Hotel at a Glance: Inn at the Pier

At Inn at the Pier’s rooftop bar, chatter mixes with the sound of waves lapping against the shore. The 4-star hotel’s setting across from the Pismo Beach Pier gives guests panoramic views of the seaside scenery, not only from the roof but also a dining patio below.

• In-room amenities: WiFi and Amazon Echo, along with a mini fridge.
• Fresh air: Deluxe king room comes with a balcony or patio with city views.
• Locally-sourced seafood is on the menu at Blonde Restaurant and Bar.
• Craft cocktails at the Rooftop Bar include the Beach Mule, made with house-infused cucumber vodka.
• Sunset spot: The rooftop’s heated dipping pool is open all year.

Pismo Beach, California: Surf Town Close to Wine Country

Pismo Beach is a small city with the recipe for California-coast appeal: sun, sand, surf, and a backdrop of hills overlooking a valley of vineyards. Weather is key to the beach culture here; Pismo Beach enjoys 315 days of sunshine each year and temperatures ranging from 66 to 84 degrees. Year-round, surfers descend on the 23-mile coast along with vacationers looking to get tans. Visitors explore isolated dunes on the southern end of town and fish off the central pier.

The warm weather and misty mornings of this coastal stretch also provide great conditions for winemaking in the nearby Edna Valley. With one of California’s longest growing seasons, the Edna Valley AVA has some of the region’s best wineries, producing large quantities of chardonnay, pinot noir, and syrah.