Right by the beach... boy-ee! by Nor_Cal_Brad
Shell Beach is the "locals" beach on the Central Coast. You will find a lot of students and young people here, and there is no pier, and it's a bit of a hike from the parking areas down to the beach, but this really just helps keep tourists away. Many people bring their dogs down to the beach here, and there are no lifeguards, and police presence is rare, so it is much easier to drink and have a good time down at Shell Beach without being harassed. Some people try to surf here too, but there are much better spots around the Central Coast to catch some good waves. If it's a really hot day in San Luis Obispo, the weather should be perfect down at the beach. Tip: if it's foggy at Shell Beach (especially during the summertime), try going up the coast a couple of miles to Avila Beach, where they have many more days of sunshine than Pismo Beach or Shell Beach.