Top Pismo Beach Attractions & Activities

Explore over 800 acres of thriving wildlife and vegetation, towering oak woodlands, and unbeatable panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Discover great educational and recreational opportunities for you and the family, as well as locals and visitors of all ages.

The 1,200-foot Pismo Beach Pier is the largest pier in San Luis Obispo County! Walk down its beautiful diamond-shaped platforms, enjoy breathtaking views of the coastline, and savor a cool treat.

See how many strikes you can make! Established in 1939, located right up the street from the Pismo Pier, test your bowling skills at Pismo Bowl. Pismo Bowl offers arcade games, food and drinks, and of course, a bowling alley.

Down the road, less than 5 minutes from our hotel, Dinosaur Caves Park sits right on the bluff on Shell Beach. A perfect place for children to run around on the playground, have a picnic in the grass, or sit and look out at the ocean view. 

At Shell Beach Surf Shop you can take surf lessons, rent a surfboard and surf gear, and kayak and paddleboard tours. Come see if you can ride the waves at Shell Beach. 

Looking to shop at great prices? Pismo Beach Premium Outlets has all the favorite stores with daily discounts. From Nike to Kate Spade to Tommy Hilfiger, the Pismo Outlets can provide a great shopping experience with a variety of stores.

An enchanting part of California’s natural history is the Monarch Butterfly migration. Located off Highway 1 in Pismo Beach, you can find a beautiful grove of Eucalyptus Trees inhabited by these breathtaking butterflies. The best time to spot these delicate creatures is between January and February!

Want a bonfire without all the hassle? Pismo Bonfires sets up chairs, s'mores equipment, and supplies you with wood. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy a nice bonfire on the Pismo sand.

Located less than 10 minutes from our hotel near Pismo Beach, Oceano Dunes is the perfect site for a range of activities and sights to enjoy. There is space for recreational activities such as hiking, camping, surf fishing, surfing, swimming, and dune buggy rides, as well as spotting wildlife

Local produce, farm animals, and ice cream, Avila Valley Barn has it all. Less than 10 minutes from our hotel and right down the road from Avila Beach. Come and feed goats, ride ponies and tractors, and purchase beautifully and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

No reservation needed, the Central Coast Aquarium at Avila Beach offers touch tanks, daily feedings, and swell sharks. Come and learn something new about marine life and see local species! 

Sycamore Mineral Springs offers hourly use of mineral hot springs. Sycamore also offers massages, facials, and yoga and Pilates classes. Less than 10 minutes from our hotel, you can enjoy a relaxing soak in natural mineral hot springs. 

Every Thursday, starting at 6 p.m., San Luis Obispo hosts its weekly Farmers Market. On the street of Higuera in Downtown SLO, local businesses, such as restaurants and produce vendors, come and set up tents. With a variety of vendors, come and enjoy live music, good food, and street performers at San Luis Obispo's Farmers Market. 

SLO Ranch Farms and Marketplace provides San Luis Obispo with locally grown produce and locally made products. With SLO Ranch, you can enjoy tasty food in the sun, live music, a variety of festivals, and Paso Robles Brewing Company.

Central Coast Surf School and Kayaks provide adventures through surf lessons and guided kayaking tours along beautiful scenic routes on the Central Coast. Come and have an unforgettable experience riding the waves or exploring the wonders of the Central Coast. 

Looking for a place to have dinner and see a concert? SLO Brew Rock hosts live music, concerts, and private events. And right next door, Rod and Hammer Rock’s whiskey and craft beer tastings.

In the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo, come and test your axe-throwing skills. Battle Axe provides a fun and exciting experience. Visit Battle Axe SLO to see if you can hit the bullseye.

BA Start is the perfect combination of classic arcade games and a taproom. Go back in time and play all those arcade games from when you were a kid. With a variety of pinball tables, racing games, and on-tap beers, the whole family can have fun!

With free admissions, anyone can experience San Luis Obispo’s Museum of Art exhibitions located on Broad Street in Downtown SLO. Not only are there art pieces in the museum, but also around the City of SLO. These public art pieces are all around for anyone to walk to.

In the mood for great bands, dancing, or decades night? The Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, built in 1942, is a historical theater venue with all those options. The Fremont offers live performances with a variety of classic movie theater snacks, as well as beer and wine.

The Great American Melodrama is filled with fun and laughter. The melodrama takes classic plays and adds a little twist. If you’re looking for a fun time with the whole family, the Melodrama is the perfect place.

San Luis Obispo Public Market has a variety of restaurants and events like family movie night, DIY arts and crafts, or line dancing class. With food like burgers, bao buns, breakfast foods, pizza, and acai bowls, the Public Market has something for everyone to enjoy.

Travel back in time to the land where indoor movie theaters don't exist yet in San Luis Obispo. Movies are more fun to watch in the comfort of your car with your favorite snacks of popcorn and nachos! It is one of the last remaining drive-in theaters in California!

Full of pink and florals, Madonna Restaurant offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Come and enjoy tasty food, a pink beverage, and Madonna's famous pink champagne cake. Madonna offers their Copper Café, Gold Rush Steak House, and Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge for any type of dining experience.

With great live music from local bands, pool tables, and weekly events like line dancing, Libertine is the perfect place to have a good time. Test your skills in salsa with weekly salsa dancing on Sundays, or test out some jokes with open mic nights. Grab a drink and see all the fun at Libertine Brewing.

Oso Flaco Lake is a great place to go and get fresh air and take a short hike. A 2-mile round-trip hike from the trailhead to the beach has a beautiful pathway full of trees and wildlife, and a bridge that goes over the lake. Come and enjoy a nice day in nature just south of our hotel.  

Laguna Lake offers a variety of activities, including hiking, a playground, fishing, and even frisbee golf. With beautiful views and a nice grass area, Laguna Lake is the perfect place to relax in the sun or have fun-filled outdoor activities.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is a public university in San Luis Obispo, California. It is the first of three polytechnics in the California State University system. The university is organized into six colleges offering 65 bachelor's and 39 master's degrees.

Take a step into history. Founded in 1772, the Mission, located in downtown San Luis Obispo, can offer insight into what it was like in the Mission hundreds of years ago. Visit for a tour to see the beautiful architecture, how it was built, and hear about the stories that have walked the halls.

Come and partake in the Tri-Tip challenge! Hike all three San Luis Obispo Mountain peaks in one day. Bishops Peak, the Cal Poly “P”, and Madonna Mountain all have beautiful views of San Luis Obispo. Finish the challenge with a tasty Tri-Tip sandwich from Firestone Grill in Downtown SLO.