PISMO BEACH GETAWAY

With the nest newly empty, the hubby and I are left to our own devices to figure out how to have fun without the kids. This trip was for only two days, so there was no time to waste. And because we’re accustomed to chaos, we decided to bring our two pups. We are used to taking care of other people but now the dogs would do, and the truth is, we rarely leave home without them.

Because we only had a couple of days, we thought proximity would be key. Just a little over three hours from the Bay Area is the funky beach town of Pismo Beach. We started out early, made a quick stop for lunch in Paso Robles (note to selves: plan a separate trip to Paso Robles) and arrived in Pismo Beach in no time – let the vacation begin!

Where To Stay

Since we were traveling with our two dogs, finding pet-friendly accommodations was a priority. More and more hotels are now opening their doors to pets, and Vespera Resort in Pismo Beach is one of them. Not only do they allow dogs, but they welcome them! Four-legged guests become instant members of the Pismo Pup Club and are showered with amenities like bowls of fresh water, comfy pet beds, and toys to play with.

Vespera Resort is one of the few hotel properties in Pismo Beach with an enviable beachfront location. It is adjacent to the boardwalk and pier, and it’s within easy strolling distance to all of the shops and restaurants in the very walkable downtown area. The vibe is Hamptons chic with light wood floors and soothing shades of cool blues and greys. A beachfront swimming pool and hot tub, an outdoor cocktail spot, and the on-site restaurant round out the resort. Everything you need to enjoy your vacation is at your fingertips. Our standard ocean view room on the third floor was immaculate and tastefully minimal in décor. The room featured a small, littleused balcony with a view of the pool and the beach just beyond. We spent most of our time outdoors walking the dogs on the beach, strolling around town, and enjoying the hotel’s lawn area along with the other guests. This outdoor space has a lot to offer including access to the restaurant and bar, lawn games, and lots of sitting areas with fire pits. The atmosphere was always jovial with families playing cornhole, couples enjoying sun set cocktails, and kids (and dogs) making friends. It was THE gathering spot just before sunset.

Where To Eat

There are lots of food choices in Pismo Beach and we spent a great deal of time debating where we should eat during the short time we were there. We enjoyed almost every spot we tried with only a couple of misses. Here are our favorite spots:

For breakfast, do not miss dining at Vespera’s on-site restaurant, Pequín . The Huevos Rancheros were incredible, made with flavorful asada, tons of melted cheese, complimented by half of an avocado and a little bit of pickled red onion – this dish was created with love, and it showed! The breakfast burrito and the churro waffles were tempting. Breakfast is definitely their specialty.

If you like fresh seafood, add Cracked Crab to your list of must-eat spots. Their menu depends on what is fresh caught that day. We ordered the crab cocktail which arrived at our table like an ice-cream sundae with generous pieces of crab piled high into a sundae glass, like a huge scoop of ice-cream. There was a corn salsa/salad(?) in the bottom of the glass, and I wasn’t crazy about it, but the crab was very fresh and with a squirt of lemon juice, it was perfect. We also ordered the clam chowder and it was pretty solid. We tried their corn fritters, but they were a bit dense and quite heavy. Definitely come here for the fresh seafood.

For the best clam chowder, eat at Splash Café . Their award-winning chowder is truly top-notch. It’s perfect as is, but order it fully loaded with cheese, chives, and bacon in their famous bread bowl if you’re feeling extravagant. Either way, the creamy chowder with plenty of clams is lip smacking. They also serve excellent fish n’ chips and other fried seafood items. You may have to wait to get a table at this popular spot but it’s worth the wait. On our way out of town, we made a lastminute stop at Old West Cinnamon Rolls, and we were so glad we did. We ordered the original, the pecan, and the maple bacon. These decadent rolls were out of this world! The original was a good base line, but the pecan and the maple bacon were over-the-top tasty. The maple bacon was as good as it sounds, and probably the favorite, but the pecan roll, piled high with candied nuts, was no slouch. There’s a big menu of different roll flavors, toppings, and frostings – it’s really hard to choose. They also sell cinnamon roll mixes so you can make them at home. We wished we had ordered more as we pulled away, but the line was long and it was time to go.

Things To Do

You can easily pass two days beach bumming, hanging around town and simply enjoying the resort amenities, but it’s fun to explore.

A short drive away is Pismo State Beach Butterfly Grove. Here, we saw hundreds and hundreds of butterflies flitting around and settling in the trees. What we thought were leaves, we discovered through the telescopes, were actually hundreds of butterflies settling on the branches. This is a beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy nature and admire butterflies.

Driving around nearby Grover Beach, I discovered some cool thrift shops on Grand Avenue. There are several secondhand shops where you can find antique home goods and vintage clothing and accessories. I discovered a few treasures including an antique gold bracelet with pearl and shell charms, a hand knit sweater in a beautiful shade of blue and a beautifully weathered bamboo-handled leather bag. If you are looking for one-of-a-kind fashion or vintage/ antique home goods, stroll Grand Avenue’s second-hand shops and you’re sure to find a treasure or two.

The end of our trip came all too soon. Fortunately, Pismo Beach is not so far away that even a day trip is not impossible. I’m sure we’ll be back soon.᯽