After breakfast at Hotel San Luis Obispo’s Piadina, head to Avila Beach (9.8 mi)
En route, visit Avila Valley Barn. Grab a fresh-baked turnover or hand-crafted fudge as a treat for the beach, or take a tractor ride into the fields to pick your own fruit to go. There are even an animal petting area and SLO Maid ice cream for the kids.
If you’d rather head to the beach on your own steam, load Hotel SLO’s Fuji bikes into the car and park at the Bob Jones trailhead. Then pedal three miles (on a paved trail) along San Luis Obispo Creek all the way to Avila Beach.
Once at the beach, stroll the boardwalk and scout a spot on the powdery sand. Or if you’ve got a furry friend with you, steer towards Olde Port Beach -- to the right of Hartford Pier -- where you can let them roam off-leash.
Hungry? Head to Custom House and grab a table outside for seaside classics (like fish & chips, clam chowder, and seafood steamers), craft beers, local wines, and killer bloody marys. Another bonus if you’ve got your pup in tow … the patio is dog-friendly. They even have a “Bow Wow Chow” menu so Fido can have a feast of his own.