Long known for its long hot summers and sandy dunes, Pismo Beach is near perfection for any beach bum. The town itself is quite small, but the hub of excitement has always been the Pomeroy area and the beach itself. Pomeroy is the main drag, and not really all that long at that. Filled with seafood restaurants, surf shops, tattoo parlors, bars, a bowling alley and pool hall, Pomeroy has it all. There is a parking lot at the end of the street, which has direct beach access and is in walking distance to all shopping and dining. The town can be quite crowded in the summer time and has been tagged "little Bako" due to the high number of tourists from Bakersfield, Fresno and the central valley that swarm here. Locals rarely venture out to Pismo and the Pomeroy area on the summers and the weekends, prefering smaller and less crowded beaches like Shell Beach and Avila Beach. Both are little known secrets to the general public, but have an overwhelming charm and quaintness. If you want to sun on the beach while the kids play in the surf or bodyboard, but want to avoid the crowds, try little known Avila Beach. It will be less crowded, and due to the cove in which it is located, less windy as well. Plus, the community is very small, and the ocean front shops and restaurants are great!
If ATVs and hardcore beach activities are what wet your whistle, check out nearby Oceano Dunes. The Oceano/Pismo dunes area are the only in California that allow vehicles on the beach, and long streches of dunes and sand make for a great off road experience. There are rental facilities in the area and all modes of transportation are welcome. Camping is offered, but there are also quite a few hotels and beach front rentals in the area. It can be very crowded in the summer and offroading at the dunes can be dangerous. Small children are not recommended in certain areas due to the high concentration of trucks and ATVs.
