The California beach town of Cayucos is a haven for surfers and fishing enthusiasts, and visitors can find a host of antique shops, restaurants and taverns along its "old California" main street. Cayucos, California hosts several antique and collectable street fairs throughout the year closing off Main Street through the middle of town.
The long, uncluttered white sandy beach is home to the Cayucos pier built in 1875. Rent a sea kayak for the afternoon, try your hand at surfing or boogie boarding, fish off the pier, explore the tidepools, or just enjoy a swim on the sandy beach. Cayucos is a great place to slow down, relax, and enjoy life the way it is meant to be, whether you have a weekend or a long term Central Coast beach vacation rental.
Cayucos CA Interactive Area Map - An interactive map of all listings in this town.
Cayucos CA Hotels
What to do, weather and what to pack!
Major events
- Carlin Soule Polar Bear Dip - January 1
- Seafood Festival & Oceanfront Fair - April
- Antiques and Collectibles Street Sale - May & October
- Parade & Fireworks - 4th of July
- Peddlar's Faire - Memorial Day & 4th of July weekends
- Portuguese Celebration - July
- Surfrider Art Show - September
- Central Coast Woodcarvers Show - September
- Annual Car Show - November
Upcoming Cayucos Events & Activities
Cayucos is a classic California beach town, but it has a history of settlement and development that reminds us these are places where people really live! Look at the Cayucos Chamber of Commerce site for a more thorough history, but here's the overview.
In the mid-1800's, the area was predominantly devoted to ranching, and some of the county's oldest families with Swiss Italian or Portuguese names hail from this early time. In the middle of the nineteenth century, the little community of Cold Creek was established in the same general area where Old Creek Road is today. Later, sensing commercial opportunity, James Cass built the pier in 1871, and in 1875 William Babcock recorded a subdivision map, and the community has been going ever since.
The commercial reasons for the town's early existence have evaporated, but it is thriving under new conditions. Cayucos is one of the California Central Coast beach towns that attracts visitors - some of them long term beach vacation rentals-from the San Joaquin Valley and the big cities to the north and south. They come for the beach, the steady sea air, and the laid back lifestyle you can't help but adopt in Cayucos. Like Morro Bay and Pismo Beach, Cayucos has a large proportion of "vacant" housing - 38% in the 2000 census. But don't be fooled. This housing isn't vacant all the time. It's often occupied by happy visitors who find Central Coast Cayucos vacation rentals the perfect way to get a grip on life.
While in Cayucos, the large pier is a magnet for fishermen and strollers, and it provides a perfect spot for watching the surfers riding the waves in to the beach. At the foot of the pier is the Veterans Hall where arts and crafts and other cultural and community events are frequently held. If you have shopping in mind, browse some of the great antique stores and be prepared to find something you can't resist.
Bring your surf board and your mountain bike. Join the other surfers in the warm morning sun paddling out to catch a wave. Get into the rhythm of the climb up Old Creek Road on your bike, winding through stunning farms and hills past Whale Rock Reservoir all the way up to Highway 46. Spend the afternoon lounging on the terrace next to the beach at one of Cayucos justly famous taverns. Kick back.
Click on the links below for a list of Cayucos businesses such as vacation rentals, plus events and attractions, including dates of events to help you plan your itinerary.
Cayucos Chamber of Commerce
http://www.cayucoschamber.com/
805-995-1200
More about Cayucos, California
Population (2003): 2,991
65+ (2000): 23.5%
Founded: 1875
Unincorporated
