Serenity on the Dunes Guidebook
Sightseeing
Overview- A great network of hiking and biking trails make this state park a perfect destination for expert and beginner hikers and bikers alike. Spooner's Cove beach is a great place to relax and explore the tide pools- starfish, sea urchin, crabs, anemone an underwater wonderland. Sand Spit is the surf spot and the 4.6 mile Bluff Trail offers ocean rock views that rival the famous 17 mile drive of Pebble Beach in Carmel. For a twist on the Bluff Trail, consider Rattlesnake Flats Trail – Badger Trail – Bluff Trail Loop. No fee is charged to visit Montaña de Oro State Park, so get out and enjoy!
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Parque Estatal Montaña de Oro
3550 Pecho Valley RdOverview- A great network of hiking and biking trails make this state park a perfect destination for expert and beginner hikers and bikers alike. Spooner's Cove beach is a great place to relax and explore the tide pools- starfish, sea urchin, crabs, anemone an underwater wonderland. Sand Spit is the surf spot and the 4.6 mile Bluff Trail offers ocean rock views that rival the famous 17 mile drive of Pebble Beach in Carmel. For a twist on the Bluff Trail, consider Rattlesnake Flats Trail – Badger Trail – Bluff Trail Loop. No fee is charged to visit Montaña de Oro State Park, so get out and enjoy!
Neighborhoods
Baywood has amazing sunsets over the back bay, offers a tiny pier on the calm water, and local paddle boats. Views of Morro Rock are incredible. For the best place to sight see, park near La Palapa Mexican Seafood Restaurant and stroll the short Baywood Park Pier. Wander along the waterfront behind the Back Bay Inn and continue to stroll the neighborhoods along the water. Pasadena Park & Baywood Park Beach paths are accessible from Santa Maria Avenue/Pasadena street. Other favorite views are found from the boardwalked networks of The Elfin Forest to the northeast & Morro Coast Audubon Society Sweet Springs Natural Preserve parks to the southwest. Head west towards Ramona avenue to find Sweet Springs. Head east towards Santa Ysabel Avenue, turn North on any street between 11th and 17th streets, all of which dead end at the Elfin Forest trail heads.
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Baywood-Los Osos
Baywood has amazing sunsets over the back bay, offers a tiny pier on the calm water, and local paddle boats. Views of Morro Rock are incredible. For the best place to sight see, park near La Palapa Mexican Seafood Restaurant and stroll the short Baywood Park Pier. Wander along the waterfront behind the Back Bay Inn and continue to stroll the neighborhoods along the water. Pasadena Park & Baywood Park Beach paths are accessible from Santa Maria Avenue/Pasadena street. Other favorite views are found from the boardwalked networks of The Elfin Forest to the northeast & Morro Coast Audubon Society Sweet Springs Natural Preserve parks to the southwest. Head west towards Ramona avenue to find Sweet Springs. Head east towards Santa Ysabel Avenue, turn North on any street between 11th and 17th streets, all of which dead end at the Elfin Forest trail heads.
City/town information
The water front Embarcadero is a popular tourist spot for shopping, eating, boating and exploring. Park at the Rock for beach access to The Strand which connects Morro Bay to Cayucos, 4-5 miles up the coast.
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Morro Bay
The water front Embarcadero is a popular tourist spot for shopping, eating, boating and exploring. Park at the Rock for beach access to The Strand which connects Morro Bay to Cayucos, 4-5 miles up the coast.
College town, historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, creekside dining, shopping, views of the hills. SLO town has something to offer everyone!
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San Luis Obispo
College town, historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, creekside dining, shopping, views of the hills. SLO town has something to offer everyone!
Food scene
Blue Heron has a unique Farm to Table California Cuisine with an Asian flare, we love it! Best Happy Hour spot before COVID. Now offering complete take out dinners on weekends- order online. Excellent to go bottles of wine and desserts too!
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Blue Heron Restaurant
1365 2nd StBlue Heron has a unique Farm to Table California Cuisine with an Asian flare, we love it! Best Happy Hour spot before COVID. Now offering complete take out dinners on weekends- order online. Excellent to go bottles of wine and desserts too!
