Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco Cayucos is the perfect getaway location. Conveniently located along Pacific Coast Highway in San Luis Obispo County. Cayucos boasts 6 miles of pristine beaches. The word Cayucos originates from the Aleut of Alaska and means kayak or canoe.
Shoreline Inn
Nicole, Jinx, and I met our friends at the Shoreline Inn in Cayucos for a New Years’ Eve getaway. The Shoreline Inn is beachfront. All the rooms have views of the ocean and pier. As an added bonus they are pet-friendly. Our room was downstairs with a sliding door that opens onto a grassy area and the beach. We had two Adirondack chairs outside our room to enjoy the view. Inside we had 2 double beds, a coffee maker, a mini-refrigerator, and a microwave. The downstairs rooms are going to be refreshed in the winter of 2022. The rates are pricey, however, the Shoreline Inn is the only beachfront hotel in the area and we loved being able to walk everywhere.
Cayucos is Pet Friendly
Our room at Shoreline Inn allowed dogs. We paid a $40 pet fee and they provided a water bowl for the room, two sheets to cover the beds and a pet towel to dry off those wet paws. There are a few grassy areas with potty bags for late-night potty breaks. On the beach we saw lots of dogs, some were leashed and some were not. Depending on the tide the beach can be wide and there is plenty of room to play ball or fetch sticks. We took Jinx into a few antique stores that welcomed dogs and we sat on a few patios with her as well. A Cayucos getaway is ideal if you want to bring your 4-legged friend with you.
The Beach in Cayucos
When the tide was low we took long walks on the beach. Jinx chased after sticks and Nicole and I looked for shells and sea glass. I only found one piece of sea glass. Nicole found a few shells, but the rocks were the real stars of the beach. We found small rocks with variegated stripes runny through them. While the tide was out we explored a few tidepools. We saw one big seastar, loads of sea anemones, muscles, and a few crabs. Even though it was a chilly day there were lots of people playing games on the beach or out walking their dogs.
Polar Bear Dip
On New Year’s day at noon was the 42nd annual Polar Bear Dip. After eating breakfast we stood on the boardwalk and watched the proceedings. People started to gather on the beach in all sorts of costumes. We saw inflatable dinosaurs, lots of Care Bears, mermaids & mermen, sharks, an entire school of jellyfish, and even a leprechaun. You name it and we saw it. There was a drum circle getting everyone hyped up. Out in the ocean past the wave break was a Coast Guard boat and a few jet skiers in case anyone needed to be rescued. The countdown started and at exactly noon hundreds of revelers dove into the cold Pacific to start off the New Year. This annual event is a fundraiser and the Chamber of Commerce was selling official shirts designed by a local elementary school student. Most people came out of the water just as quickly as they had gone in and soon were on their way to ring in the New Year.
Coffee in Cayucos
We tried a few different places for coffee during our stay. The first was Bijou Bakery. It is located on the Cass House property, but its address is 222 North Ocean Ave. We ordered at the window and then sat in their newly opened outdoor area. The seating area looks like a beautiful veranda from a Southern home. I had a delicious latte and a lemon scone with a side of whipped French Butter. Both were very good. Nicole had coffee and an almond croissant. I could see the flakes floating off of her croissant so I imagine the chef has a french pastry background. They have quiche and avocado toast on the menu so I’ll have to try that next time.
On another morning we stopped at Cayucos Coffee. This time instead of coffee we tried Maca Cocoa Jade. This is a hot drink that has Matcha maca, raw cacao, and cacao. It is mixed with milk and a bit of honey. The matcha and cocoa balance each other out and the drink isn’t overly sweet.
The morning we left Cayucos we stopped on the way home at Top Dog Coffee in Morro Bay. Morro Bay is about 8 miles from Cayucos and we could see the iconic Morro Rock from the beach. Top Dog serves coffee, beer, kombucha, and food. They have an inviting secret garden and they are a coffee shop that gives back. Supporting Veterans and First Responders with PTSD and incarcerated men from the local prison. In addition to all of that, they allow dogs on their patio I had a delicious caramel latte and Nicole had an Ube IPA there.
Brunch in Cayucos
On New Year’s Day, we ate at Hidden Kitchen for brunch. We ordered at their take-out window and then sat on their beachfront patio because they allow dogs outside. We ordered coffee and the San Luis Sunrise which is free-range eggs, bacon ends, avocado, and HK sauce all served atop a blue-corn waffle. The coffee is self-serve and they have a collection of mismatched cups. We picked a table on the patio and a waiter brought out our food when it was ready. The waffle was savory and the egg and avocado were tasty, however, I wasn’t prepared for the amount of bacon ends they put on it. I would eat at Hidden Kitchen again, but I would try something different.
Gas Station Tacos
Hands down the best food that we had on our entire trip came from a corner of a gas station at Cayucos Gas Mini Mart. The sign painted on the building says Cayucos “Deli Mexican Food Hamburger & Bakery.” We found them on Yelp and we were warned they close at 5:00 p.m. Nicole and I walked over around 4:30 p.m. and ordered our food to go. I got a chicken burrito and Nicole tried their street tacos. We brought our dinner back to the beach and watched the sunset while we ate. The burrito is huge! Nicole said the tacos were amazing and their hot sauce is so good with the red being really spicy. We liked our dinner so much that we also ordered food from there on New Year’s Eve I had chicken nachos and Nicole had street tacos for a second time. Both nights our food was fresh, hot, tasty and really good. I highly recommend Cayucos Deli.
Warm Cookies in Cayucos
Brown Butter Cookie Company’s flagship store is located in Cayucos. They are open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. We visited during COVID so they have a walk-up window and they have the ordering all set up to be contactless. Nicole and I decided we should try their namesake cookie first. We ordered a 3 pack of the original Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookie for $4.00 and we tried two of the Classic Cookies in lemon and chocolate chunk. The Classic Cookies are $2.75 each. Both Nicole and I decided we like the classic cookies better than the original. We went back the next day and tried Ginger Molasses and that was my favorite flavor that we tried.
A Fun Getaway
Nicole and I had a relaxing time in Cayucos. There are some cute antique shops, some fantastic Mexican food, and plenty of beach time. If you are looking for a dog-friendly beach getaway Cayucos might your ideal destination.
