Such an idyllic park. We stopped by to give our pup some nice playtime and relaxation and were…read moregreeted with the sight of families enjoying the play structure, beautiful cave and rock formations cliffside, various coastal flora and green grass. It is called dinosaur caves park due to the caves and some dinosaur sculptures located in the play area. Apparently there use to be a big dinosaur centerfold but that was taken away. A great walk and area to coast for a bit (pun intended) but bring your own shade.

Beautiful park that sits up on a bluff offering expansive ocean views, picnic areas, playground for…read morekids and plenty of parking. We visited on a beautiful summer day and it was perfect. Park was very busy with families having a great time. In the 1940's, a large metal dinosaur was built here to attract travelers from the highway to a souvenir and tackle shop. Visitors would pay .25 to walk through the dinosaur down to the sea cave. It did not last long to the public complaining as the dinosaur was an eye sore. After many years of this space deteriorating, the city of Pismo Beach bought the land and in 2003, this park opened. If you walk down to the bluffs edge, you will be able to see one of the sea caves. Great place to enjoy a leisurely afternoon.

I can absolutely see why this park is so highly rated within the city. Between the zip line, the…read morecardboard hill you slide down, the huge slides, the smaller toddler play area, wide open grassy spaces, walking trails, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, and clean bathrooms--this is easily one of the best parks I've ever been to. I was anticipating my brother coming into town early Saturday, but he arrived a bit later than planned. That actually worked out because my daughter and I were able to check the park out ahead of time. When we returned on Sunday with my nephew, both kids were completely enamored. My brother and sister-in-law were just as impressed--the park is truly amazing. It's not overly crowded, feels very safe, and there's plenty of parking. We brought our own snacks and enjoyed a little picnic, which made the day even better. The weather was beautiful, and we already can't wait to return. This will definitely be our go-to park whenever we have the time. Absolutely love this place.

Super fun park in SLO and definitely one of the best playgrounds. Located right next to the…read morebaseball field, this park has two different playgrounds, one for the little kids and a separate one of the bigger kids. Several large enclosed slides which are great for hotter days. There's a fun hill you can slide down on cardboard boxes as well as a small zip line. There's a number of benches and tables for adults to sit. Some are in the shade while others are not. There's some beautiful redwood trees on the periphery of the playground to do a nice picnic under. Parking lot is shared with a pool but there's plenty of space as long as there's no baseball game. There's also tennis courts next to the playground. The playground was redone in 2017 but it's held up pretty well. Overall very enjoyable place to bring kids with lots to keep them busy for a few hours of outdoor fun!

We started out for the park -- but went down the hill a bit more and found this amazing beach (not…read moresure what the name is). Dog friendly with many furry friends playing and running in the water. Beach is large too -- with high bluffs around it. Looks like a cool surfing spot as well. I'm sure this is popular with the locals as it doesn't come up if you search "dog beach" -- but now you know the secret!

We are SLO locals and stumbled upon this cute, quiet, peaceful little park while looking for an…read moreescape during the fires in No CA which brought a lot of smoke into the area of SLO County where we live. There is a small parking lot for visitors to this park ... you enter the neighborhood at Hermosa to get to the parking lot. Near the parking lot there are about 4 picnic tables w/ BBQs and a horse shoe pit. There is also a small playground area for children. If you head up the hill a short walk to the top of the park, there's a beautiful ocean view. There is a nearby bench and ocean view point, but no beach access.

Beautiful, peaceful spot with stunning ocean views. Located in South Palisades Park, easily…read moreaccessed from Shell Beach Road at the end of Ebb Tide Lane. Street parking is quite limited since it is a residential area. No nearby restrooms, so keep that in mind. The park itself is clean, secluded, and has a nice grassy area with a walkway and benches perfect for relaxing. The area feels very safe. There is a staircase that leads right down to the beach, where you can explore awesome tide pools during low tide. Overall, we had a wonderful, relaxing time here with our pup.

Amazing little gem! This has wonderful tide pools and a pretty calm looking beach so it looks like…read morea great beach for little kids. Although I did read that during high tide, you don't want to be exploring the tide pools then. I think this is a must see for anyone at any age.

Great little play park for the kiddos. It's right next to the aquarium and alongside the beach. It…read morehas a play area (jungle gym), a pirate theme play structure... Arr' matey!, basketball court, patches of green lawn nice for picnicking, benches, and public restrooms. Family friendly vibes The beach is right there. Just steps away. Yay. The park is close to the beach shallows and where the beach funnels into the creek. Calmer waters. The promenade and pier are within walking distance. Parking is street parking. At least it's not parallel parking. Ohh ya all know I luv history. So gotta let you know this is also the spot of the last lost " sand spur" of the narrow gauge track of the Pacific Coast Railway. The railway actively ran in 1875-1940 from San Luis Obispo to Los Olivas, running through Avila Beach. There is a plaque along the sidewalk between the park and beach. All remnants of the track are long gone.

