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Avila Beach
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
36 reviews for Avila Beach
36 reviews in English
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Review from Tram N.
San Jose, CA
5/9/2012
One of my favorite beaches in SLO. Definitely less crowded and less of a tourist spot.
Though, I'd have to say I prefer Pismo's sand way better. -
Review from T A.
Alameda, CA
2/27/2012 3 photos
I call this the beach made of play doh. It just seems so man-made.
But, since it's my family's name..I can't hate it at all..and I actually kind of like it.
I've been twice now and it's never super crowded.
The waves are always pretty small. It seems more like a bay than a beach.
It's OK..it's worth hopping off Hwy 101 just to scope it out and take romantical pics with that special someone...or even by yourself.
It's a mosey kinda town.. things are chill so, don't go with a big tude and rush around or anything.. take it easy. -
Review from Mark W.
Bakersfield, CA
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Place is timeless! Great beach quaint and that micro-climate is spot on!
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Review from Jeromy W.
Selma, CA
4/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love it! This is one of my favorite beaches on the central coast. It gets a little busy (more so in the summer), but it is a beautiful beach. There is food and shops in walking distance to the beach.
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Review from Sophie B.
Alamo, CA
5/9/2012
I have such good memories here, from learning how to boogie board to relaxing at the beach to coming here with my friends this place is AWESOME. The only con about this place is that if it's not summer the waves will be freezing cold.
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Review from Deloni R.
Guadalupe, CA
4/9/2012 5 photos
I love Avila for a multitude of reasons. There's something for everyone in the family to enjoy. To the left of the beach is the pier if you feel like takin a stroll and letting the sea breeze flow through your hair. This is where I go to release my mind. Just unwind & take in the view. Feel the glistening sun touch your skin. Smell the sweet salty aroma of ocean water. Listen to the rhythmic sounds of the waves as they gently lap the shore. Drift away my friend drift away..... Lol ... Right next to the pier lies a nice stretch of smooth sand to lay out on or play a game of football/volleyball, maybe build some sand castles or whatever you fancy. There's also a swingset right on the beach with a playground out back. For the more adventurous beach goer there are some hidden caves to escavate & rocks to climb on the right side of the beach. There's also a ton of tide pools teaming with sea critters! We seen some starfish & sea anemones on our last visit.(couldn't help but poke them & get a little squirt! Lol) It is a little rockier on this side of the beach but there's a shallow rip tide with slow currents that the kids really enjoy.(my son brings his toy boats to sail) There's not as many touristy outlets & restaurants as pismo, but I kind of like that(: Overall a nice beach to visit if your in the area.
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Review from Anthony B.
Riverside, CA
10/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Not a bad little beach to visit. Has a huge pier to walk down, fish on, ocean gaze, or whatever else one does on such.
The beach itself was mostly uncrowded during our visits to it (definite plus).
Definitely a great place to bring family. In addition to the beach there is a nearby play park for the kids, a BBQ pit for BBQing, and of course the row of shops and eateries across the street. -
Review from Chris R.
Dublin, CA
1/31/2012
Very nice beach. Dog friendly after 5pm.
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Review from Chase S.
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Walked down to the beach after a huge lunch, spread out a blanket and took an awesome nap with the waves lulling me to sleep. Warm enough to strip down to shorts and a t-shirt and almost no one was there on a Sunday afternoon. Oddly enough they have lifeguards but they didn't seem to care what anyone was doing. I wish I could nap there every day.
peace, love, and good booze ~ chaseListed in: Pismo'ish
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Review from Lindsey A.
San Jose, CA
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am actually shocked at the influx of bad reviews for this place! I very honestly cannot imagine a better beach for the central coast for families. Here's why:
- it's in a smaller community offset from the larger tourist destinations.
- it has swings and a full size park adjacent to the beach.
- it is in a sheltered cove, therefore no intimidating waves for the less brave toddlers.
- parking is abundant and free.
- the sand is fine and moist, perfect for sand castles.
- BBQ pits and picnic tables right in front of the beach
Seriously, what more could you want out of a beach? -
Review from Melissa H.
San Luis Obispo, CA
8/30/2011 15 Check-ins Here
Avila Beach is my favorite!
+: Ample parking, pretty clean, shallow waters, live music at night from the bars, unique farmer's market on Friday evenings
-: fearless birds and bees getting in on your barbeque -
Review from Mary R.
