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Avila Beach is located in San Luis Obispo County on the Central Coast of California. It's a small beach town with a 3 different piers (click here to see pictures of the piers), which is a lot for a small beach town. With less than a handful hotels in the area, this makes it a quieter traveling spot but still very beautiful. The locals like to keep it a secret but nowadays, a lot of tourists have discovered it and it can get very hard to find parking during the summer weekends!

Things To Do in Avila Beach

There are many cool things to do in the Avila Beach area that makes it unique. Besides for going to the beach, shopping and dining at many of the restaurants at their beachfront and hanging out in the sun, here are a few things you can also do.

Avila Valley Barn

Avila Valley Barn is a barn in Avila Beach that is free to visit and see the animals! You can get market and bakery goods like pies while you're here and you can feed the goats by buying a bag of lettuce. We've taken sat on their hay ride (extra fee), had our toddler partake on a pony ride (also extra fee) and ate some delicious food when they have food available for sale right outside. Parking is free on their dirt parking area. Read more about Avila Valley Barn.

Avila Beach Piers

The main Avila Pier among the three is closed off so you can't walk on it. A couple of years ago, we were able to walk on it halfway. The pier is old with large cracks but the views from standing on it were wonderful. The other two piers are also unique: one is exclusive to Cal Poly (our local university) personnel and the farthest one is a pier that you can fish and walk on called Port San Luis Obispo Pier, also known as Harford Pier. See my Instagram video reel of Port San Luis Pier; it is like heaven on Earth. You has a marina right by it and sometimes you can find sea lions as you walk on this pier.

Avila Farmers Market on Fridays

During the summer months, Avila Farmers Market takes place near the pier. It's free to come and hear the entertainment. Many locals would bring their low back chairs and hang out. There are fresh produce, drinks and food for purchase. You can take the free Avila Beach Trolley on the weekends during the summer months from different points of Pismo Beach and Shell Beach to get here. 

Central Coast Aquarium

Within walking distance from the beach at Avila Beach is a small aquarium called Central Coast Aquarium. You can probably see the whole thing within 30 minutes. It is free entry for kids 2 and under and they provide a discount if you have an EBT card. My kindergartener also came here for a class field trip, which I volunteered for, so it's a local aquarium and a treasure for us here. Read more about our Central Coast Aquarium visits and see more pictures of Central Coast Aquarium in Avila Beach.

See more pictures of the main Avila Beach Piers.

Avila Beach Hotels

Avila Lighthouse Suites

Avila Lighthouse Suites is right on the beach, close to the pier and in the center of all the summer Avila Beach farmers market action on Fridays! Experience ocean front luxury just steps from the sand in Avila Beach at the Avila Lighthouse Suites. An all suite beach front resort featuring non-smoking spacious two room suites with microwave oven, refrigerator, coffee maker and private balcony.

San Luis Bay Inn

High on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, San Luis Bay Inn has one of the most breath taking views on the Central Coast of California. The San Luis Bay Inn is located high above the Pacific shore, wrapped in the Santa Lucia Mountains with the lapping ocean at your doorsteps. You awake to misty mornings, bright sunny afternoons, and the invigorating aroma of the ocean.

See all hotels in San Luis Obispo County.

Avila Beach is only one of many beaches in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County. See all of the pictures that I took of all the beaches in San Luis Obispo County.