Absolutely concur with Nicole's perspective. Family friendly and just a super coastal city easy…read morebreezy beach vibe here in this cove that is Avila. Seek this spot out and enjoy the surf, the local beachfront and vitamin C(A)!

Spyglass Park is a clean, fun and scenic park in Pismo Beach. There is a parking lot to park in…read more This park has bathrooms, which were clean when I was there. There is a large grassy area to play on. There are a few picnic tables to eat on. There is a fantastic overlook to see the ocean. There is a semi hidden path to get down to the ocean. The playground is great. Part of the playground is in the shape of a ship. There is plenty of equipment to climb on and a few slides to enjoy. There are toddler swings but there aren't any regular swings. Part of the playground has wood chips underneath, part has soft padding. The playground has a larger and smaller playgrounds. Both playgrounds are in good condition. Have fun out there. -Dadzone

Loved this little hiding spot. It's a cute little park. My dog and boyfriend could have stayed for…read moreliteral hours!!! I loved that there was beach access too. Pretty awesome. I would love to go back for a picnic or just some relaxation! Compared to Central Valley heat, it's a real nice get away in the summer! Definitely recommend this park for families, couples, everyone!

The hike down is short and very manageable. Be sure to turn right if you're heading to the…read morecove/cave, the left trail leads to the beach. We came here for sunset, and the views were absolutely beautiful. I would definitely recommend stopping by!

Ended up taking the long route to Pirate's Cove (parked near homes and took the trail) which we…read morelater found out is the Shell Beach Bluff Trail. We enjoyed this scenic trail, which had multi-million dollar homes to our right, and the beautiful ocean to our left; and a somewhat steep incline up to the dirt parking lot and Cave Landing trailhead. Good thing the weather was perfect and there was a lovely breeze; otherwise I would've stopped walking and demanded to go back to the car. Once we got to the trail, it was a fairly easy short walk to get to the cave. After taking in the stunning views from the cave, we trekked to the cove. Be cautious going down, as it's a steep dirt path and a couple flights of stairs. Also note that clothing is optional, and you may run into people in their birthday suits on this secluded beach.

Date: Monday, July 24th, 2023 Time: around 12:45pm…read more We were at Pirate's Cove so decided to check out a cave. We actually didn't make it all the way down to the beach, but I did go into a cave and enjoy the view on the other side. Not sure if that qualifies as one of the Avila Sea Caves, but I will just assume it does. Parking was pretty easy. There is a small lot. No issues finding a spot since it was a Monday afternoon. We only walked down to the first cave, so probably spent a little more than 15 mins walking around and taking pix. If you enjoy water and a view, I'd say definitely check this spot out. REVIEW #3441

Locals call this place the Smugglers Cave. Cool name. But it's not really a cave and not near the…read moreshoreline. It's a natural carved tunnel through the a rock formation on a bluff overlooking Avila Beach and the ocean. Sadly though the cave is tagged with graffiti and folks treat the inside of the cave as a trash bin. Disheartening site to see a beautiful work of nature treated like this by those that come to view and hang out. Ironic. The hike from the parking lot is less than half mile one way. It starts at a slight incline. When you get to the point where the path splits to the right and left, turn right... the cave is to the right. You're less than halfway there at this point. The cave overlook has no guardrails, so please pay attention especially with the kiddos. The cliff has a drop. Have your wits about you and stay alert. If you have an overwhelming urge to creep close to the edge to take the perfect selfie, do so cautiously and be aware of your surroundings. Overall the views are gorgeous. But the trash bin cave vibes was a downer.

