Leslie & Seamus
Things To Do
Morro Bay Dog Beach
Arguably the place we go the most with Piper! A gorgeous beach that stretches from the Cayucos Pier to Morro Rock during low tide. Keep your eyes peeled for sea glass and don't forget to stop by the tide pools near the North Point Natural Area to scope out crabs and anemones! It's our favorite beach in the county and just a few blocks from our house!
Whale Rock Reservoir
This is where Seamus proposed! A beautiful reservoir where you can take a little stroll, go on a trail ride, or go fishing.
Cayucos Yoga
Leslie is a regular (read: almost daily) visitor to Cayucos Yoga! It's her "home studio" and she can't say enough good things about this studio, community, and space. Feel free to check out their website if you want to book a yoga session during your stay!
The Hidden Kitchen
A favorite Cayucos spot for breakfast. Hidden Kitchen is known for their blue corn waffles and the best ambiance just steps from the Cayucos Beach and Pier. While downtown, we also recommend checking out the local antique and thrift shops. If you hang around till lunch, the sandwiches at Cayucos Sausage Company are delish!
San Simeon Creek Campground
Looking to camp for a night or two? This is your place! Located in Heart San Simeon State Park, we can't say enough good things about the location and campground! You are just a short jaunt from Moonstone Beach as well as the Elephant Seal Vista Point and Hearst Castle (see recommendations below!). A couple of things to keep in mind: (1) this campground is ~45 minutes from San Luis Obispo, near Big Sur and (2) these sites book up fast, so you will need to book in advance (they open 6 months out from your desired dates). Happy camping if you so choose!
Elephant Seal Vista Point
This is one of the few spots where you can see elephant seals up close in California. Right on the way to Hearst Castle (our next recommendation), this is a stop you won't want to miss!
Hearst Castle
William Randolph Hearst started to build a fabulous estate on his ranchland overlooking the village of San Simeon in 1919. He called the estate "La Cuesta Encantada" - Spanish for The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, the hilltop complex included a twin-towered main building, three sumptuous guesthouses, and 127 acres of terraced gardens, fountains, and pools. There are four tours you can book in advance, and we recommend the Grand Rooms Tour.
Morro Rock
Morro Rock is a volcanic plug in Morro Bay. A causeway connects it with the shore, making it a tied island. A spectacle, for sure! While visiting we recommend keeping your eyes peeled for sea otters, sea lions, and seals. Take a stroll along the embarcadero and visit downtown Morro Bay for some shopping and bites while here! For coffee/breakfast: Top Dog Coffee Bar or Buttercup Bakery and Cafe. For lunch: Shine Cafe, Baby Dudes, or Thai Elephant.
Montaña de Oro State Park
MDO has numerous hiking trails, beautiful views of the ocean, and tide pools. We recommend the Bluff Trail (an easy 4.8-mile trek along the bluffs with numerous access points to the ocean and tide pools), the Hazard Creek Trail (a short .8 miles hike directly to and from the tide pools), and Spooner's Cove (a beautiful cove with a pebbly beach, tide pools, caves, and unique rock formations to climb around on at lower tides).
Avila Beach
Avila Beach is a warm, sandy beach where you will find people laying out all day, building sand castles, boogie boarding, and surfing. The beach is right off the cute and charming little town where you can grab a bite to eat, stop for some ice cream, and even play golf across the street at Avila Beach Golf Resort!
Avila Beach Whale Watching
Want to see some whales while you're here? We highly recommend this touring company! They are the best on the Central Coast. We love Captain Mark!
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Looking for a day of rest and relaxation? Look no further than Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa! You can rent out a private mineral springs hot tub for a couple of hours, indulge in a massage, or spend all day getting pampered! Bonus: it's right near the Bob Jones trail if you want to take a stroll, Avila Beach if you want to catch some rays, and Avila Valley Barn if you have kiddos in tow and want to feed some farm animals!
Edna Valley Wine Tasting
It's almost impossible to come to the Central Coast and not wine taste in Edna Valley! The address above will take you to Tolosa Winery, where we are wine club members. We believe they have some of the best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays around! Other winery favorites include Chamisal Winery and Kynsi Winery. Cheers!
Nate's on Marsh
We LOVE this Downtown SLO Restaurant! They have delicious cocktails and the best Italian food in SLO County! We highly recommend you check it out (and make a reservation in advance)!
Luna Red
Luna Red is one of our go-to date night spots. We just love it! We highly recommend their paella, but really you can't go wrong with anything you order. Vegan and vegetarian friendly! Be sure to make reservations in advance!
Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica
Guiseppes, a staple Italian restaurant in Downtown SLO, originated out of a Cal Poly senior project. It is a community and personal favorite. Please note that they do not take reservations... but it is worth the wait. Their Flatliner cocktail (espresso martini) is a crowd-pleaser.
Central Coast Brewing Higuera Street
Looking to sample some local beer? CCB is one of our favorite breweries in the area! Seamus' typical order is the Monterey Street Pale Ale and Leslie's is the Power Hour Pilsner. Other favorite local breweries include: Bang the Drum Brewery, There Does Not Exist Brewery, and Liquid Gravity Brewing Company.
Frog & Peach Pub
Looking for our favorite dive bar? Here it is! Stickers everywhere, lots of taps, live music, college kids galore on the weekends after 9PM (we tend to avoid these times), and views of San Luis Creek from the back patio! Prost! Our other divey favorite is McCarthy's Irish Pub in downtown SLO.
Sidecar
Looking for a little more upscale bar? Sidecar is your place! Killer cocktails and delicious lite bites! Other upscale faves: Flour House (Italian + great wine menu + solid cocktails) and Nightcap.
Pismo Preserve
Pismo Preserve is a family favorite. Hike to the Lone Oak and take in sweeping views of Pismo Beach and the ocean!
Wooly's
The best fish tacos on the Central Coast and RIGHT on the beach! A must-have if you're visiting Pismo Beach for the day. Dog-friendly and family-friendly!
Spoon Trade
Spoon Trade is our favorite restaurant in South County. If you find yourself venturing to Pismo Beach (a popular tourist spot), you MUST stop in for dinner here! Our personal recommendation: the bologna sandwich (we promise, it's amazing - housemade and delish)! Really, everything on the menu is phenomenal. You can't go wrong!
La Tapatia Market & Deli
The best Mexican food in the entire county. It's very no frills. The only correct order in our opinion is the pastor tacos. Cut right off the trompo, they are to die for!