Pismo Beach is a lively little beach town on California’s central coast, and it was the next stop on my family’s California vacation! The Sunshine State hasn’t disappointed us yet, and Pismo Beach was no exception. We spent two days in Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo and found lots of family friendly things to do.
Where to stay in Pismo Beach
We stayed at the Sea Crest Oceanfront Hotel, a great place with a fun, easy-going, family-friendly vibe. This hotel, like many in our travels, included a complimentary breakfast. I always try to choose a hotel with breakfast because it’s challenging enough to get kids up, dressed and ready for the day without having to plan breakfast too! Breakfast at the hotel means one less thing to worry about. In addition to breakfast, we enjoyed many amenities that this hotel had to offer including:
- An outdoor pool
- Hot tubs
- SeaMist Terrace (fire pits, lounge furniture, etc)
- Convenient beach access
What to do in Pismo Beach
On the first night, we walked around Pismo Beach town and of course I did some shopping! If you’ve been following along on my Instagram stories, you know that I’ve been busy thrifting and shopping my way through each destination. Pismo Beach is exactly what you’d expect from a coastal town; it has friendly people, beautiful handmade jewelry, and lots of fun home decor that I wished I could fit in my suitcase.
The first weekend in June while we were in Pismo Beach there was a car show. They had classic cars, live music, and a charity auction. Whether you’re a classic car enthusiast or just looking for something to do, we really enjoyed the casual vibe of this annual event!
Of course, no trip to Pismo Beach is complete without a visit to the pier. We had ice cream, took some family photos and went to Dels Pizzaria for dinner.
What to do in San Luis Obispo
After breakfast at our hotel, we headed to San Luis Obispo. This city is about a 15-20 minute drive from Pismo Beach. It’s a vibrant community, rich in history and culture. While there, we enjoyed:
- Old Mission Church and Museum: The museum is home to a collection of artifacts including Native Californian, Mission Era, and American Settlement items.
- Bubblegum Alley: This is described as one of the city’s most popular unofficial landmarks! It attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year who leave their mark with chewed gum on the walls. Of course Lliyana was so excited to stick her bubble gum on the wall!
- Shopping: We browsed local shops, boutiques, and thrift stores. Then we finished the afternoon off with some ice cream!
While enjoying our day in San Luis Obispo, we ate at Petra, a super tasty Mediterranean grill. The pitas are amazing! Then we returned to our hotel for some afternoon pool time.
That’s a wrap for this leg of our family’s California Vacation. I really enjoyed our stay here! It was a perfect balance of relaxing family time and new adventures. Next up: Los Angeles!
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