Exploring a historic lighthouse in the Central Coast beach community of Avila Beach sounds like an enchanting adventure already. Add in a kayaking tour to access the 125-year-old, fully-restored Point San Luis Lighthouse, and you’ve got yourself the perfect Saturday morning excursion.
You needn’t be a paddling expert to take the three-hour kayak and lighthouse tour, which runs most Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. There’s paddling instruction available for anyone who needs it. Make reservations, then rendezvous at Avila Beach, the sunny seaside community near San Luis Obispo, for a short kayak ride in San Luis Obispo Bay, followed by a trek up to the lighthouse. A docent-led tour of the building and its grounds focuses on the region’s maritime history and the necessity of these life-saving buildings, which kept ships from running aground in the days before GPS.
The lighthouse was built in 1889, the year after the Queen of the Pacific steamship ran afoul of the rocks near the point. The ship’s 125 passengers were rescued by lifeboats, but it was a wake-up call, and the disaster prompted the construction of this Victorian structure. Today, the lighthouse is accessible only by water or shuttle for docent-led tours of the historical building.
You’ll likely have stashed your gear and shoes in a dry bag for the paddle, but don’t forget to bring your camera or phone (and shoes) up to the lighthouse bluff to snap shots of the scenery. Take a ride on the wooden swing overlooking the water, too.
Bonus: You’ll be combining your sightseeing with a good cause on this trek — your tour fee ($80 for a single kayak, $140 for a tandem kayak from Avila Beach Paddlesports) includes a donation for maintaining the integrity of the lighthouse.
Whether you sign up for the kayak tour or take your own paddle out to sea (paddle boards are also available), you’re sure to see marine wildlife. Otters float in packs not far from the shore, and loud sea lions bark as you glide under the old, wooden pier. Perhaps most surprising are the eerie throngs of pelicans guarding rocks along the water. Get too close and they take quick flight just inches above your head — we know from experience.
If you opt for a self-guided paddle tour, there are two things to keep in mind. Hit the water without shoes, and you’ll be hiking the paved ground from the beach to the lighthouse barefoot. The walk is a simple one, though, just a short ascent up a wooden staircase, followed by a mild uphill to the lighthouse, before turning around and heading back to home base. Self-guided trips don’t allow visitors inside the lighthouse — you’ll need to book a tour for that.
You’ll have worked up an appetite after your splash into history. Grab lunch at the Blue Moon Over Avila, a French-inspired bistro and wine bar with patio seating that overlooks the beach. The charcuterie platter ($27) with its imported cheeses and assorted meats is really nice on its own, but it also makes a great shared appetizer or complement to a feast of shareable small plates. Don’t miss the Maine Lobster Roll ($25), topped with lemon aioli and tucked into a toasted brioche roll.
Avila Beach offers plenty of other ways to round out your weekend, too, from wine tasting to hiking and bike riding. The Bob Jones Trail is a favorite with cyclists and walkers, transporting visitors from the beach to forest, open fields and the flowing water of the San Luis Obispo Creek. Stop into the Avila Valley Barn on the way — the trail runs behind the adjacent fields — for baked goods, u-pick produce, a market with local goods and plenty of family fun, including tractor rides and farm animals.
The town is also home to six wineries ranging from downtown tasting rooms to oceanfront patios that also serve small bites, beer and bubbly. Check out Alapay Cellars for French oak-aged wines and Peloton Cellars for wine sourced from Paso Robles grapes.
If you make a weekend of it, you can go full themed vacation. Avila Lighthouse Suites may not be an actual lighthouse, but it’s a beacon for beach lovers. Just steps from the shore, the hotel’s amenities include two-room suites and a swimming pool with seaside views.
For a more indulgent — and less thematic — stay, the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa in nearby San Luis Obispo offers soaks in the oasis waterfall lagoon, scenic hillside hot tub or private guest room tubs, filled with naturally heated mineral water championed for its restorative powers.
If you go
PLAY
Point San Luis Lighthouse: The light station reopened for guided tours in May. Arrange a kayak trek ($80-$140) to the light station by phoning Central Coast Kayaks at 805-773-3500; https://centralcoastkayaks.com.
Prefer a more land-based approach? Book an in-person tour, offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a SLO Safe Ride van will drive you to the light station for a docent-guided tour. Tickets are $15-$25 at https://visitavilabeach.com. Find details on the lighthouse, special events and virtual tours to enjoy from home at www.pointsanluislighthouse.org.
Avila Beach Paddlesports: Kayak and paddleboard rentals start at $35. Open daily by reservation through the summer (no walk-in rentals); conveniently located near the launch point at 3915 Avila Beach Drive in Avila Beach; www.avilabeachpaddlesports.com.
Central Coast Kayaks: Non-tour kayak rentals start at $25. Kayak tours start at $75. Light station tours are $80 for a single kayak, $140 for a tandem. Open daily for rentals from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1879 Shell Beach Road in Pismo Beach; https://centralcoastkayaks.com
EAT & SIP
Blue Moon Over Avila: This seaside restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday at 460 Front St. in Avila Beach; www.bluemoonoveravila.com.
Avila Valley Barn: This farm, u-pick and market is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 560 Avila Beach Drive in San Luis Obispo; www.avilavalleybarn.com.
Alapay Cellars: Tastings are $15, waived with wine purchase. Open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday at 415 First St. in Avila Beach; www.alapaycellars.com.
Peloton Cellars: Enjoy wines by the glass or bottle on the patio. Reservations recommended. Open from noon to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 470 Front St. in Avila Beach; www.pelotoncellars.com.
SLEEP
Avila Lighthouse Suites: Rooms start at $309. 550 Front St., Avila Beach; www.avilalighthousesuites.com
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa: Rooms start at $229. 1215 Avila Beach Drive, San Luis Obispo; www.sycamoresprings.com
More inspiration: Find more inspiration for travel adventures along Highway 1 at https://highway1discoveryroute.com.