Cali Coast Getaway Guide

Sometimes you just need a quick getaway, so that’s exactly what we did with our mini 5 day trip along the California coast last year. This trip ended up being so relaxing for us both, which is what we wanted out of it. Lots of early morning coffee time on the beach, long walks, and just enjoying nature. In case you need a mini-vacation, I’ve listed all of the places we stopped along the coast and the best places to eat. We started off at Pismo Beach, then Morro Bay, then went all the way back down towards Newport Beach and ended it at Laguna Beach. See my Instagram Highlights @drluxy for more content on the trip!

Where We Stayed: Inn At The Pier

Places To Eat:

• The Rooftop (at the hotel) [Must Try: Yellowtail Tostada & Bloody Mary]
• Brad’s Restaurant [Must Try: Clam Chowder & Fish Tacos]

Coffee Stop:

• Scorpion Bay Coffee Co: [Must Try: Strawberry Chocolate Covered Scorpion Latte (their signature drink, only try it if you have a sweet tooth) & Hot Mocha (my favorite)

Things To Do:

• Walk along the beach, enjoy the sunsets (not crowded at all)
• Drive to Avila Valley Barn – We ended up here because of a wrong turn, and loved every second of it! They have the cutest market with fresh fruits & dairy products. Best part was seeing and feeding all of the cute farm animals.
• Enjoy wine right along the beach at a few hotels down [Vespera] while staring at the night sky. They had outdoor seating with fire pits, making it super cozy.

Places To Eat:

• Tognazzini’s Dockside was by far our favorite place we ate on our entire trip! If you’re short on time, then this is the one place you want to go if you’re a foodie! Such fresh seafood that I ended up eating 5 tacos (normally I can only eat 2)…that’s how good it was! [Must Try: Sauteed Shrimp Taco, Smoked Scallops Taco, Grilled Halibut Taco, Fusion Fish Taco (OUR FAVORITE!), Pacific Oysters]

Things To Do:

• Lost Isle Adventures Tiki Boat Tour [$18 Adults/$12 Kids] 45 mins
• Kayak across the bay onto a small island (make sure to pack a picnic for lunch)
• Enjoy the cute shops along the pier

Where We Stayed: Balboa Bay Resort

Places To Eat:

• Waterline (inside hotel patio dining): [Must Try: French Toast and Chicken & Waffles]
• SOL Mexican Cocina
• Shorebird: Reserve early to get bay view outdoor seating, [Must Try: Salmon Belly Nigiri, Ahi Tuna Nigiri, Balboa Roll]

Things To Do:

• We ended up renting double kayaks from the Balboa Bay Club (next to the resort) and LOVED every second of it. Best part is that you’re kayaking in still water (vs. a wavy ocean) and have the most amazing views! Make sure to kayak past John Wayne’s house; his dock is decorated with lavish florals and greenery that comes out into the bay. If you plan on renting a boat, make sure to reserve it at least 2 weeks in advance. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to, since all of them were already reserved.
• Relax by the pool and jacuzzi (closes earlier than usual due to COVID)

Hope this helps you plan a little getaway along the beautiful coast of California during COVID-19. We loved how relaxing this trip ended up being and plan on going on a California coast line trip up north next. Comment below if you have any suggestions for must see/eat places along the coast up north!