Page 62 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to California

PISMO BEACH
A celebration of classic California beach culture
BEACHCOMB,
EXPLORE, ENJOY
THE COAST
PISMO BEACH
CONFERENCE &
VISITORS BUREAU
experiencepismobeach.com
PISMO BEACH, above; Pismo State Beach
Monarch Butterfly Grove, below.
A classic California beach town, Pismo
Beach boasts a world-famous pier,
miles of white sand beaches, a rich
wine region and a world-famous castle only
minutes away.
Sand, sun, and sea converge in Pismo
Beach where visitors savor a laid-back
beach culture. Enjoy water activities:
kayaking, fishing, surfing, or go hiking or
biking in breathtaking landscapes.
A Wine & Waves Destination
Delight in the perfect pairing of wine and
waves. Enjoy the beach and then go wine
tasting in a single, pleasurable day. Minutes
from downtown, the wineries of Edna
Valley are ripe for exploration. In the late
18th century, Spanish missionaries origin-
ally planted grapes in this valley in the
Santa Lucia Mountains. Today, most Edna
Valley wineries are family-owned where
you can taste regional Pinot Noir, Syrah and
Chardonnay vintages.
In this Central California location, every-
thing is nearby. The world-renowned
Hearst Castle, its ancient antiquities and
Old Master paintings are only an hour away,
perfect for a day trip.
A Butterfly Refuge
Pismo Beach’s most famous visitors arrive
60 2023-24 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
B Y L E N O R E G R E I N E R
during its gentle winter. In the Pismo State
Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, as many as
24,000 vibrant orange western monarchs
seek shelter from northern winters. This
refuge is one of only five California sites
with counts of over 10,000 butterflies
annually.
Located half a mile south of Pismo
Beach just off Highway 1, visit from late
October through February where volunteer
docents stand by to answer your monarch
questions.
Rooms With a View
Amid its bounty of land and sea, Pismo
Beach offers an array of lodgings. Choose a
stay at a luxurious oceanfront hotel with
whitewater views, an affordable motel, a
family-friendly vacation rental or an award-
winning RV park. Popular for celebrations
and weddings, Pismo Beach oceanfront
resorts offer spectacular venues. Check out
The Cliffs Hotel & Spa, Dolphin Bay Resort
and Spa, Inn at the Pier and the new Mar-
riott Autograph Collection Vespera Resort
on Pismo Beach.
Halfway between San Francisco and Los
Angeles on the Pacific Coast’s legendary
Highway 101, California’s golden past is
alive and well in Pismo Beach, the ideal
coastal getaway.
PISMO BEACH CVB