How have I never been here!!?!? This place is spectacular!…read more I was driving home from Pismo by myself and decided to take the scenic route. When I saw a sign that said Dunes open, I immediately was intrigued. It's a little off the beaten path but so worth it. I drove past the gate and down a windy road that was narrowed by the sand blowing onto the blacktop road. The sand was untouched. Crisp ripples of waves made of sand for miles. Then a parking lot overlooking a turbulent ocean and pristine beaches. Not a soul on the beach. I took my shoes off and made fresh footprints in the sand all the way to the water's edge. It was glorious! Back in the parking lot I read several placards of information and history about the area scattered around the parking lot as several other cars came and parked. There are several picnic benches and what looked to be a few pot toilets available. A fairly decent parking lot and handicap parking spots available. Grab a picnic and enjoy the day.

I went to La Pasadita Oaxaquena to get nachos and wanted to eat it at the beach. This beach looked…read morelike the best one that was closest. As I approached the entrance, I saw a board of rules (very helpful before you enter the preserve). Also, there is a little booth where someone will greet you. I was greeted by Megan, the Ranger. She was very friendly and greeted me with a great big smile! That was a good sign prior to entering the place :) On my way to the beach, I saw a bunch of cows that stared me down as I slowly drove down the road. I know they were staring because they were curious versus wanting to trample me to death...I think. The whole preserve is kept soooo cleeeean! I'm glad that it hasn't been bombarded like the other beaches. Overall, mind-blowing experience. Can't wait to come back. Would I recommend? Absolutely! Will I be back? Yup!

Gorgeous, pristine, stunning. Arrive early if you'd like a parking spot near the beach, as the…read morelocal fisherpeople rise with the sun. Keep an eye out for the endangered snowy plovers; they are protected within a fenced area half of the year but they can escape and roam free. Super adorable and endangered, give them a wide berth. Great place for long walks by the beach.

Beautiful and unique large dunes beach and shore bird sanctuary. Lots of pelicans hanging out and…read moreflying closely overhead. Not crowded, we went on a Monday late morning. A few folks fishing from shore. It was a windy February day, not great weather but overall a nice trip to see the ocean and check out the scenery.

Very unique beach, insanely hilly and steep till you get near the water. Awesome view.read more

Minuteman Beach is a true gem. When the tide is out, it's spectacular. It's a real beautiful way to…read moreend the day at Vandenberg AFB

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.

Ocean Beach Park offers lots of picnic spots, trails along the beach and the wetlands, and a lot of…read moreinformation about the local flora and fauna. Thankfully, part of the beach access is closed during Snowy Plover nesting season, so plan ahead. Free admission and parking.

It is a good place to see SpaceX Falcon 9 lanuches during the morning or night! I only seen them…read morefrom my house in San Diego CA but when I move out in a few years I will go their to see it

Easy walk onto the beach and bathrooms ( really wet but at least there's a restroom). You can…read moredrive on to the beach if so inclined.

One of my favorite places for beach camping…read more Been here twice already and the sand near the shore is very soft. This was the first time I realized the beaches in California could actually be decent. I've stayed here for a few nights over the weekend and booking a month prior is recommended. The nights are extremely cold, so I'd recommend bringing layers. Friends say it's not the best for surfing, but it's a nice place to ride in the sand dunes. I also recommend bringing wooden boards to block the wind from any sandstorms. Recently, the camping areas had a lot of coal and glass shards beneath the sand. I'd recommend wearing shoes or slippers to prevent injuries. Closer to the shore, the sand is beautiful. On windy days, a sand towel comes in handy. I wouldn't recommend a shower pan because it gets messy, if you're car or tent camping. They have an outhouse that has toilet paper and one toilet. There's also three porta potties, but no running water. Hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and bringing your own tap water are essential.

Moonstone Beach is gorgeous, calming, clean, and unique, with the perfect Central California vibes…read moreand views. The beach has several really cool driftwood structures that visitors have built and continued adding to over time. My 6 year old son had a blast running through them and adding a few pieces of his own. There are also actual moonstones along the beach. I spent some time collecting a few since they come in so many unique colors and shapes and make great little souvenirs. Make sure to bring your phone or camera because you will definitely take lots of photos! The restrooms and parking are also close by, which is a huge plus. Will definitely be back on future Central California trips!

My family loves this beach. The parking lot is small, but we usually are able to find a spot…read more There's a public restroom connected to the parking lot. I've never needed it, but I'm glad it is there. Beach access is down some stairs that can be hard if you have mobility or balance issues. They are sturdy, and if you are able to navigate them slowly, it is worth it. The beach itself has driftwood that has washed up, and other beach-goers have fashioned into makeshift structures that are fun to explore. The sand is soft, and has tons of rocks and pebbles to investigate. As the name suggests, there are moonstones to find, if you have a bit of luck. Several times when I've visited, I've found these transparent clear and purplish/blue velella velella all over the shore. Other wildlife seen at this beach include moon jellyfish, sea lions (off shore), pelicans, seagulls, cormorants, and cottontail bunnies along the cliffs. There is a creek outlet that washes into the sea that can be a bit stinky, and tends to make traversing the beach hard past that point. Also along the water's edge, there can be some unstable sand areas, so tread carefully. This beach tends to have a nice breeze, and is refreshing even on hot days. If you are in the area and you can find parking, check it out!

Stunning, beautiful, camping area! The small road to get you there makes you wonder where you are…read moreheaded but once you arrive, the view takes your breath away. It's quite the view! Sites are a good size, bathrooms are well maintained, and the little grocery store and restaurant on site are perfect! The playground is also perfectly located for the little ones! We enjoyed our first visit and we can't wait to go back!

Jalama Beach (the name "Jalama" comes from the originial Chumash name for the location) offers a…read morecampground and day access as well (entrance fee $10 as of this writing). It's a beautiful place to walk the beach and relax. I visited as a day visitor only, so I can't speak to the camping accommodations, but the beach itself is lovely and pristine. Stunning place to get some fresh air and watch the waves roll in.

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.

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