Stroll and Sip

Picking a beach on the Central Coast is like deciding which flavor to go with at a homemade ice cream shop: There are so many good choices! You really can't go wrong, but if you're looking for a mellow, strollable beach town with a few restaurants and some seriously good wine tasting, Avila Beach is the place—especially in winter when it's far less crowded. The small beach is just half a mile long and sheltered by Point San Luis to the west and Fossil Point to the east. It's a nice stretch to stroll after a day of other activities in the area. A few blocks in downtown Avila are closed to traffic, making for a mini Fisherman's Wharf that's all a-twinkle at night. A huge bonus: Tasting rooms here are putting out some seriously good, award-winning wines, and they're open late. Two tasting rooms not to miss: Sinor-La Vallee, specializing in coastal terroir wines sourced locally; their 2013 Pinot Noir Black Label is excellent. At the top of our list is Peloton Cellars. Their "Good ride. Good wine. Good times!" mantra sums up the approachability of both the tasting room and the wines. The young owners are super friendly and love good company (ask them for tips on where to ride your bike in San Luis Obispo County). Wines can be bought by the glass or the bottle, and tastings are a good starter. You're not going to go wrong with any of their syrahs, pinots, zins, or cabs. And their Albariño is tasty too. Ride on!

WHERE TO STAY: Located a few miles away in Pismo Beach and set atop a secret cove overlooking the Pacific, Inn at the Cove has modern rooms with ocean-facing patios that offer the best seats in the house for kicking back and enjoying the coastline.

Sinor-La Vallee is located at 550 1st St., Avila Beach. They're open from noon to 6 p.m. and the tasting fee is $10. Peloton Cellars is located in the Front St. pedestrian zone, by the pier. They're open from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday they're open until 7:00 p.m. The tasting fee is $10.