This unincorporated, census-designated community in California, 200 miles from San Francisco, has been described as a seaside haven and one of the hidden gems that make California worth visiting.
Avila Beach is a popular family destination with many adventurous outdoor activities to enjoy, such as kayaking and paddleboarding. There are also many guided tours, such as the ones to the famous Old Point San Luis Lighthouse.
Swimmers will be delighted to know that dolphins and whales are commonly spotted in the waters of Avila Beach, and hiking enthusiasts have many scenic nature trails to explore. The beaches are dog-friendly, and there is a wide range of fun and unique shopping options inland.
Read further to discover our list of the best and most fun things to do in Avila Beach, California
The 29 Most Popular Things To Do In Avila Beach, California
29. Fossil Point
5.0
(1 review)![AF1QipOMicEo5I yiLbMVRuWlJ8jJwd 7TUu d62QRuw592 h404 n k no Af1qipomiceo5i yilbmvruwlj8jjwd 7tuu-d62qru=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipOMicEo5I_yiLbMVRuWlJ8jJwd__7TUu-d62QRuw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Micheal Brink, Google Maps
28. Windemere Winery
5.0
(1 review)Location: 1653 Old Price Canyon Road San Luis Obispo CA
Tel: 805 542 0133
Web Address: https://windemerewines.com/
27. Avila Beach Farmers’ Market
4.3
(4 reviews)![7029925961 1a504dab7c h 7029925961 1a504dab7c h](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/7029925961_1a504dab7c_h.jpg.webp)
Credit: Flickinpicks, License, Flickr
Location: 443 Front Street Avila Beach CA
Tel: 805 602 8266
Web Address: https://visitavilabeach.com/avila-beach-farmers-market/
26. Bob Jones Trail
4.8
(5 reviews)![27899922319 fc44e1c2b3 h 27899922319 fc44e1c2b3 h](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/27899922319_fc44e1c2b3_h.jpg.webp)
Credit: docentjoyce, License, Flickr
Location: 443 Front Street Avila Beach CA
Tel: 805 441 5085
Web Address: https://visitavilabeach.com/bob-jones-trail/
25. Pirate’s Cove
4.5
(13 reviews)![7580673340 39b0d8c158 h 7580673340 39b0d8c158 h](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/7580673340_39b0d8c158_h.jpg.webp)
Credit: Courtney Thomas, License, Flickr
24. Cerro San Luis Obispo
4.9
(17 reviews)![AF1QipNK3WH4gJezwzvqCtmwtyFRPHlLX3Q4E8uHoOMRw592 h404 n k no Af1qipnk3wh4gjezwzvqctmwtyfrphllx3q4e8uhoomr=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipNK3WH4gJezwzvqCtmwtyFRPHlLX3Q4E8uHoOMRw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: paul amato, Google Maps
23. San Luis Obispo Bay
4.8
(20 reviews)![800px Avila Beach 10 12 07 800px-avila beach 10-12-07](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/800px-Avila_Beach_10-12-07.jpg.webp)
Credit: Scooterboss, License, Wikimedia commons
22. Laguna Lake
4.2
(21 reviews)![AF1QipN7Scnd8GI0bPGvro5dl6djc91zozDJ6qZSE7Jiw592 h404 n k no Af1qipn7scnd8gi0bpgvro5dl6djc91zozdj6qzse7ji=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipN7Scnd8GI0bPGvro5dl6djc91zozDJ6qZSE7Jiw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: joyce cory, Google Maps
21. San Luis Obispo Creek
4.3
(24 reviews)20. Alapay Cellars Tasting Room
4.8
(74 reviews)![AF1QipNlis9DP3x8ghAh63 O94pczVwc5yZJoBRxloRJw592 h404 n k no Af1qipnlis9dp3x8ghah63 o94pczvwc5yzjobrxlorj=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipNlis9DP3x8ghAh63_O94pczVwc5yZJoBRxloRJw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Alapay Cellars Tasting Room, Google Maps
