By Anna Nordberg, Sunset special projects editor
This weekend I was totally charmed by Avila Beach and its small-town, Mystic Pizza vibe. At the main pier, you can fish off the docks, buy fresh-caught crab out of a bucket, or watch the pelicans and sea lions sunning themselves.
PHOTO CREDIT: The Avila Beach Pier (for more pics click here.)
EATING
Best find: Fat Cats Cafe. Set in a listing trailer on the Avila Beach pier, Fat Cats has delicious linguica sausage (a sweeter, less-grainy version of chorizo and, in my heretical opinion, even better); lobster benedicts; and pancakes the size of your head. Plus eggs every way and good diner coffee.
Good to know: Get there before ten, when a line starts at the door.
For waterfront dining: The Old Porte Inn at the end of the pier is a good place for dinner if you order the fresh catch of the day, simply grilled. We sat at a glass topped table with a view of the water below (for the record, the only thing we saw was some kelp that my husband thought was a sting ray.
Good to know: This is a tourist hot spot, so get a reservation.
WILDLIFE
Good to know: The pelicans are obviously used to being fed—a lot. They'll try to steal your bait if you're fishing off the pier. Left: sea lions sunning at Avila Beach Pier
Even better to know: Two of the pier's boat landings have been swamped by sea lions. While they are entertaining to watch from above, don't walk down unless you're willing to get chomped.
Note: Be warned if you book a room at The Cliffs Resort in Pismo Beach: They charge resort prices for motel rooms that lack that dumpy motel charm.
