Sep 10
3
Work Out in Paradise
On top of the sunny warm days and the natural beauty of Avila Beach, it has another jewel hidden in the Avila Village that many are not aware of—Avila Bay Athletic. It’s a state-of- the-art fitness facility nestled on four acres of tropical grounds at the heart of the Avila Valley on California’s Central Coast.
Avila Bay Athletic Club
First class in every way, the Avila Bay Athletic is so much more than a fitness club to me. Leading the way are seven incredible, fully lit tennis courts, two sunny pools, one heated outdoor 25-yard 6-lane lap and one heated family swimming pool, two workout areas with Cybex and Precor rooms & a free weight room, and machines for every muscle that needs to be worked.
Avila Bay Athletic Club Tennis CourtAvila Bay Athletic Club Swimming Pool
Aside from working out, it’s an amazing place to just hang out. Our year-round pleasant climate allows us to sit by the poolside, enjoy dining at the in-house café that serves breakfast lunch and dinner, or listen to music on Friday nights.
Outdoors, you can take advantage of just relaxing in the private park with BBQs & umbrella tables, enjoy a game of ping pong, or visit the dry sauna. For the active folks, try taking a class on tennis or swimming or pick from more than 40 featured classes offered each week varying from yoga, aerobics, aqua aerobics, to weight training.
Then, there’s the spa, complete with massage, facial, manicure, plus a physical therapist & chiropractor on site. For the working customer, the club even has a conference room for up to 20 people.
The locals are so lucky to have such a wonderful athletic club in their backyard. If you want to work out or just to hang out in paradise, this is a must visit. For details on membership, go to www.AvilaBayClub.com.
The bait is back in the bay. Check out the action in the pelicans diving into the water for their food.
Albacore Feed
October 9 at the community center, downtown Avila Beach. This will be the second annual feed organized by The Avila Beach Community Foundation so purchase your tickets and join the feast. Tickets available now at $20 for adults and $10 for children. Those who are 12 and under are free. Proceeds benefit the Community Center and other local projects and services.
Sep 10
1
Boat Storage
“Can I store my boat here in Avila Beach?” I have been asked this question so many times.
Yes, you can store your boat here and it’s just a few steps from the water. Port San Luis operates a trailer boat storage area for vessels up to 30 feet, called Harbor Terrace. The monthly rental is $71.00 with three months advance payment ($213.00) as required by the district.
The storage area is fenced but not fully paved. The yard has its own entrance gate with a combination lock so only those who have the combination can enter. The yard is regularly patrolled and safe, making this a very convenient and secure storage area.
For those who wish to use their boats all weekend, another option is to make arrangements with Port San Luis Water Taxi to rent a mooring so they can leave their boat in the water during that time. The rate is $10.00 per night.
To reach the water taxi, the number is 805-595-7895. To store a boat, call 805-595-5400.
Avila Beach has a lot to offer. If you are considering living here for good, I’d be glad to help. Please feel free to contact me.
Aug 10
9
History of Avila Beach’s Piers
Avila Pier
In 1850, when California was admitted into the union, San Luis Obispo County had a population of 336 persons. Avila Beach interestingly contributed to the state’s growth early on with its ocean access, wharfs, and landing places.
Building a wharf was a great fit for Avila. It was one of the two bays along the coast between Point San Luis Obispo Bay and Point Arguello, best suited for freight ships to unload and passengers to come to the area.
The first wharf erected was called “The Original Wharf”. It was built in 1855 at Cave Landing (many now call it Pirates Cove), which later became known as Mallagh’s Wharf. From this wharf, steamers could unload cargo and passengers bound for the small village which had grown up around Mission San Luis Obispo, built in 1772. They would ride stage coaches to their destination. This was the only option for San Luis Bay until 1869, when a new wharf was built. The new wharf, called “The Peoples Wharf”, was built closer to where downtown Avila Beach is today, extended out into the bay 1,800 ft. to allow most steamers deep enough to tie up and handle cargo better. These two wharfs were busy places with steamers landing several times a week with as many as 90 passengers and 200 tons of freight.
