Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Entertainment
20
Pismo Bowl
B5
Quaint, sunny Avila Beach lures crowds with its strand of golden sand and a shiny seafront
commercial district of restaurants, cafes and shops. Two miles west of downtown, Port San
Luis is a working fishing harbor with a rickety old pier.
Sights & Activities
For a lazy summer day at the beach, you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas, surfboards,
boogie boards and wetsuits underneath
Avila Pier
, off downtown's waterfront promenade.
Over by the port, the beach has bonfire pits and the barking of sea lions accompanies your
stroll atop
Harford Pier
, one of the Central Coast's most authentic fishing piers.
Point San Luis Lighthouse
LIGHTHOUSE
855-533-7843;
www.sanluislighthouse.org
;
lighthouse admission adult/child under 12yr $5/free, trol-
ley tour incl admission per adult/child 3-12yr $20/15; guided hikes usually 8:45am-1pm Wed & Sat,
trolley tours usually noon & 2pm Wed & Sat, also 1pm Sat)
Just getting to this scenic 1890 lighthouse, overshadowed by Diablo Canyon nuclear
power plant, is an adventure. The cheapest way to reach the lighthouse is via a rocky,
crumbling, 3.75-mile round-trip hiking trail, for which guided hike reservations are re-
quired. If you'd rather take it easy and ride out to the lighthouse, join an afternoon trolley
tour, for which reservations are also required. Inside the lighthouse you can inspect an ori-
ginal Fresnel lens and authentic Victorian period furnishings.
The Pecho Coast Trail to the lighthouse is open only for guided hikes led by Pacific Gas
& Electric (PG&E) docents, weather permitting. These guided hikes are free; children un-
der nine years old are not allowed. Call for reservations at least two weeks in advance and
bring plenty of water.
Avila Valley Barn
FARM
