Exceptionally quiet and peaceful 32-acre coastal wetland…read more The preserve was created to protect bird habitat, which means you'll see an impressive variety of species year-round. The trails are flat and easy, and a boardwalk leads you out to a panoramic viewpoint. Along the way, the path winds through eucalyptus and cypress groves that make the most beautiful sound when a gentle breeze moves through them. The overlook gives you a wonderful view of calm waters and Morro Rock in the distance. It feels intentionally designed for reflection. I found this place while staying at a nearby hotel recently and ended up coming here every morning. I had it all to myself each time, and one sunrise I was lucky enough to see a family of deer moving quietly through the brush. It's small, yet magical. It's also free, with easy street parking right out front. Open from dawn to dusk. If I lived nearby, I'd probably be here every morning.

One of my favorite places to visit in Los Osos! I'm always…read morepleasantly surprised by the wildlife I come across here--birds, butterflies, and more. The people on the trail are also incredibly polite; I'd say 9 out of 10 will greet you, which is something I rarely experience elsewhere, especially compared to LA. The trail itself is fairly small--you can walk through it in about 20 minutes--but if you pause to enjoy the scenery or spot wildlife, it can easily take much longer. Part of the trail is a boardwalk, while other sections are uneven sand, so if you're wearing flip-flops, be prepared. On windy days it can get quite chilly, so bringing a windbreaker is a good idea. A peaceful little spot that feels welcoming and full of life. If you come early enough you might catch deers that run in the neighborhood. Its parking is plenty along the reserve , street parking .

This little quiet neighborhood park is just up the creek from the end of Pismo Beach's boardwalk…read more All you do, is to follow Addie Street up and you will at first encounter a cool single lane vintage wooden bridge [Cypress Street] from which you will have good views of the marsh bird life. Then, you will also pass the historic Pismo Beach Cities Lions Club, which was instrumental in the founding of some of the neighboring parks per their website: "Pismo Beach Cities Lion Club was established in 1945. Our Charter President Joe Rose was also the first mayor of the City Of Pismo beach...He was instrumental in the construction of the Mary G. Harrington Park, the Ira Lease Park, and the Ira Boosinger Park in Pismo Heights... We hold many pancake breakfasts, hall rentals, bartend special events, that help us in our fundraising efforts towards eye-care for the needy,recycle eye glasses and hearing aids for third world countries, fundraise for The Noor Foundation, Support Canine Companions,support the Lions Eyesight Trailer that provides eye-exams to students across the county from Paso Robles to Arroyo Grande. Monies are also raised and donated for Slo Food Bank, SLO chapter of NAMI... Pismo Beach Cities Lions Club is always welcoming new members that are looking to serve the community!"... ~~~~~~~~~~~ Up a bit more, you will encounter two cute little local parks on either side of Hwy #1 [Cabrillo Hwy] One side is called Mary Harrington Park and the other is Ira Lease Park. Each offers a quiet respite from the Pier or Beach crowds and have mostly local visitors. Sometimes it seems that the ducks outnumber the people here. If you are looking for a nice quiet grassy area for young kids to play in, this is it. Pismo Cities website describes it as such: "A 1 acre park located on Pismo Creek (west side of Dolliver Street), the park offers a restroom, grassy recreation area, picnic tables and benches, individual and public barbecue facilities, a drinking fountain, bicycle and auto parking. Handicapped parking is also available. Park is located in downtown, nearby campground areas." Across the street it describes it's sister park as: "A 1 acre park located on Pismo Creek (on the east side of Dolliver Street), offers a trail along the creek, grassy recreation area, picnic tables and benches, barbecue facilities, drinking fountain, bicycle and auto parking. Handicapped parking is available. Park is located in downtown, nearby campground areas. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many of the City Parks info can be found at https://www.pismobeach.org/99/Parks They list some of the many more landlocked neighborhood Parks that mostly locals visit, such as: Boosinger Park [" A lovely neighborhood park with play equipment, drinking fountain, picnic areas, bbq's and benches. Spectacular city and ocean views" ]; Chumash Park {"This 38-acre natural park includes wetlands, willows, oaks and is popular with walkers and dog lovers. The park also has two play areas, picnic tables, a basketball court and restrooms"} [this really nice Park/Pond/Creek/Path/Playground with safety mats] is right across the 101, opposite the Outlet stores]; Highland Park {"This 7 acre park which includes picnic areas and children's play equipment. "} [it is up the road near Chumash Park]; Price Historical Park {" Four acre park in the country, with hiking trails, class 1 bike trail, and open space. The gated Meherin House and the Price Anniversary House, built by Pismo Beach founder, John Michael Price, are located on this park. The park incorporates history from Chumash culture, Missions System, and Historical Pismo Beach Access to the site is available by private tour only..."}; Ebb Tide Park {" Secluded park located at the end of Ebb Tide Court Beautiful grassy area with short cement pathway Amazing views of the Pacific Ocean"} on top of the Palisades Beach Park]; & more of the better known Parks, such as Dinosaur Caves, Eldwayen, Spyglass, Palisades Parks [North & South], but do not include others, such as Pirates Cove or Memory Park. All of these places are wonderful to explore if you either stay for an extended vacation, love to explore, or are locals. Some are more "kids safe" than others, like the fully foam matted huge Kids Playground @ Chumash Park, which has restrooms, picnic tables, and easy access to the eats [or the take out Bagel sandwich shop] near/around the Pismo Outlet stores & Cali-Fresh.

