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    Central Coast Outdoors

    5.0 (106 reviews)
    Open 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

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    Osprey!
    Kathleen L.

    Frickin' LOVED this experience. Booking was easy.. instructions were easy.. they ensured I knew how to get there (GPS may be wrong) and park. Our guide Mike was fantastic - easy going, talkative, informative. I kept getting distracted during the sunset kayak I booked... watching birds and seals and otters and he was very patient with me. Mike took us through the harbor and over to the opposite beach - 4 miles of shore with no other people! We had some cheese / crackers / wine and admired the view before heading back to the dock. It was so quiet and gorgeous. We can't wait to return and do it again.

    Erin R.

    We did the sunset tour with John and I cannot recommend it highly enough! Saw harbor seals, a sea otter or two, pelicans, herons, cormorants, and fish. We were lucky enough to get a fairly clear sunset at the dunes, which was amazing, before the fog closed back in for the paddle back to harbor. He has so much local knowledge (including what's going on with iconic smokestacks). We will definitely do this again when we come back next year.

    Morro Bay
    Nik N.

    So this morning looked brutally foggy, my daughter even asked if we would see anything but on our third tour, this time with Bonnie, the views and wildlife did not disappoint. Bonnie is really great with kids, you can tell she is a great mom. She was very informative and offered different information and facts about the estuary than we had heard before as well as a new route. We saw our first bat ray, lots of seals and otters, tons of birds too!

    Protected waters
    Jessica C.

    What an amazing tour and seamless booking process. John answered my questions and booked us a tour for that weekend (March 2021). We were a party of four with two adults and two kids (ages 6 and 8). The communication was superb, John called us and arranged an early start time in order to beat the winds. On arrival, Mandy greeted us and filled us in on the day's weather. We actually had a negative tide that morning but Mandy took us through the bay and provided knowledgeable insight. She cautioned us and guided us safely through the shallow waters. She tailored the tour to our kids and made it exciting and fun for them. We saw the oyster farm, a tiger shark, seals, an otter, and went tide pooling in our kayaks. We made a stop at the dunes and the kids LOVED it. Bring sleds or bogey boards, we totally forgot to. The tour was pricey, but the service/guide during the weather made the tour worth its weight in gold. The tour included water and a light snack. Bring water shoes, light clothing that can get wet. They did provide a jacket for my husband (he forgot his) and provided lap blankets for the whole party.

    Seals!
    Leslie R.

    Our kayaking excursion on Morro Bay exceeded every expectation! I was traveling alone with my two young boys (4 and 8 years old) and wasn't sure if it was even possible to get out on the water, but Central Coast Outdoors made it easy. John responded promptly to my email and offered to set up a reasonably priced private tour. He recommended going out early to avoid the wind that was predicted that day, and conditions ended up being perfect. Virginia was our guide, and it was so nice to have someone knowledgable navigating us to the best spots. We saw several mama and baby seal pairs on the shore, and then some came out to our kayaks to say hello! It was magical. Virginia also shared all sorts of interesting animal facts that we have continued to talk about days later. This family-run company clearly prioritizes providing a great experience to their customers. Our tour was the highlight of our vacation, and we will be back on future trips to Morro Bay!

    Morro Rock
    Charles D.

    Really great place for kayaking. They do other activities as well but we have gone on three guided kayak paddles with them and we were impressed with the guides each time. Very patient and informative. Would like to try the "sunset paddle" next time.

    Kathy P.

    We had an amazing time on our sunset paddle with Katharina! Our party consisted of an 11 year old, 2 adults, and our mother (late-60s). We were joined by another couple out this trip as well and Katharina did an amazing job catering to everyone's kayaking experience levels while still ensuring we all had a great time. We learned a ton about wildlife and had the privilege of seeing a ton of birds and some seals in the bay. The sand dunes were beautiful and allowed for a great view of the sunset. There was quite a selection of drinks and snacks offered. On the way back we were able to see the stars come out and finally when we got back to the dock we were able to see the moon. Overall an amazing experience for all of us. We really loved having Katharina as a tour guide. Can't wait to come back again!

    Devette J.

    We had a wonderful time for our sunset kayaking trip. Although the weather didn't corporate, so we didn't get to see the sunset because the fog was so thick. Our guide Mandy, made our trip so worth it, even without the sunset. We saw sea lions, baby sea lions, pelicans and a bird sanctuary. She describe the local area and the oyster shelf on the banks of the ocean. Mandy gave a brief summary of her background which included her many years of kayaking in Florida, California and participating in the olympics. She was a wealth of information. Mandy was so personable and easy to talk to. We had the option to go the designated spot or keep paddling around the bay. We all decided to continue to paddle around the bay. She had so much patience with us newbies. We had a baby sea lion follow us for a while. After all said and done we would love to kayak again with Mandy and see the sunset. Thanks again for a special day and a great conclusion to our trip.

    Kayak shack!
    Patrick S.

    The Kayak Shack was the highlight of our day. Our guide was exactly what you'd hope for. He was informative, good humored and kept the tour at a steady pace.

    Kevin S.