I felt it was only appropriate to review one of my favorite state parks for my 1000th review…read more This park has an extensive history dating back to the Chumash Native American inhabitation. These people lived here long before European explorers arrived. The park was purchased in 1965 by the State of California and made a state park. Prior to it becoming a state park, the land was used for agricultural use as well as farming and dairy use. It consists of 8000 acres of cliffs, seven miles of shoreline, coastal plains, canyons and hills. There is such a peaceful and calm vibe that you feel as you enter the park. As you enter through this colossal Eucalyptus forrest, you are mesmerized with their size. Clouds flow through the forrest and open up to the mighty Pacific Ocean. I always feel like I am entering a different world when I come here. There are so many fun trails to hike at ocean level, mountain level etc. Abundant wildlife is everywhere. You can also just take leisurely walks and enjoy the beauty of the ocean. Plenty of places to picnic, and a small beach to hang out with family and friends. There is also a small campground but what a great place to camp! Dogs are allowed but need to be on a leash. My first time out here was back in 2021. I mainly walked the Bluff Trail and took in the wind shaped jagged cliffs, caves, and rocky shore. I then completed a long beach walk on the strand that led from the park to the shores of Morro Rock. I saw so many dead jellyfish which was odd. I also saw huge turkey vultures. The next summer I took a recommendation from a worker at a local coffee shop. He told me all about Coon Creek trail. I started on this trail but it was pretty flat and I wanted something a little more challenging. I saw a sign for Oats Peak Summit and I went for it. A steep climb but so worth it at the top. Views were incredible on this ultra sunny day. Last summer I took my hubby with me and we decided to hike Valencia Peak. Hiking from sea level up to 1,347 feet proved to be a challenge but such a fabulous reward at the top. I could have spent the day up there just taking in the 360 degree views of the ocean, Morro Bay, Los Osos, and the SLO valley in the background. We absolutely loved this hike! If you find yourself lucky enough to be visiting the central coast, be sure to check out this phenomenal state park. It's truly one of California's finest offerings. Most of all remember to pack in and pack out - LEAVE NO TRACE.

Gold Fashioned A…read moremere fifteen miles west of SLO sits Montaña de Oro, which is one of California's largest state parks at a whopping 8k-acres. And the cherry on top of all that acreage, is a nice seven-mile stretch of California coastline. The Good: *Shockingly--free admission! *Superlative views of rocky shores, cool ocean breezes, and plenty of vitamin sea for everyone. *Bluff Trail is the best way to take advantage of those aforementioned seven miles of shoreline; easy, flat and nonstop ocean views. *Spooner's Cove is a great little beach to have a picnic at (pit toilets available). *Restrooms throughout the park *Mountain biking trails *Campgrounds & environmental camps available The Meh: *Dogs only allowed at Spooner's Cove and campgrounds, but we saw plenty along the trails. I guess it's not heavily enforced, but you take your chances. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ *A few AC parking lots but it's gonna be mostly edge of the shoulder parking. Please pay attention to any signage to avoid tickets/tow. *Little to no shade along the trails, which normally wouldn't be an issue as it's along the coast, but even the coast can get warm. So bring ya waters. The Ugly: *Very popular place and can fill up fast, so don't dilly-dally and get here early. Conclusion: Amazing park with fantastic views, but with a bit of a people problem.

I never realized just how close I was to Avila Beach each time my husband and I would take…read moreroadtrips to Santa Barbara. I'd passed Avila Beach off the 101 countless times and never knew! Actually, I had never known about Avila Beach until one night, as I was scrolling through instagram, it showed up on my feed. Someone I was following had posted a short reel and I immediately took to how pretty it was. Anyhow, fast forward to just a few days later (and this is the part that seemed 'meant to be'), we were on our way to Pismo for a little weekend trip when I see an exit for Avila Beach just shortly before Pismo. "No way!" I thought .... This whole time it was just right there? And so, as we checked into our hotel in Pismo we quickly diverted our original plan - rather than Pismo it's off to Avila we go. Just a short 10min drive and there we were. Shops, restaurants, the pier .... Just beautiful. I have to say - that little discovery really made our weekend memorable. I don't know what it was but my family and I really enjoyed the afternoon that we'd spent here. There was something for everyone. I had my jolt of much needed caffeine from Kraken coffee (located right off the beach), my daughter got ice cream (husband did as well). The whole afternoon in this little newfound escape was perfect. The beach is beautiful, there are a few shops and eateries that offer both sweet and some savory. It's a lively place to hang out and relaxing enough to bum out too.

Avila Beach is a coastal town in San Luis Obispo County. And the town has a beach. So I always…read morewondered when referring ti the beach... should it be called Avila Beach's beach. Anyway, the beach is beautiful and family friendly. It had a less commercial retail vibe than Pismo Beach and pier. The waters are a bit calmer than other coastal towns due to the beach being within the San Luis Obispo Bay. They have old fashion steel swing sets on the on the beach (right side of the pier). Speaking about the pier. The pier was originally built in 1908. It's about 1685 feet long. It has been storm damaged many times and repaired, and is still standing. Though right now the far portion of the pier is not open due to retrofitting upgrades. Lots of folks fish off of the pier and take in the sights. I got pretty close to a sea otter enjoying a meal and grooming himself. He was floating right next to the pier. Totally awesome.