Spring break 2022 I let my 11 year old plan our week. I gave her the idea of camping at Pismo and she planned from there. I gave her a budget and she stuck to it! It took a little coaching but she did a great job. (Thanks to Isla Vista School's fabulous Ms. Wong who did this as a class project during our year in the GUSD Virtual Academy.)
Accommodations: North Beach Campground Pismo Beach site 25: $120
Gas: 20 miles per gallon at $4.7 per gallon 96 miles x2 = 192/20
8.8 gallons of gas round trip plus extra miles, 8.8 gallons to get around $83 for gas
Day 1: We drove to Pismo and set up camp. We went tide pooling at Elmer Ross Beach which I have mentioned before. It is a tiny
beach that can be amazing at low tide! We walked down toward the Inn at
the Cove just before low tide and saw a wonderland of crabs, sea
anemones, hermit crabs, and a few sea urchins.
We enjoyed burgers at 5 Guys for dinner before returning to camp.
Day 2: We enjoyed the beach at Pismo (which is just over the Dune from the campground). We headed up to Paso Robles for some family friends. We ate lunch at the Red Scooter Deli--yum and played at an amazing park we found (Sherwood Park). We headed back for a campfire hotdog dinner with s'mores.
Day 3: We headed to Avila to visit the Central Coast Aquarium (adults $9/Kids $7) which is a small 2 room marine museum (even smaller than the SB Sea Center) and at
e pizza at Avila Pizza before walking the promenade. After an early campfire dinner of walking tacos, we went to the Great American Melodrama for an evening of fun! This is a family favorite.
Day 4: We drove to Montana De Oro State Park to hike the Valencia Peak Trail. It was beautiful with wildflowers galore. We had a picnic lunch on the trail and there may have been some who thought they might die on the trail. We were rewarded with BBQ for dinner at Ribline in Grover Beach along with more s'mores.
Day 5: We tore down camp to head home, but made time for a stop at the Charles Paddock Zoo (adults $12/kids $8) in Atascadero. It has a 50% reciprocal agreement with the SB Zoo so tickets were $18! We also made time for Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab (we hear it closed recently and is becoming a Rori's) in Arroyo Grande before we headed home!
Goleta Mom Travel
SLO, Avila, Pismo Family Weekend
Zion, Bryce, and North Rim Grand Canyon NP
Glacier NP
Pinnacles NP