    Half day kayak trip in Morro Bay. Saw seals, an otter, tons of birds. Dave and Heather were awesome.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Central Coast Outdoors

    Review Highlights - Central Coast Outdoors

    The communication was superb, John called us and arranged an early start time in order to beat the winds.

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    Lopez Lake

    Lopez Lake

    3.7
    (131 reviews)
    24.2 mi

    From what we could see it was beautiful. Didn't know or heard about this place at all. Until…read moresomeone had mentioned it while we were in arroyo grande. You could go to it from the main road which takes you through the country side. Also wineries along the way which we found out. Along the whole stretch of the drive, there is no parking along the highway. Sucks that you can't get out for a picture of the lake. We finally made it to the entrance which there's a fee to get in. We literally just wanted to see the lake and get a pic. Give or take, 5 minutes or so. Spoke with the entrance guards, it was 12.00 per vehicle and as we had our dog with us, that would be another fee for pets. Instead, we just opted out to leave. Honestly, kind of sucks that you can't check it out without having to pay to get in. Not only that, they do offer camping which the camp site wasn't that far. Hiking trails as well as a boat ramp. The parking area when you enter is where the check in and customer service are. I believe there's a public restroom as well. We ended just getting out and stopping right at the gate to take a quick picture of the lake. From what we could see, there was people fishing right along the base. Curious to know if you could just leave your car at the lot and walk down to the water which was a like couple min walk when we left. Or maybe even that, you still have to pay a fee. Regardless, it was somewhat beautiful from what we could see off the road. Along the whole drive in till the entrance, no stopping or parking along the road.

    Gorgeous campsite. We came here with the Boy Scouts. About 10 families. We stayed in 7-19 Mustang…read more Gorgrous!! A nice tree for the kids to climb. Flat ground for the tents, good fishing off a dock. Room for the kids to ride bikes, play baseball. Weather was amazing, we came in November. Would highly recommend. Close enough to the city. However, still quiet. Bathrooms were very clean and close. No showers. Overall very fun time.

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    Lopez Lake
    Lopez Lake
    Lopez Lake

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    Avila Beach Whale Watching

    Avila Beach Whale Watching

    5.0
    (356 reviews)
    13.0 mi

    Overall, this was a wonderful experience…read more It was scary in the beginning because the waves were a little rough. We sat in the front and experienced "flying boat" - as in the boat was rocking so hard it left the water for a bit. Lesson learned for me - in choppy weather make sure to always ride in the back. The Captain was extremely knowledgeable and customer service was flawless. He knew the ocean very well. When he realized we were getting pretty nervous he made sure that the boat stayed in a position that limited the rocking. He kept checking on us to make sure we were doing ok. We saw whales, otters, birds, sea lions, and porpoises. It was amazing seeing them in the wild and they were beautiful. Make sure to dress in layers. It was cold in the beginning but warmer when we were heading back to the dock.

    Imagine being a part of a pod of several thousand dolphins. This was our second time with Captain…read moreMark and it was even more amazing than when he gave us a tour 5 years ago. He is dedicated to making sure you make the most of your time and I am so glad we went again with another part of our family. Not only were we one with the dolphins, but we also saw humpbacks and a mola mola. Mark is full of interesting ocean and history facts and you and your family will not only have an incredible experience but you'll learn something to take with you the rest of your life.

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    Whale
    Whale
    Avila Beach Whale Watching
    Whale at Avila

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    Whale at Avila
    Santa Barbara Adventure Company

    Santa Barbara Adventure Company

    4.8
    (258 reviews)
    91.4 mi

    Rachel is awesome! Super knowledgeable of the ocean, water, marine life, and history of the area…read more What a rad human being to have guiding the tour. As it turns out, all of the harbor seals, and sealions have names. We befriended one named Steve, he is much better at swimming than I am. He also taught me secret techniques to paddling. This one Pelican named Parry got into a barking match with some sealions, which is a fight he wasn't gonna win, let's be honest. Though I was hoping to see an M-A-N-A-T-E-E ... next time! If you're gonna go down on Haley street, where the dogs are easy and the sun is cheap, you never know just who you'll meet, on Haley. (But hopefully it's Rachel from the Santa Barbara Adventure Company, and you get her kayak tour; shout out!)

    A heartfelt thank you to Santa Barbara Adventure Company for creating such a memorable birthday…read moreexperience for our daughter. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. We had a fun ferry ride to the islands and even got to slow down to watch a large Sunfish (Mola Mola) snacking on some jellies. I recommend getting in line early to secure the best view seating on the ferry. Our kayak guides, Chuck and Adam, were exceptional--knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They made the entire trip both fun and informative, while ensuring we always felt safe and well cared for. We were fortunate to have perfect weather and warm water, which allowed us to explore all seven sea caves--many of which are inaccessible during high tide or rougher conditions. It made the experience even more special. Having lived in Santa Barbara for 22 years, this was my first time visiting the islands, and it was truly unforgettable. The pristine landscapes, abundant sea life, and even spotting several tiny island foxes while enjoying our picnic lunch, made it an unforgettable adventure. We can't wait to do it again--highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and exceptional experience!

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    Waiting in line to enter sea caves
    Waiting in line to enter sea caves
    My selection
    My selection
    We kayak

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    We kayak

    Central Coast Outdoors - tours - Updated June 2026

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