Cayucos town, pier, and beach

Cayucos is a pretty beachside town, with a wooden pier and wide windy beach with perfect views of Morro Rock, and colorful houses with gardens, backed by gently-sloping hills.

Lunch on a sunny day in Cayucos is a blissful experience! The main strip, Ocean Avenue, is sheltered from the cold sea air and it's nice to sit at one of the outdoor cafes and watch the people stroll by. The shops and cafes are colorful against the backdrop of gently-sloping hills. Luna Coffee Bar (open daily 7-4) is an adorable coffee shop set in a garden overflowing with flowers. They have comfortable bar stools at their big windows and you look out on the garden while you sip your tea. Their chocolate croissants sell out early. The Hidden Kitchen is a counter-service cafe with modern wicker lights, cute decor, and views of the sea! You can sit inside and outside. People are friendly here. Bijou Bakery (open 7-1, closed Tues) is a block from the pier on a side street in a little yellow house and has yummy fresh-baked scones and popovers that don't contain any sugar which is great! There is no seating inside, but you can sit in their outdoor area under the shade of a huge historic pavilion at Cass House. There are many wooden tables and chairs, with candlestick chandeliers and cool lo-fi music playing. It's so pleasant! You can smell the ocean air. It's quite cold so bring a thick jacket. You almost need a blanket!
Have an ice cream or gelato at the base of the pier, at Cayucos Candy Counter. Duckies Chowder House has seating in the middle of all the action at the base of the pier. Cayucos Skate Park is behind Duckies Chowder House, raised off the ground in a parking lot. Across the street is the Cass House, a beautiful Victorian house that was owned by the founder of Cayucos, Captain James Cass. Schooner's, a steak and seafood restaurant, has a small outdoor area with good views of the pier. They have live music in summer on Sundays 1-4 and 5-8. 
After a meal or coffee, walk to the beach and enjoy the views of distant Morro Rock through the misty sea air. On either end of the beach are rock formations that are very interesting, with white lines cut through the greenish volcanic rock. Here the sea foam swirls around the rocks that jut out of the water, and it's a lovely sight. On the south end there are caves. Walk along the beach in whichever direction the wind is at your back, then climb stairs (one staircase is at 149 Pacific Ave) to the street and walk back via the street- that is the best way to deal with how cold the air is on your face!
A walk along the wooden pier is very cold. But the views of Morro Rock, the hills, and the curved north end of the beach are wonderful, and on sunny days the color of the water is a beautiful deep sea green. On warm days in September, the pier is blissful! Try to come at this time!
There are some baby swings, big kid swings, and a slide on the beach near the pier. A dolphin statue stands at the base of the pier outside Cayucos Landing, or the Cayucos Veterans Hall, a historic building constructed by Captain James Cass as a shipping warehouse in 1875 for the storage of lumber, dairy products, and beer.
People fly kites on this windy beach. North of the pier, you can take stairs at the Cayucos Beach Condos, then a short beach access path, to the street. Turn left, and around the corner you will see a panoramic view over the beach. 
Restrooms are at the base of the pier- the sink is yucky and sprays you with dirty water, so go to a cafe like Luna Coffee instead!
Around 16th-24th streets, at very low tide, you can see sea stars at the rock pools. 
Make sure you walk the clifftop trail at Estero Bluffs and see the shipwreck in the tidepools below (come at low tide)! It looks like a movie set! You can also find green agate rocks just below the surface of round pebbles at the beach below the trail. 
Near Estero Bluffs, you can walk along Lucerne Street. Here you can see wonderful views over Half Seal Cove and then later, over Cayucos Beach and Pier. 
A wonderful hike to do in spring is Whale Rock Reservoir, one mile inland from the town, with sweet pea flowers galore.
Head eleven minutes north to my absolute favorite, Harmony Town. What a delight to see the glassworks store, to step into the profoundly peaceful chapel, and to eat at a picnic table under umbrellas at the ice cream or lunchtime food truck (Sat and Sun 11:30-4:30, weather permitting).
While exploring this coast, don't miss out on William Hearst Beach, where you just may see a giant Elephant Seal up close. Also, check out the Elephant Seal viewing area in San Simeon. And don't miss a tour of Hearst Castle. These are half an hour north of Cayucos.

Directions

Exit Highway 1 at the sign for Cayucos. The main strip is Ocean Avenue and there is plenty of parking along the road.
Luna Coffee Bar, 84 N. Ocean Ave, Cayucos CA 93430. Open 7-4 daily.
Bijou Bakery, 149 Cayucos Dr, Cayucos, CA 93430. Open 7-1. Closed Tues.

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