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BLACKLAKE GOLF COURSE – 1490 Golf course Lane, 805/343-1214
A 27-hole public course, par 72, complete with pro¬-shop, restaurant, golf lessons and driving range.
CYPRESS RIDGE GOLF COURSE – 780 Cypress Ridge Parkway, 805/474-7979
An 18-hole public course, par 72, complete with pro¬-shop, restaurant, golf lessons and driving range.
MONARCH DUNES – 1606 Trilogy Parkway, 805/698-8745
The first 18-hole golf course constructed within The Woodlands, on California’s Central Coast, complete with pro-shop, restaurant, golf lessons and driving range.
DANA ADOBE NIPOMO AMIGOS – 671 South Oakglen, 805/929-5679
The Dana Adobe is the home of Captain Dana and his family, now owned by the San Luis Obispo Historical Society. This historical site still stands today and is open for visitors.
KALEIDOSCOPE INN & GARDENS – 130 East Dana, 805/929-5444
Originally built by a retired rancher in 1887 and sold to the Dana family, the founding pioneer family of Nipomo. This is Nipomo’s only place of lodging and provides a bed and breakfast atmosphere.
DANA-POWERS HOUSE - 535 Mehlschau Road, 805/929-5679
This classic Victorian home and gardens provides a splendid site for weddings, reunions, and other outdoor gatherings.
NIPOMO COMMUNITY PARK - Located less than a mile west of U.S. 101 (West Tefft & Pomeroy)
This 140-acre park, shaded with eucalyptus, oak and pine trees, contains facilities for a number of activities – tennis, handball, softball, basketball, baseball, football, and horseshoes. Picnic tables and barbecues are located throughout the park, and a natural area features a ring and trails for equestrians. A playground on the south side provides a good stopping place for travelers with children, and there is a leash-free area for dogs.
OLD ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH – East Tefft Street and Thompson Road
Built in 1902, the church retired in 1970. It has been refurbished into a quaint wedding chapel. Services for Nipomo Christian Church are now held weekly here.
OSO FLACO LAKE
The lake is within an 18,000 acre; 18-mile pristine shoreline that has been designated a national natural landmark possessing among the highest aesthetic and ecological values remaining in California.
NIPOMO DUNES
These dunes compromise the largest remaining dune system in the nation. It is made up of 18 miles of 200-500 foot high sand hills, seashore, wetland, and tidal marsh. They stretch from Pismo Beach in the North to Vandenberg Air Force Base in the south. The five best places to wander in the Nipomo Dunes are:
1. Pismo Dunes Preserve – This is a spot close to State 1 to wander tall dunes. From the free parking lot at the end of Pier Avenue in Oceano, walk south ½ mile past the mouth of Arroyo Grande Creek and start climbing.
2. Oso Flaco Lake Area – Drive to the end of Oso Flaco Lake Road; pick up a map at The Nature Conservancy’s kiosk, then park ($4). There’s a short signed walk to freshwater Oso Flaco Lake, where you can watch ruddy ducks, mallards, herons, and (during the winter) white pelicans. From there, take the boardwalk 1.3 miles across dunes to the beach.
3. Coreopsis Hill – From the boardwalk’s end, walk toward the ocean and cross Oso Flaco Creek. Then turn inland across vast dunes toward the distant green hill (covered in spring with yellow coreopsis blossoms). It is about a 5-mile round trip from your car.
4. Mobil Coastal Preserve – To get to this unmarked 2,500-acre area, follow directions (#2 above) from Oso Flaco Lake across the creek to the beach. Go south along the beach about a mile to the state park boundary sign, and turn inland into the deep dune hollows. Avoid the chance of getting (pleasantly) lost in the preserve; take a guided all-day, 7-mile roundtrip hike (see below) to Hidden Willow Valley, a secluded spot with willow woodlands tucked between steep dunes.
5. Mussel Rock Dunes – It’ll take energy and more than half a day, but the walk to Nipomo’s largest dunes will get you great views of the wild coastline. From the free parking lot as the end of W. Main Street, walk south along the beach 2 1/2 miles to Mussel Rock. Be warned that the wind will likely be in your face for the return. And you’ll be tired.
Basic Dune Advice – Wear comfortable shoes, like high-tops, that don’t take in sand. For protection against the sun and wind, bring a broad-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and consider long sleeves, long pants and a windbreaker. The best time to go is early morning, when the undisturbed dunes are shadowy, golden, and dotted with tracks. Late afternoon’s shadows and rosy hue are lovely, too. While none are epic, the hikes can all be difficult, so bring enough water and food to maintain your energy. If you want to run and bumble, avoid areas (usually marked) undergoing re-vegetation. In general, limit romping to unvegetatedareas. Dogs are not allowed.
Organized Hikes – The Nature Conservancy, along with People for the Nipomo Dunes and other local groups, offer occasional hikes to Coreopsis Hill, Hidden Willow Valley, Oso Flaco Lake, and other areas. During Coast Weeks (September 19 – October 12), more hikes are scheduled than usual. Call (805) 545-9925 for details. Bill Denneen – a local naturalist and a dune institution himself, offers 10-15 hikes monthly. For more information, call him at (805) 929-3647.
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