I first stayed at Sea Crest in 1984 when I was 7 years old. It was our annual Labor Day weekend destination through my late teens. I most recently returned to Pismo in 2011 with my wife & our 2 dogs, and was pleasantly surprised by the growth & evolution of the resort since I had last visited in the 90s. They had added 2 nicely designed wings on the side of the original building, added a dog-friendly floor (where we stayed), and added a full breakfast attached to an outdoor patio dining area. The check-in area had also been redone, and the rooms were all elegantly appointed. Our room, which was located on the 1st floor in the dog-friendly wing was surprisingly clean, and had a great little patio with a view into the courtyard. Although Sea Crest is dog-friendly, you wouldn't know it by how spotless the courtyard and rooms are, so don't worry if you're not a dog person. You won't even notice them. Thankfully, all of the dogs & owners that we came across were very well behaved.
SERVICE
We didn't interact much with the staff, but check-in was a breeze and maid service was prompt & very efficient. Breakfast was a nice bonus. I think I had waffles, cereal, fresh fruit & yogurt. Coffee & cookies are available around the clock in the lobby as well.
BEACH
Pismo is a real gem of a beach. It's one of the few dog-friendly beaches, and has some beautiful views. Sea Crest is ideally located on the far north side of the pier, where the beach essentially ends. Upon walking down the stairs, to the right is a tidepool, which is great for exploring. My wife & I are below-average surfers, and we took advantage of the friendly beach breaks in front of the resort. It was November, but we were just fine in our full-suits. The waves were small rollers, and it was uncrowded. I think we only encountered 3-4 other surfers in the immediate area the entire time we were there. The main surf spot in the area is the pier, which can get much more crowded. The waves are definitely glassier there though. The main reason we chose the Sea Crest, besides my childhood nostalgia was the dog-friendly beach & resort policy. Our puppy boxer & older beagle-chow had a brilliant time walking off leash and chasing tennis balls. We met several other well behaved dogs as well. Fun for the whole family.
FOOD
The culinary highlight of our trip was the discovery of Guiseppe's Express on 800 Price St. Best thin crust pizza I've had in California. We went back twice. Great little Italian deli as well. Also, make sure to try the clam chowder at Splash Cafe. It's very thick and a local favorite. It was a little too rich for my wife, but still delicious with a big hunk of garlic bread.
OVERALL
A great place for dog owners & families. Nice for couples as well. The Sea Crest is a very relaxing weekend escape from LA for us, and we plan on making it a new annual tradition. By the way, they say that October/November is beautiful and uncrowded every year. We had weather in the low to mid 70s and clear skies 3 days in a row.
