Oceano State Vehicular Recreation Area

Oceano State Vehicular Recreation Area is a sandy stretch of beach and dune area where motorists may cruise to their heart's delight. ATVs, 4x4, family campers and motorcycles live it up here, particularly on holiday weekends when State Parks limits access to avoid overcrowding.

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Avila Beach

Among the most popular beaches in San Luis Obispo County is Avila Beach. This family-friendly beach is generally among the safest swim beaches on the Central Coast, with relatively small waves and typically warm weather.

Avila Beach also offers a great family park, swings and a slide on the beach and a public pier. Avila Beach is so much more... small town 300 ppl, great golf course, three piers... yes three! their are actually three main beaches Main beach for swiming, port beach for boat launching and dogs and Cove clothing optional beach. more..

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Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach further south on San Luis Bay offers miles-long walks from the yellow-and-white cliffs of Pismo Beach proper to the sandy stretches west of Grover Beach and further south past Oceano and Guadalupe to Devil's slide, a huge dune that separates this long sandy stretch from a small cove just north of Point Sal.

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Point Sal Beach

Point Sal Beach is even more secluded ever since a winter storm in the late 1990s washed out the access road. But the long hike (or multisport bicycle ride) to the beach (9 miles round-trip) is worth the effort. The old road is still serves as a great pathway for hikers and mountain bikers. If you don't have the time or the energy make the whole trip, just climb halfway (to the summit) and enjoy the spectacular view which spans Vandenberg Air Force Base to the south and the Five Cities to the north.

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Montana de Oro State Park

Montana de Oro State Park offers several beaches, none of which are safe for swimming but all of which are beautiful. For a long, sandy walk, head for the sand spit. For rock hunting and creek play, head to Spooner's Cove. Or park just south of Spooner's Cove and take a walk along the many paths atop the bluffs to find some wonderful coves.

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Guadalupe Dunes Preserve

Guadalupe Dunes Preserve, accessed from Highway 166 west of Guadalupe in Santa Barbara County, offers fantastic opportunities for solitude, but very dangerous swimming conditions. Visitors enjoy long walks on this windswept beach where crashing waves are particularly picturesque shortly before winter storms. Whale sightings off the beach are not uncommon. A kiosk at the end of Highway 166 seeks donations, but there is no required fee to access this stretch of beach. The road is closed once the beach lot is full. Wait for someone to come out or take a logn walk along the paved more..

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Sand Dollar Beach

Sand Dollar Beach is an amazing find. It's my absolute favorite beach in California (as a native Californian and someone who lives on the central coast). If you are driving down Hwy 1, it's a great place to take a break and stretch your legs. It's in a crescent shaped mini-bay that's relatively shallow, meaning that the waves stack ontop of each other before they reach the shore and are pretty mild (unlike the rest of the rocky coast) making it a great place to walk on the beach.

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