Sitting in a camp chair on a Friday night and staring at the view, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the best real estate bargain on the California coast.
Spread out below April and I was the expanse of San Luis Obispo Bay, with lights from the Port San Luis and Cal Poly piers shimmering off the black water. The night was still and calm, with the only disruption coming from the barking sea lions that could be heard, but not seen in the darkness.
The view was amazing, and so was the price. At just $35 per night, what could be better?
We were staying at Flying Flags Avila Beach in a car camping site. The facility's terraced layout means that no matter your accommodation, you're likely to have a view like we did. They also have RV sites, hard-sided cabins and tent cabins.
The range of accommodations made this the perfect choice for our annual family reunion where NorCal and SoCal branches meet halfway for a weekend on the Central Coast. Not everyone in the group had an RV, or wanted to camp, so the variety of options ensured we could all stay at the same location and maximize our time together.
The best campgrounds offer convenient access to nearby amenities, and Flying Flags puts the best of the Central Coast within easy reach, starting with the beach. You can walk there from the campground, and the breakwater visible at the edge of the horizon keeps the waves mellow, putting parents at ease while kids play in the water.
Port San Luis Pier is just past the campground, accessible by a long walk or short bike ride. The pier and harbor offer a public dock, sportfishing, whale watching tours and kayak rentals, plus a fresh seafood market, convenience store and two restaurants. And, if you're brave enough to take the stairs that lead underneath the pier to a floating dock, you might have the opportunity to get close to a basking sea lion.
Head in the other direction, and you'll find yourself in downtown Avila Beach, with its own pier, wide sandy beach, beachfront promenade and mix of shops and restaurants. It's an easy bike ride, and even easier if you have an e-bike. You'll be thankful for pedal-assist while riding up the hill back to your campsite.
On Saturday, our group decided to explore further afield, driving north to Cayucos for lunch at Hidden Kitchen. The restaurant's name is something of a misnomer given the long line of hungry customers that stretches away from its order window. People can't get enough of their blue corn tortilla tacos, blue corn waffles with sweet or savory toppings and superfood smoothies that look more like milkshakes.
We made it back to the campground in the late afternoon, but any hope of a dramatic sunset was smothered by the bank of fog that crept in over the hills. The temperature dropped quickly, sending everyone looking for sweatshirts.
We cooked dinner as daylight faded, lighting the portable propane-powered firepit for extra warmth. Strict fire precautions prohibit wood fires and charcoal grilling at the campground.
Soon the view from the night before reappeared. But I got distracted, helping my cousins' kids perfect the art of doughboy making. Wrap biscuit dough around a wooden rod and hold it over the open fire. Once the outside is golden brown, remove it from the rod and you have a bread cup ready to be filled with your favorite treats, in our case apple pie filling, caramel sauce and whipped cream.
A warm fire, yummy dessert and fun time with family. That made the magical view even better.
Eric Harnish lives in Castaic.

Let's Go!
Flying Flags Avila Beach
flyingflagsavilabeach.com
Hidden Kitchen
hiddenkitchencalifornia.com