Pismo Beach is a cozy little beach town on the Central California Coast. We had driven through it before on road trips to Northern California, however this was our first time staying in Pismo. We absolutely loved this quaint little town. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the beauty of the California Coast without all the crowds that some of the more popular coastal towns draw.

Where to Stay

We chose to stay at the Inn at the Pier and could not be happier with our choice. The location is the best in town, right at the base of the pier and central to everything! The luxury, craftsman-style hotel offers 104 boutique hotel rooms, an onsite restaurant,  rooftop pool and bar, and fitness center.

As soon as we entered our room, we fell in love with the chic surf vibe and how spacious the room was. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, a flat screen TV, WiFi, mini refrigerator, coffee maker, lots of counter space, sofa, and the most comfortable bed! And the best thing about our room was the spacious balcony that overlooked the pier and ocean.

The rooftop offers a dipping pool and jacuzzi as well as plenty of lounge chairs for sunbathing or catching up on your reading.

Inn at the Pier has the only rooftop bar in Pismo, which is the perfect spot to catch the sunset while sipping on a cocktail. There is plenty of seating and several fire pits to keep you warm on those chilly nights.

What to Do in Pismo

Pismo Beach offers plenty of options for everyone, from surfing, to shopping, to wine tasting. These are our recommendations for what you can’t miss while visiting Pismo Beach.

Sand Dunes

One thing Pismo Beach is known for is it’s sand dunes. The Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is about an 8 minute drive from Pismo and is the only California State Park that allows non-street-legal vehicles to drive on the beach. There are several rental companies in the area where you can rent ATVs, UTVs and dune buggies. We opted to rent a 2-person dune buggy from Sunbuggy. There are some very steep dunes so it was a little scary at first, but once we got comfortable driving, it was so much fun! The ride is very bumpy and we both had sore backs afterwards, but definitely worth it!

Wine TastingJust a 15-minute drive from Pismo Beach is Edna Valley Wine Country, which covers a dozen miles from Arroyo Grande to San Luis Obispo. There are over a dozen wineries with beautiful vineyards and tasting rooms. We visited Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards and Sextant Wines. Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards is a charming, family-owned winery with a large outdoor seating area. They also have peacocks that roam the grounds and for $2 you can buy food to feed them. Sextant Wines is a winery based in Paso Robles, but they have the cutest little tasting room in Edna. The Wheelhouse wine was excellent and the ladies behind the bar were super friendly and knowledgeable and made our visit that much better. 

The PierThe Pismo Beach Pier just recently opened again after a complete renovation. The beautiful wooden pier is 1370′ long and is the 16th longest ocean pier in California. Stroll along the pier, watch the surfers, or try your hand at fishing. 

Old West Cinnamon RollsCinnamon rolls are one of my favorite sweets so I couldn’t resist trying the famous Old West Cinnamon Rolls. As soon as I took one bite, I knew these would be my new all-time favorite. We shared a cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting and it was the most delicious and decadent thing ever!

Wooly’s Beach Bar & GrillWooly’s Beach Bar & Grill is a must when visiting Pismo. The restaurant and bar has a huge outdoor patio that overlooks the ocean and pier. They are known for their seafood dishes and clam chowder, but they also have a variety of other options like their yummy Nacho Skillet!

Harry’s Nightclub & Beach BarIf you are looking for some nightlife, Harry’s Nightclub & Beach Bar is the go-to spot. They have a large bar and dance floor, live music every night and games like pool & darts. 

Our trip to Pismo Beach was both relaxing and entertaining and we highly recommend a visit to this fun beachside town!

XO

This post in collaboration with Inn at the Pier. All opinions are my own.