Our Beaches!
Avila is really three beaches, the first is Pirates' Cove, which is a rugged, secluded, clothing optional private cove. Some incredible views come from Pirates Cove down the coast. Visitors should take caution as there is a steep winding path so be sure to go with a partner; it is not recommended to go alone. Enjoy the Cave Landing Road to the top of the hill which overlooks Pirates Cove..
The second beach is the Avila Main Beach, divided by the pier, the right side facing the ocean is intended for families and young children. This beach includes a children's park equipped with a pirate ship, playground, basketball courts and barbecue pits. During low tides children and adults can explore the tide pools underneath the bridge as well as an estuary full of wildlife. Closer to the pier, children will find beach swings. Families can use the public barbecues. On the pier, visitors will find clean public restrooms and showers, and during the summer the local boat shop is open at the end of the pier. Bring your fishing pole; no permit is required to fish off this large pier in Avila Beach. On the left side of the pier you will notice the college age visitors as well as couples escaping the kids next door. This side of the beach is excellent for exploring sea caves and coves. At low tide walk all the way to fossil point which is a beautiful area with 100 foot cliffs dominating the scenery.
The third beach of Avila is Harford Beach. You will know you have arrived when you see a boat ramp descending to the beach. There are public restrooms, a small sailboat ramp that requires 4WD, and a lot of free sandy beach for your dog to run. Pets are welcome on this beach at all hours. The locals call this beach "Dog Beach" for this reason. Here you will see beautiful views of Port of San Luis. Watch the local fisherman go out in the morning and bring in their catch at the end of the day. Enjoy sea otters at play, sea lions sunning themselves or the occasional porpoise in their usual small pod. At the far end of the beach are eight fire pits for public use at no charge, however; if you decide to have a bonfire in the summer, get there early. The locals plan a lot of birthday parties and gatherings at this end of the beach and the fire pits get taken fast.
Off the Beach
Includes: hiking, biking, golf, boating, lake visits, monarch butterfly habitat, Elephant Seal Rookery and kayaking information.
Monarch Butterflies in Pismo Beach
Each year thousands of vibrant orange and black Monarch Butterflies flock to Pismo Beach, seeking shelter from the freezing northern winters. From late October to February, the butterflies cluster in the limbs of a grove of Eucalyptus trees at Pismo State Beach. The grove is easily accessible. It is located on State Highway 1 at the south boundary of the city limits of Pismo Beach.
Spectators come from all over the Central Coast and throughout the state to view the Monarchs. Visitors are greeted by knowledgeable and well-informed volunteer docents offering daily talks and information.
The butterflies form dense clusters with each one hanging with its wing down over the one below it to form a shingle effect. This provides shelter from the rain and warmth for the group. The weight of the cluster help keeps it from whipping in the wind and dislodging the butterflies.
Our colony is one of the largest in the nation, hosting an average of 25,000 butterflies over the last five years.
The Monarchs that visit Pismo Beach are a special variety. They have a life span of six months as opposed to that of common Monarchs who live only six weeks. This can be attributed to a unique fat storing system. However, even with an extended life span, those butterflies that leave in March will never return.
Scientists do not know why the Monarchs consistently return to some wintering sites. In North America, those sites range from the Central and Southern California Coast to Mexico. Some scientists speculate that the insects are equipped with genetic homing systems that lead them from their summer sites in the Sierras, Florida, Canada and the Great Lakes Region in North America back to their winter locations.
On the Central Coast, Monarchs winter in Pismo Beach, Pacific Grove and Morro Bay. The Natural History Museum In Morro Bay is an excellent resource for information about Monarchs.
During the season the Docent Trailer opens at 10am and closes at 4pm daily. Daily walks through the grove happen at 11am and 2 pm, weather permitting. For more information or directions, please call the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce at 800-443-7778. Be sure to visit ClassicCalifornia.com - the Pismo Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau's web site for more information about Pismo Beach.
The Port San Luis Lighthouse
Wonder of Wonders:
The Point San Luis Lighthouse Park enjoys dramatic vistas stretching from Avila to Vandenberg. Whales, Sea Lions and Otters are frequently seen leaping or cavorting on the surface.
Experience a rich history on the grounds, in the Lighthouse, the Hornhouse, and other structures. If you’d like to visit, click on our TOURS PAGE HERE.
Van Tours:
The Lighthouse Keepers provide access to the Lighthouse Park by Van Tour. Fares include the cost of docent led tours in the Lighthouse & Head Keepers Quarters. For Reservations (click for reservation), or call 805-540-5771.