Standard fare- lunch and breakfast, reliable food, friendly service.
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Celias Garden Cafe Inc
1188 Los Osos Valley RdStandard fare- lunch and breakfast, reliable food, friendly service.
Coffee and Tea. Home made brown sugar syrup, almond milk, baked goods.
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Ascendo
1230 Los Osos Valley RdCoffee and Tea. Home made brown sugar syrup, almond milk, baked goods.
Sweet and Savory Waffles, organic juices and nice wine selections. The back patio is OPEN!
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The Hidden Kitchen
113 N Ocean AveSweet and Savory Waffles, organic juices and nice wine selections. The back patio is OPEN!
Casual seafood on the Marina, live music, fish market, fresh shellfish and mollusks.
45 personas de la zona recomiendan
Tognazzini's Dockside Restaurant
1245 EmbarcaderoCasual seafood on the Marina, live music, fish market, fresh shellfish and mollusks.
Noi & Doi's 2nd Street Cafe
1325 2nd StreetFavorite Local Thai Food in Baywood.
Literally a charming neighborhood house converted into a tiny delicious old French style sourdough bakery. Opens 7am Thursday through Tuesday, closes when the bread sells out, sometime between noon - 4pm. Closed Wednesdays.
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Pagnol Baywood at 3rd Street Bakery
1229 3rd StLiterally a charming neighborhood house converted into a tiny delicious old French style sourdough bakery. Opens 7am Thursday through Tuesday, closes when the bread sells out, sometime between noon - 4pm. Closed Wednesdays.
We nicknamed this "The Church of Sushi" by far, the best sushi on the Central Coast. Other favorites include Kuma in Los Osos and KanPai in Shell Beach (Pismo).
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Harada | Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
630 EmbarcaderoWe nicknamed this "The Church of Sushi" by far, the best sushi on the Central Coast. Other favorites include Kuma in Los Osos and KanPai in Shell Beach (Pismo).
Modern trendy food from SF trained chefs. Good brunch and dinner.
78 personas de la zona recomiendan
The Spoon Trade
295 W Grand AveModern trendy food from SF trained chefs. Good brunch and dinner.
Authentic Italian Cuisine, delicious home made pastas, great service, family owned and operated since 1995.
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Mama's Meatball
570 Higuera StAuthentic Italian Cuisine, delicious home made pastas, great service, family owned and operated since 1995.
One of SLO's newer coffee shops that offers good coffee, alternate home made syrups and milks for lattes, snacks and baked goods.
Lucy's Coffee Co
1279 Laurel LnOne of SLO's newer coffee shops that offers good coffee, alternate home made syrups and milks for lattes, snacks and baked goods.
Consejos para los viajeros
Reserva antes de marcharte
Kayaking - Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Avila Paddle Sports allows online booking and is the best place to paddle- kayak or SUP- with the otters, sea lions and dolphins. They give lessons and launch you right off the pier so you don't have to contend with waves or getting wet (unless you choose to!) Bring water shoes if you want to beach and explore the old lighthouse, and new wedding grounds with a wooden swing as a reward for a long paddle past Pelican Rock!
Qué meter en la maleta
Always Wear Layers
Pack Layers-the sun is hot, the fog is damp, cools quickly at night.
No te lo pierdas
Monday's Farmer's Market- Baywood
Small, high quality local farmer's market on Monday's 2-4pm followed by "Beer on the Pier" live music gatherings. Beer on the Pier moves indoors to the La Palapa Mexican Seafood restaurant during the winter.
Modos de ahorrar
Taco Tuesdays
Lots of the Mexican food restaurants offer discounted tacos on Tuesdays. Shell Beach Zorro's Cafe and Cantina does Happy Hours Daily with Coronas and Tacos for $2 each from 2-4pm.
No te lo pierdas
Broderson hike
Our backyard has a network of trails in the dunes that lead up to stunning views of the Pacific and Back Bay. The ecosystems is varied, coast live oak groves with lichen, desert sand, chaparral, and Indiana Jones type trenched trails with landslides and boulders... always an adventure!