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Y ou may remember the old Looney Tunes cartoons where Bugs Bunny always tried to make it to Pismo Beach. He always seemed to get distracted along the way, or take a wrong turn in Albuquerque. Let's find out why this silly 'ole Wabbit really wanted to go to a place like Pismo Beach. Picture yourself standing on the shore to the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. A gentle sea breeze blows through your hair as you watch a brilliant sunset. A few hundred yards away you marvel at the delightful display of whales. The mild climate and beautiful beaches remind you that you are indeed in Pismo Beach. Located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, this classic California beach town is a haven for not only Bugs Bunny but also vacationers of the human kind. An enormous clam statue greets you as you ap- proach this laid-back town from its southern entrance. Famous for being the Clam Capital of the World, Pis- mo Beach is home to award-winning clam chowder. The annual Clam Festival, which takes place every October, attracts people from near and far. Pismo Beach is also home to one of the largest cus- tom and classic car shows, taking place every June over Father's Day weekend. During a three day period, more than 800 classic cars and street rods draw over 100,000 spectators. It is an event not to be missed. Many weekenders come to Pismo Beach to enjoy ATV or dune-buggie riding on the open sand dunes of Oceano Dunes Sate Park. With beachside camp- grounds and RV parks within close proximity, this makes for an ideal weekend getaway. If you are in need of a vehicle for exploring the dunes, there are plenty of places to rent from. Other popular activities in Pismo Beach include surfing, boogie board- ing, sailing, paragliding, jogging, and beach volleyball. If shopping and relaxation are more to your liking, then you will enjoy the quaint shops located in downtown Pismo Beach, in addition to a 23-mile stretch of sandy beaches for sunrise, sunset, or really any-time-of-day strolls. For the nature-lover, the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary is located right off of Highway 1 at the southern end of Pismo Beach. Here you will find the largest monarch sanctuary in the state, which is home to over 100,000 monarch butterflies annually. During the monarch season, No- vember through February, the grove is staffed daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Included is a great volunteer docent program that works with groups. FEATURED CITY PISMO BEACH 30 www.californiatravelcenter.com COUPON