Spontaneously, I decided to pull over here and take a look. So serene, with a sense of nostalgia I couldn't quite place. It was quiet, clean, pleasant, completely tucked away from crowds and tourists. There's a few stores and restaurants and a large hotel across the road. This beach was charming.
Listed in: Central California
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Review from Andrea P.
5/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hidden little gem. Tucked away not too far between SLO and Pismo beach is a little treasure aka Avila beach.
Beautiful beach, very clean and private. Not too many people know about this beach- the little town of Avila is only about 3 blocks long. It's got everything you need- a little grocery shop, coffee shop, restaurant and souvenirs. You have a choice between staying at the inn, hotel or resort (a bit further). I love that there are a TON of super clean bathrooms around. Finally a beach where I don't have to trek through 1 mile of sand to pee in a smelly public restroom... Sorry, TMI? Haha.
Anyways! If you're looking for a relaxing, quiet, peaceful beach time in an area NOT crowded with annoying tourists- this is your place to be. If you're into exciting beach night life... Sorry! Regardless, enjoy the simple things in life... beach side :) -
Review from Lisa M.
Larkspur, CA
8/4/2011
Loved this beach. Sunny! Pier! Swings! Gift shops! Restaurants!
And 4 hours south of SF.
Nice. -
Review from Kristin K.
Bakersfield, CA
8/13/2011
Got to the beach at 11am, no crowds (yet), and the weather was beautifully overcast. They had play area for kids on the beach with slides and swings--which was a bonus!
The parking lot was only $5 for the entire day--great deal and very close walk to the beach area. By noon the place started to fill up so I suggest getting there early and checking out the shops before it gets crowded. They had live music (and do every sunday) and our 2 year old loved playing in the sand.
We also got to see several seals that came very close to shore--about 20 feet from it! Locals said this is not uncommon. Would definitely go back soon! -
Review from Rebecca W.
Atascadero, CA
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
this is one of the reasons i moved out here!
bee u tee full!
dog friendly -
Review from Sarah D.
11/8/2010
Sunset Magazine is my bible. I grew up reading it and I'm pleased that the mag has grown up with me (in the sense that it's quite a bit hipper and aimed at yupsters now, and I'm pretty sure it was a bit more stogy in the 80s). So when Sunset profiled Avila Beach as a great coastal getaway and I'd never even heard of the town, I had to stay here.
Growing up in Northern California, mostly going to beaches in Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties, my relationship with Central California beaches has been complicated. On one hand, I dreamed of the wide, sandy beaches typical of the central coast, where on a nice day the temperature can actually rise above 60 degrees. You know, beaches that feel "beachy".
On the other hand, I find the beach towns in Central California largely charmless. Places like Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Carpenteria, Sand City and so forth - unlike the beautiful beach towns of NorCal, they were obviously built without any regard for the environment and tend to be ugly, full of sprawl and tacky motels. There are lovely secluded beaches in Big Sur, but no real towns around them, so your only options are super-expensive resorts, or camping.
So I cannot convey the sheer joy I felt at discovering this lovely beach community just 10 minutes from San Luis Obispo. While some of the new development might err on the slightly too precious side, the intimate size and beautiful setting of this town was like something out of my fevered California dreams.
The beach itself is absolutely lovely, framed by rocky cliffs with two picturesque working piers. There's a main drag right in front of the beach that is partially pedestrian-only with a small but varied selection of shops, candy stores, and restaurants. In the beautiful valley leading to the beach is a fantastic farm stand, not one but two hot springs resorts, and a winery! I haven't had time to go to the northernmost beach which reportedly allows bonfires, but I can't wait to do so in the future. Avila Beach also has great fresh seafood available, bike rentals, and hiking in the hills above town as well as several deservedly-popular hotels.
I'm already planning my next trip back! -
Review from Sandra L.
Bakersfield, CA
1/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Surrounding shops and eateries were good, but the beach itself was far from that. Yes, compared to Pismo it's a lot nicer, but you can say the same about any beach in comparison to Pismo.
The water is cold. The beach is dirty and filled with seaweed which in return draws a lot of flies.
This is not the kind of beach you lay out on, but one that you just enjoy from afar.
People from this area seem to enjoy this beach so it gets packed. A lot of Cal Poly students hang out here. -
Review from Brian W.
8/17/2011
Avila Beach doesn't get as much credit (or crowding) as nearby Pismo Beach and that's a good thing. The waves might be a little smaller and the shops/restaurants surrounding the beach might not be as good, but it's still a great little beach. Under the pier you can rent chairs and boogie boards and there is plenty of sand to spread out without having to feel like you're up close and personal with another family.