I have had the chance to visit this lighthouse many times when I was younger and love the views of…read morethe harbor from there. Lighthouses like this one are historically significant as a beacon for boaters. The lighthouse lens is no longer in the building as the local museum if I recall houses it now. Anyhow, there is a lot of wildlife there. I have seen foxes there more than once.

Really wonderfully maintained lighthouse that is available for tours. The docents are informative…read moreand engaging with their knowledge of the area and it's significance. It's a beautiful ride to the lighthouse and some nice views all around. Order tickets online as they do sell out.

My enchanted forest!!!…read more ...and you don't have to travel far to the Fairy Tale Land, the Los Osos Oaks State Reserve is located right off Los Osos Valley Rd. with a small parking lot fits maximum maybe 10 cars. Look at the trail map, you will get a brief idea. Even though some reviews stated trails are not well marked, it's in fact very simple and hard to get lost. There's no scale on the map, it's smaller than I had anticipated though. The whole loop (started from Loop trail, connected to Oak View Trail and back from Los Osos Creek Trail) took me about 35 mins despite I stopped here and there to take photos and just enjoying the fresh smell of the wood after the rain. The more deep into the wood, where the Loop trail and Oak View Trail connects, the 800 years old Costal live oaks made me feel like everything would come alive when the sun goes down...and I absolutely love my solitude. Once you are closer to the entrance, you will start hearing the cars driving by Los Osos Valley Road and you know you are heading the right direction. I wouldn't consider it's a workout but absolutely good for all hiking levels and a short escape from the people. Side note: Poison oaks are natural part of the area, however, it's winter I was pretty much covered.

Located near Montana De Oro, Los Osos State reserve is a great place to hike trails and just enjoy…read morethe outdoor Beaty that the Central California Coast offers. I absolutely love those twisted oaks, they are gorgeous. Also a great place for family pictures

James Way Oak habitat and wildlife area is such a nice little spot to hike and walk around. It's…read moretucked away nicely right in between houses and a nearby shopping center in Arroyo Grande. It has a nice woodsy vibe with lots of trees, shrubs and shade throughout. Beware if you're planning to bring dogs, there's a good amount of ticks in this area and poison ivy. Also, coyotes are frequently spotted in this area. Since it's just steps from my house, I visit frequently and love it here! Overall, totally worth a visit especially if you're looking for a nice spot to get some hiking in.

Didn't go through all of it but loved the painted rocks that were along the path. Pretty cool walk.read more

This monarch buttery preserve location is not very well known online. It is definitely a must to…read morevisit if you're in California Central Coast area and want to go on a good hike! Let me share some details about this preserve area. Background: This is a community project that successfully created a temporary home for the beautiful monarch butterflies. They're usually available from October to March. At the time we visited in June, they were all gone. We did get lucky and saw 2 butterflies! It is about 18 acre in size Location: The preserve is situated at the end of Monarch Lane in Los Osos. Parking: Free street parking! Fee: Free! What's out here: There is a sign "Coastal Access Trail Open To The Public" when you get to the end of the cul-de-sac. The beginning of the trail is filled with eucalyptus trees and it smells amazing! As you follow the fence line in the eucalyptus grove, you'll eventually reach an open area that is filled with coastal grass land. The grass land is enormous and you can hike in any directions you like. If you just hike straight for about half a mile, you'll eventually reach the sand dune. After you hike up the sand dune, you'll reach the ocean in another half mile. The beach was extremely secluded. As you hike, you'll see various plants and critters. This is my first time out here and thought I let you know what's to expect: - This area is coastal so you'll be hiking in sand! Bring shoes and flip flop! - There is no bathroom - There is no shades after the eucalyptus grove area. In the grassland, you'll see a few trees and that's about it! I recommend bringing a hat and lots of sunscreen for your excursion. - From the entrance to the beach is about 1 mile long. - If you want to enjoy the beach, bring beach gears. - The sand dune is a huge hill. - There are lots of horse poops along the trails as the locals ride horses around the area. - Great views when you get to the top of the sand dune. - Great way to get away from crowds. - Great wildlife opportunities.

