Wendy B.
Yelp
Cayucos is a small beach town. Plenty of small, mom and pop businesses, eateries, a decent beach that has public restrooms with showers outside, and a playground at one end for the young ones. The beach is well maintained and parking is adjacent the beach (for no additional fee), if you time it right.
We were lucky to enjoy the beach in the late afternoon on a lovely May day, two grandchildren in tow. The children's slide and swing area is sandy, but was the sole purpose of our visit. The playground is not much to offer, but the little ones really didn't mind. And there was a place for the mommies and daddies and grannies to sit, against the sea wall, while they played. All quite sandy.
Mind you, the surprisingly uncrowded beach was only so because it was still off season and mid-week. That is the key to enjoyment here, in my opinion. I am talking a fast getaway once the summer crowds arrive. No Bueno.
But while we were doing our thing on the playground equipment and also taking a short jaunt out to the waves, an astounding thing occurred. In the distance, about where the buoy defines where the boats are not allowed, I saw a spout of water. Then another. Then many, many more. Unplanned, just pure luck, we were witnessing a pod of grey whales as they migrated north. Close enough for us to see, far enough for them to be safe. And sure enough, May is their month, as we found out some time later. I guess they head south in the fall, so if you want to witness another of Mother Nature's treats, there you go... prime times come twice a year.
Then, on to visit the elephant seals north from here!