Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach is a popular place for many reasons. Its sand-dollar-covered beach is long and walkable. Surfers seem to find a challenge in its waves. And a 120-foot pier offers a nice stroll for surfer-, people- and bird-watching.

A different kind of snowbird, in the early winter, Monarch butterflies are attracted to the Eucalyptus trees in a grove on the Pismo Beach State Park.

A little more touristy than other beach towns, there are more than 65 restaurants and 30+ hotels and RV parks in this picturesque town of less than 10,000 people.

Pismo Beach has the largest of several Monarch Butterfly groves along California's central coast. They start appearing in late October, migrating to the Eucalyptus trees to huddle down for the winter. Warmth in numbers, about 25,000 butterflies can be found here, clinging to each other and the limbs of the trees, "hanging around" until February.

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One beach over from Pismo is Shell Beach. A dramatic coastline and a neat, clean park for day use make for a good stop. Hotels and inns are nearby to accommodate tourists to the area.