I decided to do my first travel blog post about a destination that is close to my home and close to my heart.  Our family has been visiting this little town for a long time.  In fact, Reed and I went on our honeymoon not far from Cayucos.  It’s a small little town that is close to Morro Bay, CA (about 6 miles) and San Luis Obispo, CA (19 miles).  Think Mayberry R.F.D. meets the beach.  It’s small and cozy.  The people are friendly and all seem to know each other.

We actually bought a little house here about three years ago (This will be the topic of future posts because serious renovations are on the horizon).  We have been spending many relaxing weekends here.

I thought I would share some of my favorite things in Cayucos.  Whenever my family travels, we really enjoy eating out.

 Duckies is on top of our list for lunch and dinner.  It’s steps from the beach and the Cayucos Pier.  They have yummy clam chowder, fish and chips, and all sorts of shrimp and seafood choices.  I like everything here.  My daughters’ favorite entrees are the fish and shrimp tacos.  It’s casual, and you come straight from the beach if you choose.  Check out their menu here.

Our other favorite local restaurant is the Sea Shanty.  We love getting breakfast here and we like to sneak out in the evening and get one of their freshly made desserts.  This place is homey and casual and the food is delicious. Find the menu here.

The town of Cayucos was founded by Captain James Cass who left his New England home, sailed around the Horn, and settled in Cayucos in 1867.  The captain built the pier and established the town.  The pier and the captain’s home have been restored, which adds to the charm of the town.  The Cass house is a small hotel, a bakery, and a restaurant.  The restaurant is only open Thursday-Sunday.  It is has a delicious and creative farm to table food.  Here is a link to their website.

One of my favorite items at the bakery is the scones. 

If you are looking for some other delicious treats and snacks, try the Candy Counter. The Candy Counter is downtown and steps from the beach and pier. I love how it’s decorated.  It’s loaded with chocolate treats and they serve ice cream, as well.  At our house, ice cream and the beach go hand in hand. 

The Brown Butter Cookie Company is located on the main street.  Stop in and they will let you sample their delicious cookies. You can find more info here.

We love the bag of mixed cookies.  If you stop by early in the day, there is a little spot where they sell the day-old cookies.  I always grab these; they are a perfect treat.  I also love their homemade granola.  It’s one of my favorite things to buy as gifts for my friends in Clovis.

There are many antique and regular stores in Cayucos. There are also some shops that sell jewelry, made from local sea glass. 

Collecting sea glass has become one of my favorite things to do.  I think this will be a future post.

   One of my family’s favorite shops is Happy Go Smile. The owner, Barbara, is almost always there. She is a big reason why we love her shop.  She is creative and adorable.  Her shop has fun, artistic items, some of them being handmade by locals. Click here for more info.

She also offers painting classes, which we have done.  Being creative is something that makes me happy.

One of the highlights of the town is being there on the Fourth of July.   The town comes alive on the fourth.  There is a quaint hometown parade and in the downtown area, there are food and craft vendors.  If you weren’t already in love with this town, being there on the fourth would seal the deal.  It’s so charming!

My girls and grandchildren love the Cayucos Surf Company.  They have beach-type clothing and shoes.  They have sunglasses of all types in all price ranges.  They have locally made t-shirts, boogie board rentals and a variety of beach toys.  We visit this shop every time we are in town.  They have brands like Roxy, Volcom, and Vans.  Check out their site here.

Cayucos is 23.5 miles from Hearst Castle and San Simeon Beach.  The castle is an amazing home/museum that is filled with stunning works of art (click here).  Just down the hill is San Simeon Beach and Pier.  This is a quiet, scenic beach that Mr. Hearst built while he lived at the castle.  There is a small deli on the property, which is a great place to grab lunch. The beach is located in a stunning cove and we have had a lot of fun renting kayaks and paddling around in the relatively calm water. We’ve seen sea otters and elephant seals here.  My friends have kayaked and been right next to dolphins. You can find kayak rental info here.

Five miles north of the beach and castle, you will see the elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.  Honestly, you have to see it to believe it.  There are thousands of seals along a six-mile stretch of beach.  They come to mate and to give birth.  When the kids and grandkids are visiting, it’s exciting to check them out.  (find info here).

Driving south, back to Cayucos, you will pass the city of Cambria, which also has interesting shops and places to eat.  Our favorite spot in this little town is called Main Street Grill.  We love everything here.  We especially enjoy the Tri-Tip sandwiches, fries and onion rings.  Many times we will stop here after a day at the castle or the beach.  They only take cash, so come prepared. Here is a link to their website.

I’ve mentioned all of the food and shopping, but honestly, let’s not forget that we are at the beach.  This is a quiet, family beach.  Walking on the beach, listening to the waves, and watching the wildlife are truly the best parts of visiting the Central Coast and the town of Cayucos.