Pirate’s Cove
Pirate’s Cove is a little known spot just off of Avila Bay Road, on Cave Landing Drive. In the early 1900s it was used as a spot to smuggle in large amounts of alcohol during the alcohol prohibition. For the tourist who likes to “bare it all” during his or her stay, the former smuggling ring has now become a nude beach! You can park your car at the top of the cliff and hike down to the bottom of the beach for naturalist activities in a pristine setting. At sunset, locals enjoy the view from the seaside cliff through 20 foot wide cave peering out to sea. On a clear night coupled with a full moon, viewers can witness some of the most beautiful ocean vistas in the county as the surf pounds the rocky shoreline.
See Canyon Apple Orchards
Tucked away in the small valley between Avila Beach and San Luis Obispo is See Canyon, which is host to flavorful, juicy apples in the late Summer and Fall. If you take See Canyon Road at this time of the year, you will see several small farms which sell the freshest cider, cobblers, and other apple goods that you can find anywhere. If you are tired of the monotony of the 101, you can also push on past the apple vendors and drive the beautiful (and often bumpy) See Canyon Road back into SLO. A rarely-traveled 14 mile drive, the road winds through the apple orchards and offers stunning panoramic views of San Luis Obispo County.
Bubble Gum Alley
The exact origin of Bubble Gum Alley remains somewhat of a mystery, but the most widely accepted story is that it started as a San Luis High School graduation tradition in the 1950s. Origins aside, this San Luis Obispo landmark is perhaps the oddest (and most disgusting) attraction in the city! The Bubble Gum Wall is located between 733 and 734 Higuera Street, right in the heart of downtown. Look for unique bubble gum art, Cal Poly fraternity and sorority Greek Letters, and lots of bubble gum names. You can buy gum from many of the different shops nearby; be sure to pick some up if you decide to walk down the alleyway, as legend states that bad luck befalls anyone who visits the site and does not add their own piece of history to the wall.
Monarch Butterfly Grove
Pismo Beach is host to a beautiful and unique phenomenon which occurs every year in the wintertime: thousands of Monarch Butterflies fly in from West of the Rocky Mountains. This unique variety of Monarch Species, which live for six months instead of the usual six weeks, fly for over 1000 treacherous miles to reach the coast, and do so entirely on instinct, looking for warmer areas to survive the winter. Pismo Beach is home to one of the biggest Monarch Groves in the entire state, with the number of butterflies fluctuating between 20,000 and 200,000 depending on the time of year. Volunteer guides are available daily at the entrance to the Monarch Grove to answer any questions you may have and to help protect the fragile species. If you are in San Luis Obispo County between late October and February, this is an absolute must see.
Avila Barn & Farm
Located along Avila Beach Drive, shortly after the hot springs, you will find a charming barn featuring farmer’s market produce, homemade pies, breads and ice-cream. The produce is perhaps the freshest around and the prices are generally the cheapest in San Luis Obispo County! In the summer there are oodles of ollalieberries, raspberries, peaches and apples at the U-pick, and in the fall it is the best place to buy pumpkins for pies and Jack-o-lanterns. For the kids, there is also a small petting zoo by the front entrance as well as hay rides year round. |
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