus 10 to Pismo Beach Premium Outlet Centre (20 minutes, $2), and Bus 24 back into town.
Getting around
It’s easy to explore the area without a car.
By bus. A variety of buses run throughout the area, and between March and October, the free Avila Beach Trolley shuttles passengers from the center of Pismo Beach to Avila Beach, stopping at the oceanfront hotels on Shell Beach Road along the way. Visit San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority for schedules and information.
By bike. Wheel Fun Rentals (100 Stimson Ave) offers bike rentals ($8 per hour, $25 a day), as well as surreys ($20 per hour), choppers ($10 per hour) and fun cycles ($10 per hour). There are four locations: at the Sandcastle Inn, next to the parking lot by the pier (guided tours available), at SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel (bikes only), and at Cliffs Resort (bikes only).
Published on offMetro.com
Photos: Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, Kelsey Quetsch, Central Coast Pictures
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