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Head for Pismo Beach and All the Clams we can Eat

Before Kennedy Jenks Engineers was able to conduct a much-needed expansion of the waste water treatment facilities of Pismo Beach in the 1980s, the Pismo Beach population size was significantly smaller than what it is right now. The waste water treatment facilities form a vital part of the infrastructure of Pismo Beach, so when it was expanded waves upon waves of migration into the area occurred which greatly increased the size of the Pismo Beach population.

Ethnicity

Majority of the Pismo Beach population is made up of White Americans, followed by Hispanics (also called Latinos). Other ethnic groups that live in Pismo Beach are Pacific Islanders, Asians, Native Americans, and African-Americans (with varying degrees of percentage of the total population attributed to them.)

The World's Clam Capital

But what else has contributed to the growth of the Pismo Beach population? Well, for one thing, Pismo Beach is considered the World's Clam Capital the city even observes an annual Clam Festival every October to celebrate the harvest of clams which could be their most valuable resource. During this festival, visitors may join clam chowder competitions and be spectators of a parade devoted to clams. There is even a massive clam statue that was erected at Price Street’s southern tip which serves to remind visitors that this city is THE Clam Capital of the World. The city takes the clam industry so seriously, it has even limited the harvesting of clams to prevent overharvesting as well as provide enough food for the sea otters (a protected animal specie in the area.)

Events and Activities

What else is Pismo Beach known for? The name Pismo is derived from the Chumash Indian word pismu which refers to tar meaning Pismo is where they looked for tar. Every year, in June during the Father’s Day weekend, one of the widest array of classic and custom vehicles you can find congregate at Pismo Beach. Recreational dirt bikes and quads also show off their stuff at the Pismo OHV dunes. You might also want to take a closer look at what other Pismo Beach activities have to offer, such as visiting nearby wineries and vineyards (that number over 20 as of last count), playing a better-than-usual round of golf in area golf courses, surfing, horseback riding, fishing from the Pismo Beach pier, or body boarding in Pismo Beach waters. The beaches of Pismo Beach itself stretch for a massive 23 miles, which gives everyone plenty of room to enjoy the sandy beaches while building sand castles, sunbathing, kite boarding, skim boarding, or having an impromptu picnic.

If you are up to driving for 55 miles, you may want to visit Hearst Castle, which is said to be one of the major attractions of the state of California. Tours to Hearst Castle are conducted four times a day, so that should make a visit more convenient for you and your party. If you want to get to a sizeable body of freshwater for swimming and other water-based activities, you might want to head for Lake Lopez which is just 15 miles away from Pismo Beach proper.

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