Location: 415 1st Street Avila Beach CA
Tel: 805 595 2632
Web Address: http://alapaycellars.com/
19. Fisherman’s Beach
4.6
(125 reviews)![AF1QipOqAfNDprA M1RuxbcFLMXsd3r5M8tdbE44KJH6w592 h404 n k no Af1qipoqafndpra-m1ruxbcflmxsd3r5m8tdbe44kjh6=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipOqAfNDprA-M1RuxbcFLMXsd3r5M8tdbE44KJH6w592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Highway 1 Discovery Route, Google Maps
Location: San Luis Obispo CA
Web Address: https://highway1discoveryroute.com/activities/fisherman-s-beach/
18. Ebb Tide Park
4.7
(137 reviews)![AF1QipNm5e uy8m CGkSaZtxFmNnZ9sBZ8MiSNHFN1ELw592 h404 n k no Af1qipnm5e-uy8m-cgksaztxfmnnz9sbz8misnhfn1el=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipNm5e-uy8m-CGkSaZtxFmNnZ9sBZ8MiSNHFN1ELw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Ebb Tide Park, Google Maps
Location: 319 Ebb Tide Ln Pismo Beach CA
Tel: 805 773 7039
Web Address: http://pismobeach.org/289/Ebb-Tide-Park
17. Tolosa
4.5
(142 reviews)Location: 4910 Edna Road San Luis Obispo CA
Tel: 805 782 0500
Web Address: http://tolosawinery.com/
16. Smugglers Cave
4.4
(191 reviews)![AF1QipPs5nS1Ors bthPHovwAMp1Z7K2yPDMM ZPQzVlw592 h404 n k no Af1qipps5ns1ors bthphovwamp1z7k2ypdmm zpqzvl=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipPs5nS1Ors_bthPHovwAMp1Z7K2yPDMM_ZPQzVlw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Location: 1618 Cave Landing Road San Luis Obispo CA
15. Harford Pier
4.6
(312 reviews)![800px Humpback Whale off Avila Beach2C CA 800px-humpback whale off avila beach%2c ca](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/800px-Humpback_Whale_off_Avila_Beach2C_CA.jpg.webp)
Credit: Mike Baird, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3950 Avila Beach Dr Avila Beach CA
Web Address: http://portsanluis.com/
14. Irish Hills Natural Reserve
4.6
(314 reviews)![AF1QipOo3ELDsyxf9qTJQJG8y1KLAVuDvuWn H3W9OK w592 h404 n k no Af1qipoo3eldsyxf9qtjqjg8y1klavudvuwn-h3w9ok-=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipOo3ELDsyxf9qTJQJG8y1KLAVuDvuWn-H3W9OK-w592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Andrew Alan, Google Maps
Location: Prefumo Canyon Road & Isabella Way San Luis Obispo CA
Tel: 805 781 7300
Web Address: http://visitsanluisobispocounty.com/profile/1691/irish-hills-natural-reserve
13. Johnson Ranch Open Space
4.7
(330 reviews)![AF1QipNxDQxLUzc0mTKDrlxgqvRJd6Ecl1dUf3i5og8yw592 h404 n k no Af1qipnxdqxluzc0mtkdrlxgqvrjd6ecl1duf3i5og8y=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipNxDQxLUzc0mTKDrlxgqvRJd6Ecl1dUf3i5og8yw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Ann Rivera, Google Maps
Location: Johnson Ranch Loop San Luis Obispo CA
Tel: 805 781 7300
Web Address: http://slocity.org/government/department-directory/city-administration/natural-resources/open-space-plans
12. South Palisades Park
4.7
(369 reviews)![AF1QipPyRh2HeProHF1pvfcbSxEVNOF0DlDldzXaifwuw592 h404 n k no Af1qippyrh2heprohf1pvfcbsxevnof0dldldzxaifwu=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipPyRh2HeProHF1pvfcbSxEVNOF0DlDldzXaifwuw592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: South Palisades Park, Google Maps
Location: Beachcomber Dr Pismo Beach CA
Tel: 805 773 7039
Web Address: http://pismobeach.org/index.aspx
11. Port San Luis Pier
4.6