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Review from Arianna N.
San Francisco, CA
7/17/2011
Got a chance to catch some sun here. The weather was perfect for laying out. It was a bit crowded, but with it being the middle of summer, it's expected. Pretty touristy with a lot of youngins and families. All in all a relaxing beach I got to tan at :)
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Review from Richard D.
New York, NY
9/24/2010
I came here with my friend on our annual manly trip. We had to come here because that's where the WaveJammer Jet ski rental place is based.
The beach was pretty packed with people. Avila beach does have more of an upscale vibe to it, but it's okay. Pismo beach it ain't. It seems to be just quiet family time or a wine and cheese atmosphere vs Pismo's Mountain Dew/beer atmosphere.
I would have to agree with the sand being pretty rocky and that does suck. Hurts like hell to walk through, and it's even worse when the sun has been baking it for hours.
They don't allow alcohol on this beach, so leave it at home, or take a flash back to college days and pick up some plastic cups on your way over here. -
Review from Anne and Mike M.
Mountain View, CA
9/7/2011
Was recently there for the first time, and it is now on my short list of favorite California beaches. Nice wide sand beach, calm enough for kids but waves for boogie boarding, great weather, warmer water than in Santa Cruz, and a really cute town.
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Review from Larry S.
Glendale, CA
7/6/2011
Awesome kid beach. Even on Independence Day weekend there was plenty of room. (BUT NO PARKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) On "normal" days parking is easy, though.
Great place for an apprehensive toddler; Go under the bridge and swim in the back bay/estuary where the river meets the ocean. There is a current, but it is easy to deal with. The water is never more than waist deep for adults. Perfect spot if the loud ocean waves freak out your kid. (Like ours).
Grassy playground next to the beach and nice small village right there. -
Review from Letie W.
5/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a quaint little beach town that's a bit hidden away and worth the trip. There are few places to window shop, pick up that latte or ice cream, and/or grab a bit to eat...all while getting beautiful views of the ocean and pier. The beach is clean and not very crowded. There is plenty of street parking everywhere (3 hour limit) and even if you park "far" it's okay, this little area is very walkable.
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Review from Jax P.
Long Beach, CA
1/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
my girlfriend and i stopped here during our road trip during mid-January
unlike previous reviews from my fellow yelpers, the beach was super clean, there was plenty of parking spaces, and it was not packed at all.
Avila Beach is way better than Newport/Long Beach & other LA County Beaches.
in addition, all the bars/restaurant/grocery/giftshop have a very low key homely feel which I really enjoyed.
during our trip here, we stayed at the Inn at Avila Beach, which I also recommend.
one thing that I did not like was walking on the pier itself, the wood was really rocky and weak, at some point I thought it was going to break and I was going to die LOL. -
Review from Jackie W.
Oceano, CA
10/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only beach in the five cities where dog lovers can rest easy letting their furry friends run free in the wind! Most beaches give a heavy fine if you are caught with your dog off leash. The Avila dog beach is known for allowing dogs to run free while their owners get to relax and watch their pups have the time of their lives. The beach is down in a port and besides the boat ramp, it is well barricaded from the busy street to ensure the dogs stay safe. I have been taking my pup here for over two years and have rarely come across an unfriendly pooch. Most owners are responsible and conscientious of their dog's behaviors. For the most part everyone picks up after their doggie poops, which keeps the beach clean and pleasant. For those of you who like to look the other way while your dog leaves behind a massive dump I say, "Damn you, may you be the one to step in that once the waves wash it back to shore!"
Listed in: Culture Vultures
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Review from Rat a tat R.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2009
2 stars for the beach during the day, 4 stars for the beach during the evening and night.
During the day, this beach is kind of meh. I came here fairly regularly because it was the closest beach to my apartment, not because it was especially awesome. The beach is kinda small, and you have to be careful where you step because the terrain in the sand can be kind of rough. It also gets overcrowded during the day because there's just not enough space in this small beach for all the people who come.
At night, though, this beach is pretty fun. In one section of the beach they have bonfire pits where it's totally ok to claim one and have a party. I came for countless beach BBQs here and had a great time at all of them. The negatives of this beach get countered by the awesome experience of getting to eat dinner and roast s'mores without having to worry about reserving or paying for anything. -
Review from eric k.