Then in 1873, one of the previous owners of the Peoples Wharf completed a third wharf for the bay. This wharf, although originally only 540 ft. into the bay, included a narrow-gauge railway, bringing freight transportation to a new level transporting to the San Francisco markets, including grain, livestock, produce, lumber, and later, oil.
Today, the “Original Wharf” no longer exists but Avila Beach still has the downtown Avila Wharf, built in the 1900’s with county taxpayers money, the Harford Wharf (called Harford Pier with cars allowed to drive onto), and a non-public pier leased to Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo by Unocal for their marine studies program.
If you wish to learn more about living in Avila Beach, contact us.
Avila Pier view from the bay
Farmers Market
One of the best parts about summer is the Avila Beach Farmers Market , held each Friday evening, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Located at the heart of Avila Beach at the Promenade, this local party featuring live entertainment, fresh fish, local produce, and great food from local restaurants runs yearly from April to September.
The sea side village, with its wonderful climate and atmosphere, has become quite a popular place to visit. If you come early in the day while the sun is still shining brightly, you can rent a variety of beach stuff, including chairs, water toys such as surf boards and boogie boards or even go for a boat ride around our beautiful Port, San Luis Bay. You have several choices including a ride in a 25 foot high speed boat or an adventure tour on a Zodiac along the coast. Just under four miles off Hwy 101, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Summer at Avila Beach guarantees fun for all! It’s also a great time to buy real estate, as there tends to be more available on the market. Take a look at what’s currently for sale by using our home search feature.
Aug 10
4
Need A Conference Room?
Did you know there are conference rooms available for meetings and parties in Avila Beach?
Both Avila Beach Community Center and Avila Lighthouse Suites accommodate various events such as private parties, weddings/showers, family reunions or business meetings. Both are located at downtown Avila Beach, designed to let you combine work and play while enjoying the Central Coast paradise.
Avila Lighthouse Suites
Avila Lighthouse Suites features a beautiful conference room that can accommodate up to 120 people. Just a few steps away from the beach, it also includes an outside patio for company barbeques or for just mixing and mingling. The patio has many uses including additional seating for up to 25 guests, dance floor, bar set-up and hors d’oeuvres area or more.
Avila Beach Community Center
Owned and operated by the Avila Beach Civic Association, the Avila Beach Community Center is also close to the beach and is just a short walk down the street. This center has both a multi-purpose room and a smaller conference room.
The multi-purpose room can house 130 to 200 people for your event. Sixteen rectangular tables and 100 chairs are provided, free of charge. Wireless internet access is also available.
With its great atmosphere and friendly people, Avila Beach continues to collect happy stories and warm memories. If you wish to be part of the Avila Beach Community for good, I’d be happy to guide you. Please feel free to contact me.
Jul 10
24
Wine Tasting in Avila Beach
Spectacular sunsets, calm waters, and friendly people make Avila Beach a popular destination in Central Coast California. And with fine wines at the beach, it truly is a perfect venue to celebrate the joys of life.
There are three wineries having tasting rooms right in downtown, another two just minutes from downtown (still considered Avila), and one tasting room featuring wineries from the Central Coast. Downtown wineries are Alapay , Morovino and Wood Winery. Avila Wine and Roasting is also downtown and offers wines for purchase and tasting from a variety of local wineries. Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards and Salisbury Vineyards are both a very short drive from town. You’d be able to visit several of these during your own wine tour.
Our Century 21 Hometown Realty office is located between Alapay and Morovino on 1st Street, so please stop by on your way from one to the other and say “hi.”
Jul 10
20
Dog-Friendly Beaches and Hotels
Avila Beach is dog-friendly.
If you are looking to stay in Avila Beach with your pet, let me share your options. Joe Momma’s Beachstay and Avila La Fonda are both dog-friendly hotels. Both are classy, clean, and well-run. At Avila La Fonda, they have a 30 LB. limit for dogs while the limit goes up to 40 LB at Joe Momma’s Beachstay. Located in downtown Avila Beach, guests may enjoy the hotel’s prime location spot near the beach.
