California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

SLO grew up around a
Spanish Catholic mission
(www.missionsanluisobispo.
org; 751 Palm St; donation $2;
h9am-4pm Sep-May, to 5pm
Jun-Aug), founded in 1772
by missionary Junípero
Serra. The creek once
used to irrigate mission
orchards still flows
through downtown,
beside tranquil, shaded
walking paths.

54 p185

The Drive » From downtown
SLO, follow Broad St/Hwy
227 for 2.5 stop-and-go miles
southeast, turning left before
the airport onto Tank Farm Rd.
After a mile, curve right and
continue onto Orcutt Rd, which
rolls up and down past vineyards
into Edna Valley.

2 Edna Valley
Cradled by the rich
volcanic soil of the
Santa Lucia foothills,

thriving Edna Valley

wineries (www.slowine.

com) are known for their

crisp, often unoaked

chardonnays and some

subtle syrahs and

pinot noirs. Pick up

a free map from any

tasting room. All are

signposted along Orcutt

Rd and Edna Rd/Hwy

227, which run parallel

through the peaceful

valley that is cooled by

drifting coastal fog in

the morning before being

brightened by afternoon

sunshine. Niven Family

Wine Estates (www.

baileyana.com; 5828 Orcutt Rd;

h10am-5pm) pours inside

a 20th-century wooden

schoolhouse, while Edna

Valley Vineyard (www.

ednavalleyvineyard.com; 2585

Biddle Ranch Rd; h10am-

5pm) has panoramic

windows, which

overlook vineyards.

Further southeast,

Talley Vineyards (www.

talleyvineyards.com; 3031

Lopez Dr; h10:30am-4:30pm)

offers winery tours daily.

The Drive » From Talley

Vineyards, Lopez Rd winds west

toward Arroyo Grande, just over

6 miles away. Turn left onto

Branch St, then merge onto

Hwy 101 north to Pismo Beach.

Exit at Price St, which enters

downtown Pismo Beach. Turn

left onto Pomeroy Ave and roll

downhill to the ocean.

3 Pismo Beach

By a wooden pier that

stretches towards the

setting sun, here James

Dean once trysted

with Pier Angeli. Today

this classic California

beach town feels like

somewhere straight out

of a 1950s hot-rod dream.

Pismo likes to call itself

the ‘Clam Capital of the

World,’ but these days

the wide, sandy beach

is pretty much clammed

out. You’ll have better

luck catching something

fishy off the pier. To ride

the waves, rent a wet

suit and board from any

surf shop. After dark, go

bar hopping or knock

down pins at the retro

bowling alley. The next

day, drive a mile south

of downtown to the

Monarch Butterfly Grove

(www.monarchbutterfly.org;

North Beach Campground,

Pismo State Beach, Hwy 1;

admission free; hsunrise-

sunset; c), where

migratory monarchs

roost by the thousands

in eucalyptus trees,

usually from late October

through February.

54 p185

The Drive » Follow Hwy 1

north through downtown Pismo

Beach, then follow the signs

to rejoin Hwy 101 northbound

for almost 4 miles to exit 195

for Avila Beach Dr. Keep left at

the fork, then wind slowly west

downhill to Avila Beach, about 3

miles away.

4 Avila Beach

For a perfectly lazy

summer day at the beach,

rent beach chairs and

umbrellas underneath

TRIP HIGHLIGHT TRIP HIGHLIGHT

h

Santa Barbara

Wine Country

Want more good grapes?
Follow Hwy 101 south
of Pismo Beach for 45
miles to the Santa Ynez
Valley.

d

Big Sur
From Cayucos,
cruise Hwy 1 north to the
southern Big Sur coast,
passing Hearst Castle
(see p39) halfway along.

LINK

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.AROUND SAN LUIS OBISPO