The hike down is short and very manageable. Be sure to turn right if you're heading to the…read morecove/cave, the left trail leads to the beach. We came here for sunset, and the views were absolutely beautiful. I would definitely recommend stopping by!

Ended up taking the long route to Pirate's Cove (parked near homes and took the trail) which we…read morelater found out is the Shell Beach Bluff Trail. We enjoyed this scenic trail, which had multi-million dollar homes to our right, and the beautiful ocean to our left; and a somewhat steep incline up to the dirt parking lot and Cave Landing trailhead. Good thing the weather was perfect and there was a lovely breeze; otherwise I would've stopped walking and demanded to go back to the car. Once we got to the trail, it was a fairly easy short walk to get to the cave. After taking in the stunning views from the cave, we trekked to the cove. Be cautious going down, as it's a steep dirt path and a couple flights of stairs. Also note that clothing is optional, and you may run into people in their birthday suits on this secluded beach.

Date: Monday, July 24th, 2023 Time: around 12:45pm…read more We were at Pirate's Cove so decided to check out a cave. We actually didn't make it all the way down to the beach, but I did go into a cave and enjoy the view on the other side. Not sure if that qualifies as one of the Avila Sea Caves, but I will just assume it does. Parking was pretty easy. There is a small lot. No issues finding a spot since it was a Monday afternoon. We only walked down to the first cave, so probably spent a little more than 15 mins walking around and taking pix. If you enjoy water and a view, I'd say definitely check this spot out. REVIEW #3441

Locals call this place the Smugglers Cave. Cool name. But it's not really a cave and not near the…read moreshoreline. It's a natural carved tunnel through the a rock formation on a bluff overlooking Avila Beach and the ocean. Sadly though the cave is tagged with graffiti and folks treat the inside of the cave as a trash bin. Disheartening site to see a beautiful work of nature treated like this by those that come to view and hang out. Ironic. The hike from the parking lot is less than half mile one way. It starts at a slight incline. When you get to the point where the path splits to the right and left, turn right... the cave is to the right. You're less than halfway there at this point. The cave overlook has no guardrails, so please pay attention especially with the kiddos. The cliff has a drop. Have your wits about you and stay alert. If you have an overwhelming urge to creep close to the edge to take the perfect selfie, do so cautiously and be aware of your surroundings. Overall the views are gorgeous. But the trash bin cave vibes was a downer.

Avila Beach is special. Standing on the pier gives great views. And when waves are rolling through,…read moreit's so calming. The Boardwalk has always had beautiful people enjoying the views and vibes every time I've been here. Parking is tough but once you got a spot, you're good. One of my favorite places to get away.

I loved every moment of this trip, especially because of Avila. It's such a beautiful place, and…read morethe people are truly one of a kind. Everyone I met on the pier radiated the best vibes. If you're visiting California, make sure to carve out time for Avila--the breathtaking views are absolutely unforgettable.

Clean, grassy, and super relaxing park at the west end of Beachcomber Dr. in Shell Beach. There are…read morebenches to sit and enjoy the ocean sounds, a short 1-mile walking trail, and a staircase leading right down to the shoreline and nearby tide pools when the water is low. Just note that parking is limited to the surrounding residential streets, and there are no restrooms nearby. Overall, a wonderful, peaceful spot to visit with your pup.

It's very intimate and calm. The pebbles are so tiny. There's stairs for you to walk down and enjoy…read morethe beach. I found an area with my friends to set up and put my towels down. The water is cold but so pretty. There also a park next to it.

A magical way to spend a day on the Central Coast. When you rent a kayak or paddleboard, you can go…read morealong the coast to a private beach. Pull up your board and walk up the stairs to see the ocean from the Lighthouse. It is just breathtaking. There are restrooms, as well. The staff is unfailingly friendly and helpful. They have a map to highlight where you might want to look, and places to avoid. They go over the basics of kayaking and get you started. Highly recommend!

Such a well organized tour, Ava was terrific, and the whole set up was generous and friendly on the…read more3 hour tour. Highly recommend it, saw wildlife and had perfect weather.

Such an idyllic park. We stopped by to give our pup some nice playtime and relaxation and were…read moregreeted with the sight of families enjoying the play structure, beautiful cave and rock formations cliffside, various coastal flora and green grass. It is called dinosaur caves park due to the caves and some dinosaur sculptures located in the play area. Apparently there use to be a big dinosaur centerfold but that was taken away. A great walk and area to coast for a bit (pun intended) but bring your own shade.

My family and I saw this park while driving to Solvang a few weeks ago and knew we had to check it…read moreout on our way home! Dinosaur Caves Park is just gorgeous! A lovely neighborhood park with amazing views of the ocean! The park was clean and well maintained - they offered bathrooms as well! Swings, slides, spiny rides - you name it. Our daughter had a blast! After our daughter enjoyed the park, we walked around the trails and took so photos of the flowers and ocean views. Why is it called Dinosaur Caves Park? Apparently per the information area, there used to be a massive dinosaur statue that was eventually taken away - caves? I did see a cave or 2 when we were checking out the ocean views. Overall, I think Dinosaur Caves Park is a great place to get out and stretch your legs - it's especially nice to let the kiddos get some energy out before heading back to your roadtrip!

I like that part of the trail was paved. This hike one way takes about 20 minutes one way, so 40…read moreminutes round trip, obviously it depends on how fast you walk. If you go beyond the paved trail, it's another 20 minutes to the cave, So pave trail plus dirt trail = app. 80 minutes

The Shell Beach Bluff Trail connects up with the Cave Landing Trail that overlooks Pirate's Cove…read moreand has a "cave" with a beautiful view. The shell trail starts out paved and easy and then there is a moderate to strong grade to get to the cave trail. The shell trail is not really a trail and is a paved walkway. The cave trail is rock and dirt and more like a "trail." There is a separate and larger dirt lot for the cave trail that you need to walk through from the shell trail to access Pirate's Cove and the cave. There is a steep "natural" staircase going down to Pirate's Cove. If you are either older or afraid of heights, you might not want to go down to the cove. The cave has a beautiful view, but no guard rail on the view side. For this reason, we would recommend you not bring your kids on this trail unless they are older, mature, and well behaved. Depending on whether you say on the shell trail or go on to the cave trail, the whole thing is anywhere from 30 min to 2 hours and depending on which sights you see and how long you look at them. This is really one of nicer trails in the area, especially if you take the shell to the cave trail. Definitely recommend visiting.

My absolute favorite dog beach in the area. My dogs live their best life every time here and we…read morealways meet the friendliest dogs and people. There is lots of space on this beach so you don't have to be too close to other groups of people. On the weekdays, it's not super busy so the perfect day to hang out all day on the beach. We enjoy walking back and forth on the beach, and bringing chairs to relax, read and snack throughout the day. :) Always have the best time when we're here. Such a gem in the area!

The perfect beach to bring your pups! Street parking and public bathroom are available near the…read morebeach. I advise to arrive in the morning before the large crowd, but weekdays should be fine. Dogs are allowed unleashed so they can run around and play. The sand is very soft so you can enjoy walking barefoot without worrying about rocks and twigs. Our pups had a wonderful time on a perfect sandy beach and waves.