15 Best Things To Do In Pismo Beach For Couples

If you’re looking for a picturesque date spot with fun things to do, Pismo Beach has lots to offer. Pismo Beach is located in the south of San Luis Obispo county in the United States. Many popular spots in Pismo Beach are nature-related outdoor activities which lets you and your significant other relax, chat, and enjoy the nice views and atmosphere. In this post, we’ll be sharing a list of the top 15 best things to do in Pismo Beach for couples. Many of the best places on this list can be visited multiple times without getting bored. This guide will leave you with always something to do and not run out of date ideas.

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Things To Do In Pismo Beach For Couples

1. Pismo Pier

Pismo Pier is one of the most popular destinations for couples. Not only is there a beautiful beach with the seven-foot-tall illuminated letters “Pismo Beach” planted on the sand, but there are also tons of other activities that couples would love. This includes:

Vintage Airstreams on the Pier: On the pier, you’ll find a trio of vintage airstreams and they each serve a different purpose. One of them is for serving drinks and appetizers. Another is a visitor center. The last is called Sheldon’s Bait Shack which sells poles, bait, candy, snacks, and more.

Sunsets at Pismo: This is a place that serves street food in an airstream. They have lots of great food on their menu including tacos, fish n chips, fried chicken sandwiches, and more.

The Shell Beach Streetscape: This is an 18-block pedestrian-bike path and you can enjoy nice views. You’ll pass by some cafes and restaurants also.

2. Monarch Butterfly Grove

If you’re a butterfly lover couple, this is a must-visit place for you in Pismo Beach. This spot is incredibly unique also because each year, thousands of orange and black monarch butterflies flock to Pismo State Beach. These butterflies come here to find shelter from the cold winters. Come here during the time between October and February which is the timeframe the butterflies will be calling the grove as their home.

As of November 30, 2022, they have counted 19,177 butterflies. The Monarch Butterfly Grove is free to enter.

3. Kayaking

Pismo Beach is known for fun water sports and kayaking is one of the most popular of them all. If you’re looking to do a more interactive and hands-on activity, this can be one of the best things to do in Pismo Beach for couples. There are a few ways you can do kayaking in Pismo Beach.

Take a tour. One of the most popular kayak tours called Cave Excursion hosted by Central Coast Kayaks that brings you along a series of arches, caves, and rock gardens through kayaking. This tour is definitely for the most adventurous couples.

Rent a kayak. If you want to kayak casually, the best option is to rent a kayak. They usually come with a life jacket, helmet, and paddle, and some even include boat transportation to the beach.

Fishing Kayak rentals. If you want to kayak and fish at the same time, there are rentals for this activity. They also have some that are guided tours.

4. Avila Beach

Avila Beach is about a 10-minute drive away from Pismo Beach. Pismo Beach tends to be crowded and filled with tourists while Avila Beach is calmer and less crowded. Close by is Downtown Avila Beach which is a relaxing area to shop at boutique stores, eat at restaurants, and just walk around. Avila Beach and the surrounding areas gives off small town vibes. If you like more quiet beach environments, then Avila Beach is the perfect date spot.

5. Avila Valley Barn

Nearby Avila Beach is Avila Valley Barn which is hands down the best date spot on this list. It’s a barn that hosts a variety of different activities geared towards families, but couples would find this spot an amazing date spot as well.

Some activities that have are hayrides, feeding farm animals, pony rides, pumpkin patches, hay maze, fruit picking, flower picking, and more. These activities are seasonal so check the website to see which activities are available when you plan your date.

6. Avila Hot Springs

If you love swimming and hot springs, going to Avila Hot Springs is probably one of the best things to do in Pismo Beach for couples. There are quite a few facilities in Avila Hot Springs including a 5,000-square-foot swimming pool heated at 85 degrees Fahrenheit, a hot spring mineral pool, and massages.

The hot spring was accidentally discovered by drillers seeking oil in 1907 and was established as a mineral hot spring since then. You pay a fee and get access to the swimming pool and hot springs for the whole day.

7. Hike Pismo Preserve

For those looking for a hiking date spot, Pismo Preserve is a great place to go to. There are over 11 miles of trails and has a few different hiking trails to choose from. The hiking trails difficulty ranges from easy to challenging so you can choose the one that suits you best. One of the best parts about this hike is you can see views of the coastline.

8. Margo Dodd Park

Margo Dodd Park is a small park located on a cliff above the Pacific ocean. This park has some of the nicest views of the ocean. If you want to have a picnic or just to have a chill date spot, go should definitely go to Margo Dodd Park. There’s also a gazebo here which adds to the romantic setting. There is a connecting beach to this park that has large tide pools.

9. Pismo Beach Premium Outlets

So far on this list of best things to do in Pismo Beach for couples are pretty much all nature-related. If you prefer more of a shopping date instead, Pismo Beach Premium Outlets is a great date spot. It’s an outdoor mall with around 40 stores. It’s a very modern mall and has a lot of name-brand stores that you probably heard of before like Tommy Hilfiger.

10. Harry’s Night Club & Beach Bar

Harry’s Night Club & Beach Bar is definitely a date night hangout spot. It’s a very popular beach bar in Pismo Beach that plays live music and has a very beach vibe in the interior. Any local would probably know this spot. You can end the date with a drink here at Harry’s.

11. Dinosaur Cave Park

If you want to go to a large park with a good view, come to Dinosaur Cave Park. It’s an 11-acre park with an ocean view. They have an amphitheater and a large grassy field so it’s a popular spot for weddings. Dinosaur Caves Park also a playground with two concrete dolphins, three dinosaur eggs, and seals.

12. Pismo Bowl

If you want to choose a date spot that’s indoors and hands-on, Pismo Bowl is the perfect place. This place started in 1939 and has 8 lanes in total. It’s quite small but the interior gives a very retro vibe which is a nice environment for a casual date spot.

13. Eldwayen Ocean Park

Eldwayen Ocean Park is a grassy park with picnic tables and an ocean view. This spot is smaller than Dinosaur Cave Park but there tend to be fewer people. If you like a smaller park with nice views, this is a nice park to go to. Another similar park is called Spyglass Park which also has amazing views of the ocean and a picnic area.

14. Oceano Sand Dunes

Oceano Dunes, also known as Pismo Dunes, is a very popular place in Pismo Beach. Come here to enjoy the incredible views of the sand dunes. You may not need to spend a lot of time here but it’s still a great place to spend a part of your date.

15. Morro Bay

Morro Bay is about a 30-minute drive from Pismo Beach but it’s a great spot for a date because there’s so much to do. You can easily spend a whole day here. One of the most popular things to see here is Morro Rock which is a volcanic plug. Another popular spot is Morro Bay State Park where you can do a variety of activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking. There’s also a lot of marine life in Morro Bay.

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Whether you’re taking a road trip to Pismo Beach or you’re from the area looking for ideas on things to do, this guide will come in handy when you’re running out of ideas on what to do in Pismo Beach!

Read more: Now that you know the best things to do in Pismo Beach for couples, see if you have everything on this checklist before you go for your trip!