Monarch Lane Butterfly Preserve, Los Osos

At the end of Monarch Lane in Los Osos is a magical eucalyptus forest! Here, monarch butterflies come in the winter. You can walk the dirt path through the eucalyptus trees, with their big blue-hued leaves. It is a very short path. Next you come to a deep sand path. Here you see the steep dunes on the other side of Shark Inlet. If you take the deep sand path it will lead past shark inlet, up a very steep dune covered in patches of flowers, and to the shore of the beach (1km), but it was too deep for us!

You can extend your walk by walking along Monarch Lane in this pleasant neighborhood- it is somewhat shady in the morning and afternoon because of trees on its south side.
After have a cup of tea at attractive Ascendo Coffee, a four minute drive east. They have good pastries. Their Thai tea is delicious, but their green tea is not. 
You could also have a delicious sandwich at High Street Deli on the cute main street in Los Osos, 2nd Street. It is a seven minute drive north.

Directions

On google maps this is called Coastal Access Monarch Butterfly Preserve. It is located at 2 Monarch Lane, Los Osos CA. There is parking along Monarch Lane.

Click on map for interactive view