An ocean breeze puts a mind at ease.
Anonymous
A mere 10-minute drive from San Luis Obispo, Avila Beach is a cute, quaint beach town along the central coast. With a few beach-themed shops facing the water, you have options regarding how you spend your time at Avila. I have gone to Avila many times for a variety of occasions and each time is as pleasant as the last.
If you are looking to get some work done, you can set up camp in Kraken Coffee Company or Avila Market. Kraken offers a classic coffeehouse setting, yet has little seating and often is very crowded, so I recommend arriving early. Avila Market has wonderful indoor and outdoor seating, with big, spacious tables, yet can get very crowded around lunch and on weekends.
If you are looking to relax on the beach, pack some sunscreen and towels and head down to the sand. Avila Beach is relatively small, so it gets crowded quickly. However, its small size means you do not have to walk very far with your stuff on the sand before you set up for the day. A few swings and a volleyball net are located on the beach.
If you are looking to shop, there are shops with a beachy vibe that offer both beach necessities and cute decorations and collectives. The majority of the shops are located on the strip along the water, as the surrounding areas are mainly residential. Parking is a tough situation at Avila since it is so small and popular. The free parking by the beach front has far-and-few spots that open, but if you are lucky to snatch one, it is unbelievably convenient. Alternatively, if you cannot find a beach-front spot, you can search for a place to park within the neighborhoods; it is a bit of a hike, but I think it is worth it for the free parking.
Regardless of what you are aiming to do in Avila, it is an adorable little beach town with a lot of character and plenty of things to do.
Thanks for reading! To see more of my adventures, visit my Instagram page @california_exploration
CALIFORNIA EXPLORATION 