Guidebook for Oceano, CA & Your Host's Recommendations
Food Scene
Good Cali Mexican food. Dine inside in the dining area or at the bar; outside on the patio. I recommend the Poblanos.
39 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Old Juan's Cantina
649 Pier AveGood Cali Mexican food. Dine inside in the dining area or at the bar; outside on the patio. I recommend the Poblanos.
Walk North on the beach for one mile and you'll find Fin's Seafood & Sports Bar. Enjoy live entertainment on the weekends, patio dining and a great view of the beach and ocean.
30 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Fin's Seafood & Sports Bar
25 W Grand AveWalk North on the beach for one mile and you'll find Fin's Seafood & Sports Bar. Enjoy live entertainment on the weekends, patio dining and a great view of the beach and ocean.
Bee House Thai Cuisine
245 West Grand AvenueLike Thai Food? Good food, minimal seating and take out is a better choice.
Rock & Roll Diner
1300 Railroad StEat at the nostalgic Rock & Roll Diner.
If you like fusion foods and American cuisine, you'll like this place.
78 người dân địa phương đề xuất
The Spoon Trade
295 W Grand AveIf you like fusion foods and American cuisine, you'll like this place.
In my opinion, this is the best Chinese food restaurant in the area.
9 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Mei's | Chinese Restaurant
1759 Shell Beach RdIn my opinion, this is the best Chinese food restaurant in the area.
If you like a good value for pizza, call Fatte's. They deliver. Tell them you are in the front house.
10 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Fatte's Pizza of Grover Beach
1741 W Grand AveIf you like a good value for pizza, call Fatte's. They deliver. Tell them you are in the front house.
Sam's Giant Manhattan Pizza
1514 West Grand AvenueIf you like higher quality pizza, call Sam's Giant Manhattan Pizza.
Essentials
Good old fashioned liquor store with quick grab necessities, condiments, camping supplies, deli, etc. A very convenient store.
Pier Liquor
393 Pier AveGood old fashioned liquor store with quick grab necessities, condiments, camping supplies, deli, etc. A very convenient store.
At the corner of Grand Ave. & Oak Park Blvd, you'll find one of several grocery stores in town. This store is the closest.
58 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Vons
1758 W Grand AveAt the corner of Grand Ave. & Oak Park Blvd, you'll find one of several grocery stores in town. This store is the closest.
Entertainment & Activities
Nearby this vacation rental beach house, you'll find several establishments ready for your entertainment.
Become an Elk's member and take in the benefits. See the Elk's Lodge website for more details.
Elks Lodge
410 Air Park DrBecome an Elk's member and take in the benefits. See the Elk's Lodge website for more details.
Rent an ATV and ride on the Oceano Dunes before the coastal commission closes riding access for good.
13 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Steve's ATV Rentals
332 Pier AveRent an ATV and ride on the Oceano Dunes before the coastal commission closes riding access for good.
Nestled behind the Oceano Lagoon, bring the kids and play, feed the ducks at the pond or just relax on the lush lawn.
Oceano Park
1330 Dewey DrNestled behind the Oceano Lagoon, bring the kids and play, feed the ducks at the pond or just relax on the lush lawn.
Great, fun entertainment for children and adults alike. Watch a show, get refreshments during intermission and definitely tip the concessions crew. They'll sing a little song in appreciation.
78 người dân địa phương đề xuất
The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville
1863 Front StGreat, fun entertainment for children and adults alike. Watch a show, get refreshments during intermission and definitely tip the concessions crew. They'll sing a little song in appreciation.
One of the very few places where you can drive your vehicle onto the beach and take your off road toys to the dunes to ride.
55 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Oceano Dunes SVRA
100 Cabrillo HwyOne of the very few places where you can drive your vehicle onto the beach and take your off road toys to the dunes to ride.
Drive one mile North on Hwy 1 and you will find the Pismo Beach Golf Course. A nice 9 hole course and steps to the beach.
16 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Pismo Beach Golf Course
9 W Grand AveDrive one mile North on Hwy 1 and you will find the Pismo Beach Golf Course. A nice 9 hole course and steps to the beach.
Have a reception on the beach right where the bunny dunes trail from Sandpiper leads to the beach! That way if anyone needs to use the bathroom, they can walk to the house. No receptions at the house please.
Butlerz Event Rentals
675 W Grand AveHave a reception on the beach right where the bunny dunes trail from Sandpiper leads to the beach! That way if anyone needs to use the bathroom, they can walk to the house. No receptions at the house please.
Sightseeing
Oceano Train Depot
1650 Front StStop and see an historic part of Oceano, CA.
A very special place where the Monarch butterfly emerges from its cocoon and flies out into the world. Be privileged witness to this amazing force of nature in January and February.
141 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Monarch Butterfly Grove
400 South Dolliver StreetA very special place where the Monarch butterfly emerges from its cocoon and flies out into the world. Be privileged witness to this amazing force of nature in January and February.