Biddle Regional Park is such an awesome park with an extremely large, expansive grassy area to have…read morea picnic or just relax in the sun with your dogs! My dog had a great time playing catch, and it was so nice to come on a Sunday and basically have the entire area to ourselves! There are day use sites available with barbecue grills, and picnic areas, with lots of shade and seating options. This place is awesome and I can't wait to go back again with my dogs asap!

We were in the area for a vacation and made a stop here to get some nature and get in a run. It was…read morea very scenic and lovely drive to get here. It's a beautiful beautiful park, a lot of greenery and tall trees. We were the only ones there which was nice. It has picnic spots and a volleyball court. We did run into 1 person on the way out who shared his enthusiasm for the park but also warned us about the poison oak. Good tip!

BEWARE of a multitude of STINGING NETTLE-like toxic plants, minus warning signs, in the "hidden"…read moreChumash Historic area by AG creek. [Result: Horrid pain in my hands! OMG!!!] The park would have been an easy 3-4 star, but had to downgraded to 2 star, since there are NO WARNING SIGNS, while other parks [Chumash Park in Pismo] have ample signs to warn of these dangers. While adults can be careful, kids and dogs, would likely not realize the danger of the tri-leafed needled branches over-hanging a tempting scenic path to the serene babbling brook. In this little visited back area of this "pleasant park", it was amazingly peaceful, relaxing, serene, verdant & pleasant, until I foolishly decided to check out the Arroyo Grande Creek, for signs of aquatic life. I hoped to get a bottle of creek water & mud to explore for Protozoa, Rotifiers, Nematodes, etc., with my "new" lab grade vintage Microscope. The short path to the creek was covered with some leaves. Whoops!! While in the process of falling, in front of my eyes, there appeared to be a rather large branch to grab. It also appeared to be "hairy"& my brain made a rapid calculation of the risks vs. benefits of such a grab. My brain miscalculated, since it was too fast for my higher cognitive functions to properly evaluate. Should I risk grabbing a solid looking branch that looked suspiciously "hairy", but may break my fall? It did not slow my fall, since it was a vine that moved freely. I immediately regretted grabbing it since I could feel 100's of tiny needles puncture my fingers & hands. As I scampered up, I had immediate severe searing pain. I immediately called for my wife's help and even thought of going to the ER. We walked over to a bench, where we tried to pick off many dozens of these super-fine hair-like broken off needles [which I later found out to be called Trichomes per Wikipedia { https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichome }]. While this likely helped limit the severity, the pain became more intense, as the toxins injected themselves. Even with hours of Internet searching on the amazing plethora of various toxic or needle plants, complete with both my pics and internet pics, I am still not sure what this plant was. Trichomes are amazingly intricate plant defenses that reappear in diverse species all over the world. They function as micro-hypodermic needles that are designed by evolution to discourage foraging by animals or humans, and are highly effective, since no creature will ever forget an encounter. The Trichomes are complex systems & the needles are reinforced with glass or bone-like substances. The are not only designed to penetrate the skin, but are also designed to inject various toxins, while breaking off too! The real problem is there is a wide range of either known or poorly classified toxins/irritants in the fluid [in nano-liters], which not only immediately evoke severe pain, but persist for hours to even months! The fluid can include a range of substances that can include acids, Neurotoxins, & even anti-Cancer compounds! Treatment is perplexing, even after a consult with a pharmacist. She recommended a topical anti-histamine & steroid. Neither helped much. Other sources recommend washing, assuming a topical exposure to the irritant [e.g. Urushiol] like those in Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac, which is not the case with Trichome injuries, which are injected/embedded toxins. As a kid, I did have one painful unforgettable run-in with a Stinging Nettle type plant on my cousin's farm in Leighton, PA. In those days, there was no Urgent Care! Anyway, after tons of pain, steroid, & antihistmine Rx, the situation improved. There was no visible rash, but various pains, itching, & even neuropathy lasted a few days! In any case, BEWARE of the many plants of that line this Creek's bank. Nettles have been used throughout history ranging from food to medicine. Some compounds are effective against some cancers! Ref.: https://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/N/Nettle(Stinging)/Nettle(Stinging).htm : "...It is claimed by some texts that the bicyclic octapeptide moroidin is also found in nettle stings, and that it is this compound that is responsible for most of the pain and redness of nettle rash. It was first discovered in the trichomes of Laportea moroides (hence the name), otherwise known as the Gympie Bush, with which contact is a far more terrifying ordeal than is Stinging Nettle, for the painful rash can last for months, or even forever, and there is no cure. Moroidin has anti-mitotic activity because it strongly inhibits the polymerization of tubulin, meaning it interferes with cell division."

Who knew there was a snappy little neighborhood way back in them thar hills, let alone a snazzy…read morelittle park? It's got everything you need: green space, basketball courts, barbecue space, seating, parking, very clean bathrooms, trees. Plus my cousin and her daughter my new cousin live nearby; they're special because this is the first time in my life I remember the birth of the original cousin and that cousin's child, my second cousin and my second cousin once removed, respectively.