Avila Beach, California

Built by William Randolph Hearst in a cliff overlooking San Simeon in 1919, Hearst Castle now offers tours exploring its grand rooms, upstairs suites, cottages and kitchens. The Neptune pool has been fixed in 2018, and provides a fitting setting for its surrounding sculptures. If you want to know more about the history of the building, a theater with explanatory screenings is also available.

San Luis Obispo county is the third-largest producer of wine in California. Below are some of Avila Beach's finest wineries. Avila Wine & Roasting Company 54 San Miguel Street +1 805 627 1918 www.avilawinecompany.com Peloton Cellars 470 Front Street +1 805 627 1080 www.pelotoncellars.com Morovino Winery 76 Landing Passage +1 805 627 1443 www.morovino.com 2nd Chance Winery 65 Landing Passage +1 805 595 9500 www.cottonwoodcanyon.com

Nature enthusiasts have little issues finding fun in Avila Beach. The Bob Jones Trail is great not only for biking, but for hiking as well. Bike rentals are available at the beginning of the trail, which will guide you along plush gardens and peaceful streams.

A hot mineral soaking pool is just one of the many amenities on the site of the natural Avila Hot Springs. Camping and other lodging, as well as a heated pool, showers, and an arcade are also available. The Springs themselves have a history that's over a century old.

Patriot Sportfishing is a favorite among Avila Beach enthusiasts. With Patriot, guests are invited to not only deep sea fishing, but whale watching and private charters as well. While deep sea fishing, expect the likes of long range rockcod, albacore, and salmon. Between the two fishing boats, the Patriot offers a cold galley and the Rita G offers a hot galley.

The site of the historic Point San Luis Lighthouse, which has undergone a number of renovations since 1995, is a park open to the public. The Lighthouse is home to numerous opportunities for exploration. For those seeking an educational experience, there are historical tours of the lighthouse itself, and for those seeking to indulge in the outdoors, there are beach coast trails.

Once used for shipping in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the piers are now used for their views, as well as for recreational fishing. The Avila Beach Pier is the first of the three piers and was first constructed in 1908 by the county of San Luis Obispo. Over two thousand local residents gathered there April 30, 1908 when President Teddy Roosevelt's “Great White Fleet” anchored offshore. The Harford Pier was developed in 1873 and now is used for fishing, restaurants and commercial fishing. The last pier, the California Polytechnic State University Pier, is an educational/marine research facility.

Art on the Beach is a weekly event held each summer. It celebrates local artists with a showcase of their work on the beach. As one of the Promenade's more unique events, Art on the Beach draws crowds seeking one-of-a-kind drawings, paintings, sculptures, and more.