Oceano County Airport
561 Air Park DrSchedule a bi-plane tour.
City/town information
Oceano's beach is the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, a 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) coastal sand dune. As the only state park in California where visitors may drive vehicles on the beach, tourists are attracted from all over the United States. Activities on this beach include riding the sand dunes on all-terrain-vehicles, swimming, clamming, camping, surfing, surf fishing, hiking, and bird watching.
11 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Oceano
Oceano's beach is the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, a 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) coastal sand dune. As the only state park in California where visitors may drive vehicles on the beach, tourists are attracted from all over the United States. Activities on this beach include riding the sand dunes on all-terrain-vehicles, swimming, clamming, camping, surfing, surf fishing, hiking, and bird watching.
Neighborhoods
A SHORT HISTORY OF
THE STRAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF OCEANO BEACH
By Joel Anderson
The quiet neighborhood where the beach house is located has a colorful history. In the past it has sported two major dance pavilions, a railroad line, and a even Buddhist monastery!
Coffee Adam Rice, a wealthy entrepreneur and developer came to the Oceano area in 1882. He purchased a track of land, laid out the town and began construction on his huge twenty room, three-story Victorian mansion in expectation that the Southern Pacific Railroad would soon put tracks through the area. Included was a horse racing track and a polo field! The railroad took much longer to arrive than he expected. After the death of his young son he and his wife left the area for Santa Cruz. His beautiful mansion still stands, and may be seen near the corner of Highway 1 and 25th Street.
The Railroad finally reached Oceano in 1895 and a depot was built. The depot was then located a few blocks south of where the depot museum is now located. A large Victorian style beach pavilion was constructed near what is now the end of Strand Way, past Utah Ave. near where Arroyo Grande Creek flowed into the Ocean. At that time Pismo Creek flowed into Arroyo Grande Creek, the dam at Lopez Lake did not exist, nor did the flood control gates at the south end of the lagoon, so there was a lot more water flowing then. A rail spur from the Oceano train depot went directly to the pavilion. Special excursion trains would bring partiers and dancers to the pavilion for a day of fun and entertainment, then return them home in the evening. Remember, this was in the days before there were automobiles, and getting around was difficult except by train. The pavilion was thought to have been destroyed in a storm in the early 20th century.
In 1904 developers purchased a large tract of beachfront land in Oceano. They built a new, large, two-story dance pavilion, called Oceano Pavillion, on the beach just south of Pier Avenue. In 1908 a 1,000 foot pier was constructed at the end of Pier Avenue. Further improvements included two boardwalks. The main boardwalk was about a mile long, running from train depot to the Oceano Pavilion. Another boardwalk ran from the Pavilion, along The Strand, to Arroyo Grande Creek. A large “OCEANO BEACH” sign, similar to the famed “HOLLYWOOD” sign was also constructed. The sign stood 10 feet high, ran south to north with the “O” just north of Juanita Street and the “H” near Pier Avenue.
Most of the pier was torn down in 1931 in order to conduct a major automobile race on the beach. The shortened Oceano Pier became the start and finish line for what local promoters hoped would become the “Daytona Beach of the West”, however sand conditions and wind made the beach unsuitable for high speed racing. The plan was abandoned after the initial races. The remaining stub of the pier was removed some years later.
In 1905 the Villa Hotel was constructed at the end of Juanita Street, overlooking the Lagoon. In 1914 the hotel was converted to a Buddhist Monastery. At the time it was reported that it was the only Buddhist Monastery in North America. It is unclear what happened to the monastery; however there is still an active Buddhist community on the Central Coast. In the 1930’s the back half of the hotel and monastery was demolished. The remaining part was used as a residence, until it was demolished in 2003.
Over the years the Oceano Pavilion served its community well. During World War II it served as headquarters for mounted patrols by the U.S. Coast Guard, which patrolled the beaches to make sure no Japanese spies, saboteurs, or armed forces tried to sneak ashore. Later it served as a roller skating rink. In 1961 Oceano Pavilion was torn down.
Over the years a number of developers came to the area with big plans. The Oceano Land and Harbor Company planned to make Oceano a busy seaport. The lagoon was to be dredged and a new rail line was to be run from Santa Maria. Boat docks were to be constructed at the end Surf, York and Utah Avenues and a major drawbridge at the end of Juanita. Nothing became of the plan. The “light house” at the Elk’s Club was originally a land sales office, located at the corner of Pier Ave. and Highway 1. Unfortunately it was opened just before the Great Depression hit and only one lot was sold. Another developer called Oceano the “Atlantic City of the West” and created a brochure showing the local heavy industry belching smoke (in those days pollution was considered “good” as it represented progress and jobs.). About the only industries that developed in the area were vegetable growing and packing, sand mining, and clamming. At one especially low tide in 1965 a crowd of an estimated 143,000 clammers from all over California headed to the beach. Over 50,000 cars were on the beach that day, causing huge traffic jams that backed up for miles. The clams were plentiful then, and park rangers estimated that most clammers were able to get their legal limit of ten clams within 20 or 30 minutes. It was estimated that over 1 Million clams were harvested on that weekend alone! With continued heavy clamming and the return of the Sea Otters, who are voracious clam eaters, the local population clams has been almost wiped out. It is now rare to find a legal size clam.
