Pismo State Beach

San Luis Obispo, CA Print   Leave a comment

Description

Pismo State Beach is a glorious spot. There's a myriad of sand dunes of all sizes that kids can have fantastic games on. The sand at the dunes is perfect, fine and white. Wildflowers in all colors make this a wonderland. Play hide-and-seek with your child behind the little dunes!
From the campground to Fin's Restaurant, there's a wooden boardwalk that takes you through the dunes with expansive views all around you. On the restaurant end there's a lookout area that is ravishing at sunset (see photo above). The sun sets right over the water, and often there are whales breaching out at sea. There are also picnic tables and an oasis of palms. On the campground end there's a monarch butterfly preserve, a special spot in wintertime where you can see monarch butterflies flutter about in the sun. You can park inside the campground if you tell them you are there to see the monarch butterflies. Otherwise, park at the very end of Grand Ave. Take a long stroll down the beach toward the pier and enjoy the wonderful patterns the water makes in the sand. This is a wide white sand beach with views of hills behind.
Fin's Restaurant, at the very end of Grand Ave has a rare spot right in front of the ocean. The atmosphere is lovely inside and outside, where you can sit around a fountain surrounded by glass panels that block the cold air. It's your typical not-very-good tourist food but the clam chowder is decent. Sunsets here are a joy.
On the northern end of Pismo Beach are the amazing white Pismo Caves.

Photo Gallery

Same shot in the daytime.	The dunes and city lights, sunset at Pismo State Beach.	Viewing area above the sand.
Child with bodyboard, and yellow biplane from Oceano zooming by doing tricks.	Flowers in the dunes.	Dunes and sea behind.
Purple succulents and dunes.	The boardwalk that goes through the dunes.	Succulents, grassy dunes, and sea beyond.
A family flies a kite on the northern end of Pismo Beach.	An abundance of sand, on the northern end of Pismo Beach.	Sea stack, on the northern end of the beach, near Pismo Caves.
The swings in the sand!	The wonderful patterns in the sand at Pismo Beach.	View from the boardwalk over the dunes.
The wooden boardwalk over the dunes.	The sunsets are amazing at Pismo Beach.	After-sunset glow.
The oasis of palms plus picnic tables at the end of Grand Ave.	The pretty mountains in the distance.	The boardwalk area is beautiful.
White sand on the dunes.	The campground is spacious.	Shady spot on the boardwalk.
Tall cypress trees on the dunes near the boardwalk.	Mountains and wavy sand.	The dunes!
The wavy sand and lifeguard shack at sunset.	The dunes are gorgeous at sunset.	The dunes seem to stretch on generously.
Patterns on the shoreline.	A couple snuggle up on the dunes.	Friends gather on the beach.
The patterns on the wide shore.	Shells in one piece.	Striped shell.
Forest behind the dunes.	Fin's Seafood is a good place to get a meal.	The sun sets behind the white dunes.
The glass will keep you warm at Fin's Seafood.

Directions

From Highway 101 southbound, exit at Five Cities Dr and turn left. Turn right on 4th St and follow it for a mile, enjoying the views, then turn right on Grand Ave. Follow it to the end. There is a large parking lot.
From Highway 101 northbound exit at Brisco Rd. Turn left on Brisco Rd and then right on Grand Ave. Follow it to the end. There is a large parking lot.
There are restrooms.
Fin's Restaurant, 25 W Grand Ave, Grover Beach CA 93433, call (805) 473-3467.

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Overall Visitor Rating:

Michael 07/21/2010 13:16	WOW you californins sure do have some wicked sunsets
Kent 10/22/2009 19:22	Comin' end of month! Can't wait!!! I'm ready for party time!
Carmen 10/15/2009 12:22	We are so in love with this beach, the fine white sand, the dunes, the sound of the ocean and the miles of beach to stroll on
John 09/09/2009 09:05	My favorite place as a child. Bugs Bunny always searches for Pismo Beach in his cartoons too.