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 Beans 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).

We had great weather in Los Osos when I took these photos but on other days it has been quite windy or foggy. The months at the end of the year are the best for sunshine.
From 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 El Moro Ave on its wide shoulder (amazing views and picnic tables), 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 salt marsh and a clear spring with ducks and tadpoles. Often, you can see deer. This walk on Baywood Pier Boardwalk and then Sweet Springs Nature Preserve is a two mile walk that many residents do each morning!
2nd St is the "downtown" of Los Osos and you can find many cute cafes here. High Street Market and Deli (closed Tues and Wed) has good sandwiches and beer, and a youthful vibe. Noi's 2nd Street Cafe has cute garden seating. Niffy's Merrimaker is a bar for ages 21+ with picnic tables and umbrellas in the back, sometimes with live music on Fridays 7-9, Saturdays 5-7, or Sundays 3-5. Check their instagram page. On 3rd Street is Caliwala Bakery, open Sat-Mon 8-4. I haven't tried it yet. 
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, followed by live music at La Palapa Mexican Cafe from 5-7pm. 
A Sunday at the end of October is Oktoberfest, with live music. 
A very short walk in a eucalyptus forest with monarch butterflies in winter, plus a long walk in 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 forest of Montana de Oro State Park is a joy. The beach is glorious.
Six minutes south, check out the live music at Sea Pines Resort. It is Saturdays 5-7pm and Sundays 11-2pm (check if times and days have changed).
In a different part of Los Osos town where there are bland strip malls, you can find some gems. One is Wayward Bakery, at 1001 Santa Ynez Ave, open Fri-Sun 8-1:30. It is very popular and has delicious chocolate croissants, savory croissants, tea, and coffee, with some 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.

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.

Click on map for interactive view