Pismo Beach, Coastal city in San Luis Obispo County, California
Pismo Beach is a coastal town in San Luis Obispo County, California, stretching along several miles of sandy shoreline. A wooden pier extends roughly 370 meters (1,200 feet) into the ocean and serves as a central gathering point for visitors and locals.
The Chumash people lived here for over 11,000 years and used tar springs to seal their canoes. The town itself grew into a beach resort during the late 1800s after the railroad reached the coast.
The town takes its name from a Chumash word meaning tar, referring to the natural asphalt seeps found along the coast. Surfers and anglers use the long wooden pier year-round, while families search for clams along the shore.
The beach allows vehicle access on certain sections, so you can park your car directly by the water. The visitor center on Dolliver Street provides tide tables and information about local points of interest.
Each autumn, thousands of monarch butterflies gather in eucalyptus groves, standing out with their bright orange coloring. The Pismo Lake Ecological Reserve shelters Meadow Creek, where you can watch waterbirds and other animals coming to drink.
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