Oceano Information: 805- 489-0908
Population is around 7,000
People, horses and motorized
vehicles all share the same beaches.
It's an interesting mix and much
like a race track, pedestrians
should keep their eyes on the course
behind them.
Driving on the beach is simply
unheard of in Southern California
but on the Central Coast it is a
sporting adventure. Oceano, Grover
Beach and Pismo are several
locations where you can take
campers, cars and all terrain
vehicles for an excursion on the
sand in the Oceano Dunes State
Vehicular Recreation Area.
The
Oceano sand dunes area is recognized
as the most extensive coastal dunes
remaining in California. Bordering
on a protected region, you might see
arroyo willow, California Sagebrush,
sand verbena, bush lupine and rare
plants such as surf thistle and
giant coreopsis.
Chumash Indian settlements dotted
the region during the time that
European explorers traveled through
in 1769. The late 1800's brought
railroads and commerce to the region
and in the 1930's, Oceano became a
mecca for nudists, artists and free
thinkers who collectively called
themselves "Dunites." The Dunites
believed that the Oceano Dunes were
one of the centers for creative
energy.
Don't
expect to see any nudists today.
You'll see agriculture, businesses
and tourists when visiting the beach
town which has gained a reputation
for its wonderful weather and beach
recreation. Highlights of the small
region on the ocean include Oceano
Airport, a small craft airport near
the beach and a cute Rock and Roll
Diner made out of a train car which
is decorated in the theme of the
1950s.
With
wineries abounding on the Central
Coast, McKeon-Phillips Winery calls
Oceano home. Moving its operations
from Napa and Sonoma Counties in
1990, their Chardonnay and Pinot
Noir grapes are grown in the Santa
Maria valley. Find them on line at
www.mckeonphillipswinery.com or call
805-489-5519
Open
all year round - Oceano Dunes Ocean
Dune State Vehicular Recreation Area
has 1,500 acres, featuring beach and
sand dune riding. Thousands of
off-highway vehicle enthusiasts
enjoy the beach dunes. It is a
motorcycle, four-wheel drive,
all-terrain vehicle, and dune buggy
use area. This is not Oceano
Campground at Pismo State Beach. At
Oceano Dunes SVRA, the campsites are
on the beach in the OHV area. Four
wheel drive vehicles are
recommended. A maximum of 10
reservations can be made for Oceano
Dunes. Each vehicle entering the
park under it's own power must have
an individual reservation number.
Vehicles on trailers do not need a
reservation. Directions: The area
is located in Oceano, three miles
south of Pismo Beach, off Highway
One. Oceano Dunes SVRA, 928
Pacific Avenue, Oceano, CA 93445
For more information about the park,
please call (805) 473-7220 or visit
on line at www.oceanodunes.com
If roughing it isn't your bag, check
out the Pacific Plaza Resort, an
affordable accommodation with
studios and one or two bedroom
suites available, just a short walk
from the beach in Oceano.