As for our beaches, our downtown beach (about ½ mile long) called the Avila Pier Beach, allows dogs up to 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. each day. Dogs must also be leashed. Down the road, a bit towards Harford Pier (last pier in Avila), Fisherman’s Beach and Olde Port Beach allow dogs to run unleashed 24 hours a day. Both beaches include plenty of Doggie bags (Mutt Mitts), so please always remember to pick up after your dogs and help keep our beaches pristine and beautiful. For the latter beaches, parking is normally ample compared to downtown where you may be challenged to find parking on weekends.
Our office is dog-friendly too, so if you’re interested in finding out about Avila Beach real estate, come on by. We’ll have a bowl of water waiting for your dog.
Jul 10
18
Parking in Avila Beach
Avila Beach gets very busy and even livelier during the summer months. An absolute impacted town through the entire summer, you may need to park and walk over a ½ mile from the downtown area at times. Luckily, we have a public parking lot to ease that challenge.
With over 300 parking spaces located in the center of downtown Avila, this Harbor District owned and run parking lot is the saving grace solution. For just five bucks for the day, the parking lot is very convenient when you’re hauling a bunch of beach coolers, chairs and toys. Just show up early enough for a spot as it fills up in the mornings quickly.
(By the way, our real estate office is just across the street from the parking lot, so stop by and take a look at the current listings in Avila Beach, if you’re curious about real estate opportunities.)
If you try and park without paying, don’t be surprised on getting a ticket, as the Port San Luis Harbor District patrols it regularly. Trucks, trailers, RV or buses are not allowed to park here so if you have an RV or trailer, check the Harbor District at Harford Pier (3rd and last pier), just a couple miles down the road from downtown Avila Beach. Limited parking is available for RV and trailers in this area on first-come-first-served basis.
Parking rates are $5.00 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and $1.00 for the 4 p.m. to 10 p.m shift. It is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. For more information about parking in Avila Beach, you may contact the Port San Luis Harbor District at 805-595-5400.
Keep in mind, if you don’t want to worry about finding a parking place in Avila on the busy weekends, the Trolley is a great alternative.
Avila Beach Parking lot
Jul 10
15
July 2010 in our Beach Town
July is a busy month in Avila Beach, once the sun comes out, the town comes to life.
The real estate market in Avila Beach shows 2 new listings so far in July, one home in San Luis Bay Estates on Goldeneye at $775,000 and a custom home downtown Avila on San Luis Street at $2,775,000.
July 17th, Mr Ricks is having a bikini contest starting at 2:00 pm. $1,000 to winner, $400 for second and $200 for third.
Hints of bait in the water are been seen of late. Annually, once this starts happening, the fishing inside the bay picks up, fishing is picking up!
Know what a labyrinth is? Sycamore Hot Springs has a beautiful one in their meditation garden.
Farmers Market is gaining in popularity, words out. I’m ecstatic on the markets success, bringing in loads of people for the local merchants.
The new pub at Harford Pier, Port Harford Chandelry Pub is gaining steam with the crowds, serving beer and wine, both local and international. Located at the end of Avila Beach (last pier), it’s quickly becoming a local favorite.
A must see, Avila Sea Life Center is now open. Great treat for the kids, educating them with classes and programs and camps. Fabulous addition to the community, take the kids by.
Vince at SLO Kayaks has added stand up paddle boards to his already large inventory of kayaks at Harford Pier. A sneaky workout, the boards are the newest rage for water sport lovers.
A hidden treasure, the Portside coffee shop, is now my favorite coffee hang out. Owner Richard is always so accommodating and serves the best coffee around, Illy brand. Visit Portside to start your morning strolling the Old Port Beach with your dog, great start of the day.
Sign up for email updates, DISCOUNTS and ALERTS about events and real estate deals in Avila Beach.