2nd St cafes and Baywood Park Pier, Los Osos

I wouldn't really call this a pier but it is a tiny stretch of boardwalk in an absolutely beautiful setting. The water is a shimmering blue and the hills and dunes in the distance frame the scene. On a sunny day, there's something about the feel to the air here and the clarity of the light that is just lovely. There's not too much you can do here except just appreciate the view. To linger a little longer, sit outside at Nautical Bean Coffee, where you can enjoy the relaxed California vibe (I wish there were bollards here between the cars pulling into parking spaces and the seats). On a sunny morning it's blissful.

We had great weather in Los Osos when I took these photos but on other days it has been quite windy or foggy (especially in spring). The months at the end of the year are the best for sunshine.
Because this area faces south, it can be wonderful on a sunny December morning. To escape any cold north wind whatsoever, take the ramp on the pier down to the dark sand. You can walk the shore, where tiny waves in the estuary lap the sand. On the north end, the bank of the boardwalk blocks the north wind completely and it feels so warm!
Starting at the boardwalk you can make a nice walk. Do the boardwalk, 1st Street (behind Back Bay Inn and Niffy's Merrimaker), Santa Maria Ave, 2nd Street, back to where you started, then walk the curve of El Moro Ave uphill on its wide shoulder (amazing views of cypress trees backed by blue estuary, and picnic tables to stop a while), to 3rd Street. You will come to an opening into one of the nicest things to do in Los Osos: Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, a magical eucalyptus forest with a salt marsh and a clear spring with ducks and tadpoles and deers drinking at the shore. This is a two mile walk that many residents do each morning!
2nd St is the main tourist area of Los Osos and you can find many cute cafes here. High Street Deli (closed Tues and Wed) has good sandwiches and beer, and a youthful vibe. It is wonderful to sit out on their large front patio in the sun sipping a beer. Noi's 2nd Street Cafe has a window where they sell Thai food. Niffy's Merrimaker is a bar for ages 21+ with picnic tables and umbrellas at the back lawn, sometimes with live music on Fridays 7-9, Saturdays 5-7, or Sundays 3-5. Check their instagram page. 
On 3rd Street, in a wonderful spot sheltered from the north wind is Caliwala Bakery, open Sat-Mon 8-4 (or until they sell out). It is located in a converted house surrounded by flowers and cypress trees. You can sit in the front garden in the sun listening to birds singing and enjoying feeling warm for the first time in Los Osos! It's nice to watch the constant stream of neighbors come to buy a fresh loaf of bread. All their bread and pastries are sourdough/levain and made with whole grain flour. I wish there was a white flour option. 
After, take a drive along Pasadena Street, stopping at three gorgeous lookout points. 
There is a farmer's market with organic produce, flowers, fish, bread and soups, on Mondays from 2-4:30pm at 2nd Street and Santa Maria Street, with live music at 5pm, and even glass-blowing demonstrations! A Sunday at the end of October is Oktoberfest, with live music. 
A very short walk in a tiny eucalyptus forest with monarch butterflies in winter, plus a long inpractical walk in deep deep sand to dunes, is found at the end of Monarch Lane. 
For a long walk, head over to Elfin Forest, where a boardwalk over shrubland gives you great views of Morro Rock and the bay.
If your kids need to let off steam, go to Los Osos Community Park for their large skatepark and playground.
For an inspiring beach with tons for kids to explore, check out Spooner's Cove. The drive there through the huge eucalyptus forest of Montana de Oro State Park is a joy. The beach is glorious and a place you will always remember, with colored pebbles and shells, and a crystal clear stream running into the ocean.
Six minutes south, check out the live music at Sea Pines Resort. It is Saturdays 2-8pm and Sundays 11-1pm (check their website). The live music is usually 60s classic rock bands, attracting an older crowd, and set in a cute area, a bowl-shaped lawn framed by cypress trees. You can't see the ocean much from the lawn. As always in Los Osos, it's cold, so bring a jacket. There is a parking lot, plus street parking, and you can usually find a space if you look for a little while. 
In a different part of Los Osos town where there are bland strip malls, you can find some hidden gems. One is Wayward Bakery, at 1001 Santa Ynez Ave, open Fri-Mon 8-1:30. It is very popular and has delicious chocolate croissants, savory croissants, tea, warm milk steamers, and coffee, with a tiny amount of seating inside and outside. They sell pizza on Monday nights that you must order in advance.
In this same area, The Olde Alehouse usually has live music on Sunday afternoons around 1 or 2pm. The Brightside Pizza and Beer has live music every 1st and 3rd Tuesday, 5:30-7:30pm. Yogurt Paradise sells frozen yogurt, near Ralphs supermarket.

Directions

From Highway 101, exit at Los Osos Valley Rd and head west. Go almost ten miles and then turn right on S. Bay Blvd. Turn left on Santa Ysabel Ave and then left on 2nd St. After you pass Santa Maria Ave, turn right into the parking lot for the pier.
Nautical Bean Coffee, 1326 2nd St, Los Osos CA 93402.
High Street Market and Deli, 1326 2nd St, Baywood-Los Osos, CA 93402. Closed Tues and Wed.

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