Dublin, CA
5/17/2009
Ok...before people get in a huff... 2 stars out of 5 is relative to all beaches in the world.... yes... it's not a horrible beach, but consider the following things:
the sand has a considerable amount of decent sized rocks in it. this is noted as it was my daughters first quest when we got to the beach.... to collect lots of rocks, which she didn't have to go far to do.
the sand is actually kinda dirty. many beaches you can walk away from and it's not a big deal... .I saw people walking away or around that looked dirty... not sandy... dirty.
the texture of the sand is actually pretty coarse. yes... it does get finer when you get close to the ocean, but for the most part it's pretty coarse... the sand at pismo is finer.
bugs and kelp were abundant.... there was always kelp chunks around, for some reason there were tons of ladybungs right at the water line as well... odd.
the water is cold... keep in mind there are many beaches in the world where the water is warm and you can wade for seemingly miles.
The good things about this beach are:
Not too crowded - hopefully this review will help keep people away?
not too huge
that said... Avila beach is an awesome community. -
Review from Lauren D.
Livermore, CA
8/23/2010
I love Avila Beach! As a college student at Poly years ago, before Avila was rebuilt, I'd come down here. It is always warmer than Pismo Beach and less windy, too. If it is foggy in Pismo, it is likely to be sunny in Avila! It had a great feel way back when and it still does now with all its updates.
Before approaching the beach (near the bathroom area), there is a great little park for toddlers, preschoolers and kids. It has a pirate boat them and also has a traditional play structure with a couple of slides. Kept our kids busy for a very long time and we had to drag them out of there. :)
The store fronts are nicer than Pismo Beach and plenty of good food to choose from, along with an authentic coffee house, Joe Momma's.
Parking is a bit of a drag. There is some street parking (free) but get there early, or you'll need to pay to park in a lot. -
Review from Chris O.
Dallas, TX
As much as I love the beach, I have to check out all the places the central coast has to offer. And Avila Beach is definitely my spot! I may go to Pismo more often because it's closer, but Avila Beach gives me something to look forward to when I get time to get away. This is hands down the best beach town on the Central Coast, and possibly the whole state. Clean, hip, cultured, beautiful, laid back, etc. I could go on and on about this place.
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Review from Xyrus M.
San Jose, CA
5/28/2011
The beach and harbor area has lost a bit of its charm with the influx of bars and party-like atmosphere. I used to come here when it was quiet and thought of it as a little gem (sigh). With that said, noting beats walking the beach or the pier with a scoop of ice cream.
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Review from Wendy Y.
Mountain View, CA
1/4/2011
Lovely beach with grey, cement like sand that's good for building sand castle. The little town is cutesy like capitola. The beach is part pebbly and part sandy with some kelps. Great view. It's about a 10 min slow stroll in length.
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Review from Sydel s.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2010
Its a nice, intimate, little seaside village with nice restaurants and well done stores. Doesn't look trashy or too foo foo at all. I'd come back next time rather than go to pismo beach just because it looks so much nicer and there wasn't a crazy crowd for the 4th of July, even.
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Review from paul b.
Los Angeles, CA
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
great alternative beach to pismo and we also enjoyed the dog friendly farmers market on wed night. been going to pismo for years and never made it to avila until yelp came along!
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Review from Justin S.
Northridge, CA
6/16/2010
I guess Im spoiled by SoCal beaches but this place is way over crowded, cant play sports and has a creepy fog out in the water sometimes. The little shops are nice though and they mostly all have gelato which is a plus.
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Review from surai j.
6/18/2010
I love the retro laid back cool of this place. Walking along the pier and beach near it made me feel like I had just walked into a 60s beach movie. Older women in polka dotted bikinis and wide brim hats, beach ball colored umbrellas popping up along the shore and folks doing nothing more than enjoying the scenery, catching some rays and building sand castles. I immediately felt the warm salty air wash over me with a sense of calm and sleepines where Pismo made me all stressed out with its crowd. Fishing boats dot the coast and kayakers come and go with ease, the waves are so calm here so there's no frenzy of activity of people. Little toddlers will love the beach left of the pier with its tidepools full of crabs and critters. When the rest of the beach is beaten down with wind, this section is protected. What others complained as "dirty" and "full of bugs" is part of the unspoiled nature of the place. The sand is not dirty, it's actually the color the of sand, note the black rocks on the cliff. The bugs come for the kelp beds, gracefully flowing in the waves, lulling me to a sense of sleepy and rest. If you like the quiet, nautical feel of beaches of long ago, then this is the place for you. If you want the urban beach scene, head to Pismo instead.