Strand Way
Strand WayA SHORT HISTORY OF
THE STRAND NEIGHBORHOOD OF OCEANO BEACH
By Joel Anderson
The quiet neighborhood where the beach house is located has a colorful history. In the past it has sported two major dance pavilions, a railroad line, and a even Buddhist monastery!
Coffee Adam Rice, a wealthy entrepreneur and developer came to the Oceano area in 1882. He purchased a track of land, laid out the town and began construction on his huge twenty room, three-story Victorian mansion in expectation that the Southern Pacific Railroad would soon put tracks through the area. Included was a horse racing track and a polo field! The railroad took much longer to arrive than he expected. After the death of his young son he and his wife left the area for Santa Cruz. His beautiful mansion still stands, and may be seen near the corner of Highway 1 and 25th Street.
The Railroad finally reached Oceano in 1895 and a depot was built. The depot was then located a few blocks south of where the depot museum is now located. A large Victorian style beach pavilion was constructed near what is now the end of Strand Way, past Utah Ave. near where Arroyo Grande Creek flowed into the Ocean. At that time Pismo Creek flowed into Arroyo Grande Creek, the dam at Lopez Lake did not exist, nor did the flood control gates at the south end of the lagoon, so there was a lot more water flowing then. A rail spur from the Oceano train depot went directly to the pavilion. Special excursion trains would bring partiers and dancers to the pavilion for a day of fun and entertainment, then return them home in the evening. Remember, this was in the days before there were automobiles, and getting around was difficult except by train. The pavilion was thought to have been destroyed in a storm in the early 20th century.
In 1904 developers purchased a large tract of beachfront land in Oceano. They built a new, large, two-story dance pavilion, called Oceano Pavillion, on the beach just south of Pier Avenue. In 1908 a 1,000 foot pier was constructed at the end of Pier Avenue. Further improvements included two boardwalks. The main boardwalk was about a mile long, running from train depot to the Oceano Pavilion. Another boardwalk ran from the Pavilion, along The Strand, to Arroyo Grande Creek. A large “OCEANO BEACH” sign, similar to the famed “HOLLYWOOD” sign was also constructed. The sign stood 10 feet high, ran south to north with the “O” just north of Juanita Street and the “H” near Pier Avenue.
Most of the pier was torn down in 1931 in order to conduct a major automobile race on the beach. The shortened Oceano Pier became the start and finish line for what local promoters hoped would become the “Daytona Beach of the West”, however sand conditions and wind made the beach unsuitable for high speed racing. The plan was abandoned after the initial races. The remaining stub of the pier was removed some years later.
In 1905 the Villa Hotel was constructed at the end of Juanita Street, overlooking the Lagoon. In 1914 the hotel was converted to a Buddhist Monastery. At the time it was reported that it was the only Buddhist Monastery in North America. It is unclear what happened to the monastery; however there is still an active Buddhist community on the Central Coast. In the 1930’s the back half of the hotel and monastery was demolished. The remaining part was used as a residence, until it was demolished in 2003.
Over the years the Oceano Pavilion served its community well. During World War II it served as headquarters for mounted patrols by the U.S. Coast Guard, which patrolled the beaches to make sure no Japanese spies, saboteurs, or armed forces tried to sneak ashore. Later it served as a roller skating rink. In 1961 Oceano Pavilion was torn down.
Over the years a number of developers came to the area with big plans. The Oceano Land and Harbor Company planned to make Oceano a busy seaport. The lagoon was to be dredged and a new rail line was to be run from Santa Maria. Boat docks were to be constructed at the end Surf, York and Utah Avenues and a major drawbridge at the end of Juanita. Nothing became of the plan. The “light house” at the Elk’s Club was originally a land sales office, located at the corner of Pier Ave. and Highway 1. Unfortunately it was opened just before the Great Depression hit and only one lot was sold. Another developer called Oceano the “Atlantic City of the West” and created a brochure showing the local heavy industry belching smoke (in those days pollution was considered “good” as it represented progress and jobs.). About the only industries that developed in the area were vegetable growing and packing, sand mining, and clamming. At one especially low tide in 1965 a crowd of an estimated 143,000 clammers from all over California headed to the beach. Over 50,000 cars were on the beach that day, causing huge traffic jams that backed up for miles. The clams were plentiful then, and park rangers estimated that most clammers were able to get their legal limit of ten clams within 20 or 30 minutes. It was estimated that over 1 Million clams were harvested on that weekend alone! With continued heavy clamming and the return of the Sea Otters, who are voracious clam eaters, the local population clams has been almost wiped out. It is now rare to find a legal size clam.