10 Best Things to Do in Pismo Beach

The Pismo City beaches comprise a 17-mile stretch of public beachfront coast along the Pacific Ocean, spanning the city itself. The beaches offer endless horizons of soft, golden sand for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities, from fishing and camping to swimming and surfing.

Bird-watching is a very popular activity here, and the beaches are known for the prevalence of the famous Pismo clams you can find in the shallows. Bonfires are permitted on the beaches, so you can roast marshmallows and make s'mores. Area beaches are also incredible places to catch the brilliant pink and orange sunset over the ocean.

The 11 acres of Dinosaur Caves Park are located atop oceanfront bluffs with a soft, green, grassy lawn overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It's just a 7-minute drive up the coast from the city centre. The park is pet friendly, so dog walkers are drawn here. Joggers and hikers also enjoy the range of trails available here, and fishing enthusiasts love to cast a line into the surf below.

An amphitheatre hosts occasional live entertainment events, and the nearby playground area for kids is decorated with a dinosaur, dolphins, dinosaur eggs, seals, a tire swing, and even the USS Imagination climbing ship. A wedding area and reception space are available for rent by the hour.

Pismo State Beach is located right along California's central coast and is popular for surfers, swimmers, fishers, campers, and bird-watchers due to its pleasant year-round climate. The nearby coastal dunes offer walking trails and a scenic freshwater lagoon, and the nearby Visitor Centre offers tonnes of information about the ecology and features of the region as well as free educational programmes.

Part of the beach encompasses a special butterfly grove that draws thousands of colourful orange and black monarchs to the area between November and February every year, making for an unforgettable sight.

The Oceano Dunes SVRA, or State Vehicle Recreation Area, is a unique attraction where motorcycles are allowed on the beach. Besides flocking here for the chance to ride motorbikes, many people travel here to get an quad bike, a dune buggy, or other sport vehicle to tear through the dunes and have a wild adventure outdoors.

Many others come here for campsites or to check out the wealth of native plants and wildlife to be found along the trails. It's located about a half hour's drive south of city centre Pismo Beach, right along the coast.

Pismo Beach Premium Outlets is the place to go to find deals and discounts at all your favourite big-name stores. Outlet shopping has become a major part of holidays, and the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets offer more than 40 brand-name and designer outlets, including Calvin Klein, Levi's, Nike, Van Heusen, and more.

The outlet is spread over acres of space to help you find the best deal on clothing and speciality goods. The outlets are located right in city centre, just 3 minutes southeast of the city centre.

HotShots Billiards & Family Entertainment, in the heart of city centre, is a long-standing and iconic pool hall and arcade featuring pub eats, over 30 beers on draft, and a shop. The pool hall and bar combines the best of a video arcade and a traditional area bar with craft beer into one family-friendly environment.

In addition to 14 pool tables, the hall has air hockey and a full video arcade packed with the latest cabinet games. In the pro shop, you can grab a T-shirt to show off your visit to this local staple of family fun and entertainment.

The Pismo Promenade and pier is a scenic walkway that extends out over the city beach and offers spectacular views of the sunset over the ocean. The promenade is located right on the shores of the ocean at the centre of the beach and offers easy access to the beach itself, where you'll find volleyball courts, playground areas, and other entertainment activities.

It's also beloved of couples on a romantic holiday looking to take a serene walk, hand in hand, to look out over the endless blue horizon of the Pacific Ocean.

The Bob Jones Trail is a paved hiking and biking trailhead that begins on Ontario Road in nearby Avila Beach and runs to Pismo. The trail winds along San Luis Obispo Creek and travels behind the Avila Valley Barn Fields and the Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School.

At the right time of year, you can catch the music of frogs singing in the flowing creek waters as you travel beneath a deep, shaded, green canopy. The trailhead begins only 8 minutes up the shoreline to the north of Pismo and provides a different sort of outdoor adventure away from the sun and sand and through forested trails.

The Monarch Butterfly Grove is filled with eucalyptus trees that draw thousands of brightly coloured monarch butterflies that migrate through from October through February. It's one of only 5 sites in the entire state that see this sheer number of monarchs consistently each year.

The grove is located at the southern end of the city's beachfront and is easily accessed by CA State Highway 1. The butterfly migration makes it popular with wildlife enthusiasts, families, and those who are interested in getting away from the hustle and bustle to a space of constant peace and beauty. Telescopes allow you to get a close-up look at these magnificent creatures.