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THE BEST LOCAL BEACHES, PLUS A FEW HIDDEN GEMS!

by TESSA HUGHES

01 CAMBRIA Cambria is a bit of a drive, but its unique beaches covered in elephant seals make it worth it. The best time to see the elephant seals is in January and early February during nursing season so you can see the newborn pups. While the beaches tend to have a lot of seals during this period, the elephant can be found on Cambria’s beaches year-round as they return for molting and mating throughout the year.

Another special activity Cambria hosts is their yearly Christmas Market. Every year in December, millions of Christmas lights are artistically displayed at the Cambria Pines Lodge for visitors and locals to come and enjoy. The market also features themed vignettes, food and art stands, visits from Santa and an authentic German Christmas Market. The distinctive holiday event has become a beloved tradition for many students and locals alike.

02 MORRO BAY Morro Bay is widely considered as one of the best beaches for surfing in San

Luis Obispo County. The waves at Morro Strand State Beach provide a great environment for surfers of all levels. There is also kayaking and other aquatic activities, which tend to be popular around Morro Rock where various sea otters can be seen frolicking in the water. Morro Rock, an ancient volcanic mound, sits within the Morro Bay Harbor. Along the waterfront in Downtown Morro Bay, there are many deliciously fresh seafood locales, small shops and quaint inns. 03 MONTANA DE ORO The most breath-taking beach in the area, Montana De Oro is the intersection of forest and beach. Montana De Oro, commonly referred to as MDO, features magnificent rock formations with

unique patterns of erosion surrounding a gorgeous pebble sand beach. Farther down from the beach are smooth sand dunes where you might find visitors sand surfing. There are also environmentally-rich tide pools to explore, scenic hiking trails and beach access all in one place.

04 AVILA Avila Beach is the ideal day trip spot. On a Saturday in the summer, you are bound to see countless Cal Poly students lying down on the sand, playing spike ball and splashing around in the waves. Along the water is also a cute strip of little shops to pop into. There are various food options — from fine

dining to shave ice stands — to pick from before settling down at the beach. Underneath Avila Beach Pier, you’ll likely find slackliners and hammocks, relaxing

in the shade. Avila Beach is also one of the closest beaches to campus, making it a great weekend spot for students.

05 PISMO Pismo just redid their beachfront and it is looking better than ever! The beach provides a fun place to relax and walk along the Pismo Pier over the water. Pismo is also home to the Monarch Butterfly Groves where the butterflies

can be seen in the trees near the Pismo Dunes during October through February. 06 GROVER Grab those marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate and skewers and set up shop at Grover beach. This place is the go-to beach bonfire spot for Cal

Poly students. You can drive onto the beach and make it a whole day ordeal, or camp out for a couple hours, enjoy the sunset, then light it up! Beach bonfires at Grover Beach have also become

a popular bucket list item for Cal Poly students and it is one of the only areas in California where you can experience it. Bonus points if you hit up In-N-Out afterwards since this is the closest place to get the California staple. 07 PREFUMO CANYON Now, this one’s not a beach, but tucked between Cal Poly and the coast is Prefumo Canyon. Voted Best SLO Hidden Gem and Best Sunset Spot for this year’s Poly Picks, Prefumo Canyon provides a beautiful scenic opportunity and a great place to picnic and take in the sunset. Just make sure to bring a jacket because it gets chilly!

08 PIRATES COVE Pirates Cove is another wonderful place to watch the sunset in San Luis Obispo! When walking down the path from parking, veer right towards the rocks as opposed to the beach and you’ll stumble upon a natural rock cove that overlooks the ocean. Be prepared though, if you do make your way to the beach you might see some naked old men (this one’s a nude beach)!The most breath-taking beach in the area, Montana De Oro is the intersection of forest and beach.