HISTORY:
In 1867 President Andrew Johnson issued an executive order directing the Department of the Interior “to take the necessary steps to cause the reservation for Light House purposes of an area … of land at … Point San Luis”. The first pier at Port San Luis was built the next year. Congressman Romaldo Pacheco of San Luis Obispo introduced a bill in 1877 to build a lighthouse at Point San Luis. Construction would not commence until 1889. By 1890 whaling vessels, cargo ships, tankers and fishing boats were all guided around the treacherous point into the safe harbor. For more HISTORY, click: http://www.sanluislighthouse.org/history.html
Until 1933 the Lighthouse projected a beam of light 20 miles out to sea from one kerosene lamp set high in its tower, by collecting all the lamp’s light with over 100 Lenses made by French craftsman. View architectural drawings of the light.
Avila Beach Golf Resort
The Avila Beach Golf Resort is a seaside golf course nestled in the surrounding Avila Beach hills and on the bay, this resort includes a par 71, 6500-yard championship course. The front nine is situated within oak-lined valleys. The back nine transverses a tidal estuary. Golfers of all abilities will enjoy the challenge of this scenic course.
To book our Avila Beach Golf Package, click here!
Visit South SLO County Wine Country
South San Luis Obispo County, located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, has earned worldwide recognition and respect for the exceptional quality of wine grapes produced in this ideal viticultural area. The area includes the Edna Valley, the Arroyo Grande Valley, each a designated American Viticultural Area, the Avila Valley and Nipomo.
Wine growing in San Luis Obispo County stretches back to the missionary days of California viticulture, when the first grapevines were planted by the Franciscan padres who settled California in the 1880s. Today, because of this region’s ideal world-class microclimate and soils, wine grapes are the leading crop in San Luis Obispo County. 
There are over 3000 acres of vines in South San Luis Obispo County, and more vineyards are being planted. The climate and soils have been proven to provide the perfect environment for growing and producing ultra premium quality wines.
Due to the unique geography of the South Central Coast, the valleys have east-west orientations and are distinguished by the extensive maritime influence on the climate and soil. The soils are dominated by marine deposits left millions of years ago when the valleys were under water. Loam and clay topsoil overlay calcareous marine deposits promoting complex flavors.
The climate is tempered by marine air flowing directly into the valley from the Pacific Ocean. This cooling influence creates an unusually long growing season resulting in greatly intensified varietal flavors. All of these elements produce wine grapes and wines of complex flavors and intensity found only in the world’s greatest wine regions.
Tasting Rooms in Avila Beach
415 First Street, Avila Beach – (805) 595-2632
53 San Miguel Street, Avila Beach – (805) 627-1918
Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards – 1947 See Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo – (805) 595-9700
550 First Street, Avila Beach – (805) 627-1443
San Luis Obispo Vintners Association – (805) 541-5868
Elephant Seals - San Simeon
The Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris ,is an extraordinary marine mammal. It spends eight to ten months a year in theopen ocean, diving 1000 to 5000 feet deep for periods of fifteen minutes to twohours, and migrating thousands of miles, twice a year, to its land basedrookery for birthing, breeding, molting and rest. The Piedras Blancas rookery,on Highway 1 seven miles north of San Simeon on the California Central Coast (about 1 hour away from Avila Beach),is home to about 15,000 animals. The area is open for viewing every day of theyear and there is no admission fee or reservation required.
Hearst Castle - Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument
In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased 40,000 acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of Piedra Blanca, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown to encompass 250,000 acres.
Originally nicknamed “Camp Hill,” its wilderness offered a place for family members and friends to “rough it” on camping trips. While the arrangements for these trips were elaborate, with separate sleeping and dining tents, they would not satisfy Hearst for long. In 1919, his instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan were simple, “...Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something...”
Hearst and Morgan’s collaboration was destined to become one of the world’s greatest showplaces. As they were planning and constructing his dream home, Hearst renamed the rocky perch from which it rose “La Cuesta Encantada”––The Enchanted Hill®. By 1947, Hearst and Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways.
The estate’s magnificent main house, “Casa Grande,” and three guesthouses are of Mediterranean Revival style, with the imposing towers of Casa Grande being inspired by a Spanish cathedral. The blending of the architectural style with the surrounding land, and Hearst’s superb European and Mediterranean art collections, was so seamless that world-renowned architectural historian, Lord John Julius Norwich, was moved to say that “Hearst Castle® is a palace in every sense of the word.”
Tour Information: Hearst Castle® is open for tours daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Day tours usually start at 8:20 a.m. The last tour usually starts at 3:20 p.m. in winter, later in summer. Daytime tours take about one hour and 45 minutes, which includes the round trip from the Visitor Center. Tours depart from the Visitor Center by bus at the time printed on the ticket. An audio tape program provides background information during the 15 minute, five mile trip to the Castle. Although the Experience Tour is considered the least strenuous, persons with crutches, walking aids, or medical problems such as heart conditions may want to consider an Accessibly Designed Tour. All tours, except Accessibly Designed Tours, include a half-mile walk and 150 to 400 stairs, so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tour Ticket Reservations (800) 444-4445
Whale Watching
Avila La Fonda Hotel 101 San Miguel Street Avila Beach , CA , 93424 Phone: (805) 595.1700 Fax: (805) 627.1862