(467 reviews)![798px Avila Beach pier 798px-avila beach pier](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/798px-Avila_Beach_pier.jpg.webp)
Credit: Chris Biggers, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3975 Avila Beach Dr San Luis Obispo CA
Tel: 805 595 5400
10. Pismo Preserve
4.7
(775 reviews)![13748363003 4b41263170 b 13748363003 4b41263170 b](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/13748363003_4b41263170_b.jpg.webp)
Credit: Rob DeGraff, License, Flickr
Location: 80 Mattie Road Pismo Beach CA
Tel: 805 544 9096
Web Address: http://lcslo.org/pismopreserve/
9. Avila Beach Park
4.7
(1,225 reviews)Location: 50 San Juan Street Avila Beach CA
Tel: 805 781 5930
Web Address: https://slocountyparks.com/
Our Top picks
8. Pirate’s Cove Beach
5.0
(5 reviews)![7580673340 39b0d8c158 h 1 7580673340 39b0d8c158 h](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/7580673340_39b0d8c158_h-1.jpg.webp)
Credit: Courtney Thomas, License, Flickr
Location: Cave Landing Road San Luis Obispo CA
7. Point San Luis Lighthouse
4.7
(186 reviews)![800px Point San Luis Lighthouse 800px-point san luis lighthouse](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/800px-Point_San_Luis_Lighthouse.jpg.webp)
Credit: Shea Hazarian, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Lighthouse Road Avila Beach CA
Tel: 805 540 5771
Web Address: http://pointsanluislighthouse.org/
6. Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards
4.7
(214 reviews)![AF1QipNwPIx4MCNs6otzVboETwthLLD7UQ7f3pPIW5p1w592 h404 n k no Af1qipnwpix4mcns6otzvboetwthlld7uq7f3ppiw5p1=w592-h404-n-k-no](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AF1QipNwPIx4MCNs6otzVboETwthLLD7UQ7f3pPIW5p1w592-h404-n-k-no.jpg.webp)
Credit: Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards, Google Maps
Location: 1947 See Canyon Road San Luis Obispo CA
Tel: 805 595 9700
Web Address: http://kelseywine.com/
5. Central Coast Aquarium
4.3
(241 reviews)![800px Central Coast Aquarium Sign 800px-central coast aquarium sign](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/800px-Central_Coast_Aquarium_Sign.jpg.webp)
Credit: Coughdrop12, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 50 San Juan Street Avila Beach CA
Tel: 805 457 5357
Web Address: http://centralcoastaquarium.com/
4. Pirates Cove Beach
4.4
(384 reviews)Web Address: https://visitavilabeach.com/
3. Olde Port Beach
4.7
(561 reviews)![7830616132 4e8db7481a c 7830616132 4e8db7481a c](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/7830616132_4e8db7481a_c.jpg.webp)
Credit: Gregory “Slobirdr” Smith, License, Flickr
2. Avila Hot Springs
4.1
(628 reviews)Location: 250 Avila Beach Dr San Luis Obispo CA
Tel: 805 595 2359
Web Address: http://avilahotsprings.com/
1. Avila Valley Barn
4.7
(3,682 reviews)![12096060963 c055d000fb h 12096060963 c055d000fb h](https://touristwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12096060963_c055d000fb_h.jpg.webp)
Credit: Eric Neitzel, License, Flickr
Location: 560 Avila Beach Dr San Luis Obispo CA
Tel: 805 595 2816
Web Address: http://avilavalleybarn.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Avila Beach, California! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
Join the TouristWire community
At TouristWire, our team works tirelessly to bring you the most comprehensive itineraries and reviews to help you plan your next trip. Don’t miss out, join our mailing list and our reviews delivered directly to your mailbox!
.