Avila Bch Playground and Central Coast Aquarium

Avila Beach is a delightful town filled with bright pastel buildings. The playground is situated right across the street from the beach and just a few steps from the main strip, Front Street, where you can eat a meal. Right next door to the playground is the small Central Coast Aquarium which is lovely to explore.

Kids delight in Avila Beach's pirate-themed playground, while parents happily enjoy the views of the sea, colorful houses, flowers, and hills all around them. Usually there are a ton of friendly parents and kids at the playground so it's a good place to come if your kids need someone to play with. The play structure has a wooden bridge, dolphin sculptures to climb, ship with pirate holding a telescope, sand pit, play structure, bouncy horses, large rocks, swings, and baby swings. There's a nice atmosphere and kids can spend hours playing in the clean sand below the playground and jumping from boulder to boulder.
The Central Coast Aquarium is immaculate and offers tanks full of jellies, starfish, sting rays, baby sharks, plus interesting exhibits to teach you about the abundant life under the sea in this region. Helpful volunteers fill you in with info and let you touch the animals.
While near San Luis Obispo, don't miss out on the most amazing playground you'll ever see, at Sinsheimer Park.
If you're visiting Avila Beach on a Wednesday or Saturday, reserve at tour at Point San Luis Lighthouse, for a memorable two hours, with gorgeous views of the coast.

Directions

From Highway 101, follow the signs to Avila Beach Drive. Once you're on Avila Beach Drive, follow it for three miles and then turn left at the light on First Street. Pay for parking in the large lot on the left or else turn right on San Juan Street to see if you luck out and find free parking right next to the playground. 
Central Coast Aquarium, 50 San Juan St, Avila Beach CA 93424, call (805) 595-7280. Open Thurs-Sun 12-3. Cost is $9 for adults, $7 for children aged 3-12, $6 for seniors, and free for kids aged 2 and under.

Click on map for interactive view