8 Best Summer Activities to do around Arroyo Grande, CA

Jon Fesmire | June 28, 2021 @ 12:00 AM

Arroyo Grande Farmers Market

On Wednesdays throughout the year, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m, and on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., a fun place to visit is the Arroyo Grande Farmers Market. The Wednesday market is in the Smart & Final parking lot at 1464 East Grand Avenue, while the Sunday market is at Olohan Alley in Arroyo Grande Village. Want to grab a fresh meal from a booth, or purchase some delicious ingredients for the week? Get them here. Vendors sell crafted fresh breads, homemade treats like cupcakes, avocados, herbs and spices, artichokes, corn, grapes, strawberries and other berries, mushrooms, local honey, popcorn, hummus, and a lot more. 

 

Arroyo Grande Summer Concert Series

As more and more people get vaccinated against COVID and the infection rates continue to drop, it’s becoming safer to go to restaurants, theme parks, and to attend concerts.

Throughout the summer, you can now enjoy the Arroyo Grande Summer Concert Series, free outdoor concerts at Heritage Square Park in Arroyo Grande. These concerts take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every other week. In 2021, the dates are July 4, July 18, August 1, August 15, August 29, and September 12, and feature local groups. These include The Village Band, Burning James All-Stars,, and Royal Garden Swing Orchestra, among others.

These are family, outdoor events that benefit the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club. Food and beer are often available from vendors like Rudy’s Hot Dogs. Put on your sunscreen, bring some lawn chairs, and enjoy the music and a snack.

 

Arroyo Grande Summer Camps

For a town of 18,000, we have a lot of fantastic activities in Arroyo Grande, and those include summer camps. All right, many of these are outside town, but they’re all fairly close. If one seems right for your children, the short drive is worth it. Groups that provide summer training and camps include Five Cities Swim School, Te Velde School of Music, Performance Athletics, Miller’s Equestrian Center and Sanctuary, the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, Michael’s, Pacific Coast Gymnastics, and a lot more.

So, your kids can learn gymnastics, horseback riding, arts and crafts, various musical instruments, and a lot more in the area.

 

Pismo Beach

Want to be the envy of your Facebook friends? Remind them that you’re one of the lucky people who live on the coast, near the beach, then drive six minutes over to Pismo Beach for a fun, sunny day. We’d like to remind you to wear your sunscreen, especially during the bright summers, or grab your wetsuit and spend a few hours swimming.

Pismo Beach is a beautiful place to relax in the sand, swim, surf, play frisbee, or build sandcastles. Speaking of surfing, if you want to make that part of your lifestyle or just want to learn the basics, Sandbar Surf School and Central Coast Surf School teach surfing lessons.

 

Price Historic Park

Spend some time in the countryside near Pismo Beach hiking, biking, and enjoying the scenery, at Price Historic Park. You can join a docent-led group tour or tour the place on your own any day of the year during daylight hours.

The park features the Price Anniversary House, built by married couple John Michael Price and Maria Andrea Carlton in 1893, who raised thirteen children on this ranch. Within throwing distance is Meherin House, built by Michael and Mary Ann Meherin in 1905. However, the houses weren’t always here, as the Friends of Price House moved Meherin House here in 2001. Both are snapshots of a time more than a hundred years ago.

 

Rutiz Family Farms

While the bi-weekly Arroyo Grande Farmers Market is an outstanding place to purchase fresh produce, on any day of the week you can find produce at Rutiz Family Farms. The farm and shop are owned and operated by Jerry and Maureen, you’ll find their food stand at 1075 The Pike. The vegetables, flowers, berries, and herbs don’t have to travel far, as fields are right behind the shop.

We highly recommend checking their site for what produce is available and for operating hours. If you visit them and like what they offer, sign up for their weekly newsletter. They’ll let you know about sales and more. Rutiz Family Farms doesn’t accept credit cards, so bring a checkbook or cash.

 

Mustang Waterpark

Water slides, swimming, relaxing in the shade of a cabana, and snacking on hamburgers, chili dogs, and snow cones. That’s a recipe for a terrific summer day, and you can enjoy those things and more at Mustang Waterpark.

This park has two 600-foot water slides, a water ride called the Stampede and a kiddie pool for the children. Of course, you’ll need to stay with your kids at the pool, but what a great opportunity to play with them and take pictures.

If you plan to throw a party at the park or otherwise spend the day there, reserve a cabana. Enjoy the shade, relax, have a bite to eat from the snack bar, then hit the slides again.

 

Lopez Lake Regional Area

Mustang Waterpark is part of the large Lopez Lake Recreation Area. Whether you’re visiting Arroyo Grande or you’re a local, this is a fun place to go camping. With a 22-mile shoreline around the warm waters of Lopez Lake, there’s plenty of room to hike, ride around on a rented pedal kart, and go horseback riding or zip-lining. On the water itself, you can go boating and fishing.

Lopez Lake Recreational Area has 350 campsites, some in the woods, and some near the lake, so camp by the water or among the oaks. RVs get full hook-up campsites. You can rent a cabin large enough for six people, or set up a tent at a site. Even the hiking trails have picnic areas to the side, which include barbecues, tables, seating, and shade.

If you live in or near Arroyo Grande and need a place to store your camping gear, off-season wardrobe, sports equipment, or business items, we’re here to help at Rock Safe Self Storage. Sign up for a unit online or come into the office. We have everything you need, including boxes and supplies sold on-site, and alarmed units. We can even accept deliveries for you and put them in your unit, and we have units ideal for vehicle storage. We look forward to helping you.