Little Summer Outings: 3, 4

GREAT PARK

Hot. Flat. Adolescent trees that can't grow shade. It's getting there...

Timeline painted on an air strip

Kids play area with Balloon in the background

Carousel

Tandem Bicycle near the airstrip, aka the "recycled-use
cement parking lot".  H ow eco-friendly of them!

   









   











     Orange County's Great Park is a work in progress - after all, turning acres of cement into a park is no easy feat! The Great Park will only take up less than 30% of the decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station, which means over 1,347 acres are allotted for OC's biggest park.
The first order of business was a big orange balloon, set up in 2007 to take visitors 500 feet up in the air for panoramic views of the county, free of charge. Since then the park has added a kids play area, a great lawn, sports fields, organic gardens, a small museum, carousel, and they even have Farmer's Markets every Sunday morning.
Mostly I wanted to go up in the big balloon, and recruited my sister to meet me at the park for a look around. After getting lost in the suburbahell of south orange county (it's hard to figure out where you are when everything looks the SAME), I finally made it to the entrance of the park. My sister and I were almost the only ones in the parking lot on this hot July day, where none of the trees are big enough to park under, unfortunately. So we made our way across the shadeless parking lot and along the shadeless fields, over the shadeless timeline (painted on an air strip) to the shadeless entrance for the balloon. However, the was no line, and the gates were closed! We found an information tent, air conditioned thank heavens, where they told us the balloon was under inspection until the next week. This was grim news, but we decided to explore anyways. We rode the carousel (it was free) walked through the museum (interesting, albeit very small), found some shade at the Kids Rock park, and searched in vain for anything cold to drink or eat. We wanted to find the botanical gardens but the July asphalt and our hunger drove us to call it a day. We ended up going down the freeway to the Irvine Spectrum to sit in the AC and drink a smoothie.
My consensus is that this up-and-coming park will be awesome in a few years. Right now it's pretty hot, flat, not that exciting and there's no food or vending machines (a cold water or Coke would have been amazing). However, now that the balloon is offering rides again, I'll have to give it another shot. Plus, now I know that you should bring your own food and drinks, and hats and sunscreen (or come during Farmers). And if you ever have an inkling for an Ultimate Frisbee showdown, their fields would be a perfect spot!

Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach - on the Esplanade, looking South towards Palos Verdes

Yellow Vase - my favorite! 

I didn't expect visiting Redondo to be quite so emotional. This was our spot. We lived in the Village of Redondo Beach, nestled up to the hills of Palos Verdes, lights criss crossing the streets of downtown, and the wide white bike path along the flat beach that disappears in the distance, going all the way to Malibu. This was our street, with the green grass divider, trees all the way down, where we put out all our junk and acquired all our treasures. I remember waking up on weekend mornings to the sounds of cyclists and their loud snippets of conversation while whizzing by: "AND HAVE YOU SEEN GARY'S DOG" or "COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS MOM WOULD SAY" 

Anyways, we hadn't visited in far too long, not since living in San Clemente. It's like a past relationship, where you know why you had to go your separate ways, but you still appreciate the great qualities that made you fall in love in the first place.

Things like our magical little spot in the middle of LA-ness, our three minute walk to the ocean, how the beach ended and the cliffs began, breakfasts at Yellow Vase, riding our bikes to Penguins Frozen Yogurt, meandering the craziness of the pier and harbor, biking along the coast to Manhattan Beach for Sunday morning coffee and newspapers.

We lived here during some of the hardest times of our life - newly married, my family recovering from a recent tragedy, we didn't know a single person, I had trouble finding a job, Jordi hated his commute to Hollywood and I hated his long, long hours. It was lonely and hard at times, but eventually we did make some friends, I found a job, and we got to know and love our area - Redondo Beach had become our home. 

So the other week, when we finally went back for a visit and I found myself crying into my coffee cup at Yellow Vase, I thought something must be wrong with me. But when I started thinking about it, Redondo holds a lot of memories. Some of the hardest memories of our married life, and some of the sweetest. The first place we both called home still holds a very special place in our hearts. And although your trip might not be filled with walks down memory lane, everyone can find it enjoyable, and it's definitely a town I highly recommend visiting.

Take your bike, and cycle along the coast to the pier.
Go to Yellow Vase for breakfast, or stop in at one of the many cute restaurants in town.
Go up into Palos Verdes and take in the stunning views
Rent a kayak, or take your own down at Torrance Beach
Get a beer from Naja's Place at the Harbor - they have 88 on tap!

The Jesus van! In its daily spot by Trader Joe's

Looking North from Torrance Beach (in front
of our old apartment)

Looking South

Kayaking in the coves of Palos Verdes

Little Summer Outings: 1, 2

Recently this blog about discovering has leaned heavily on the traveling aspect, and I've told about weekend or week long trips from the Central Coast to Mexico and El Salvador. Now weeks have gone by since I've last written, but it hasn't been because I haven't been doing or discovering anything. I guess I just thought my little outings weren't exciting enough to write about, and I was too busy having a good time to stop and take pictures or document the experiences. But even so, I have some outings under my belt that might give you some ideas of what to do during these long days or empty weekends. I will share four of my most recent mini adventures in one blog post, all little trips that you can do in a day or even a few hours.

NEWPORT BEACH

Steering the boat :)

A foggy Saturday morning in the early summer had us driving up coast highway on our way to Marina Sailing in Newport Beach, donned in our deck shoes and gripping our Groupons. Unfortunately, we were running typically late, but fortunately they held the boat for us. We breathlessly jumped onboard, met the captain and the four other students. We had signed up for a group sailing class in the Newport Beach harbor through Groupon, and there were two other Groupon couples our age aboard as well.
We circled around the marina, each of us getting opportunities to practice tacking, jibing, and steering while our captain told us many stories about the eccentrics who live in the mansions on the water. Our morning on the boat felt like a mix between a class, a harbor cruise, and a vacation. Just as we were starting to get hungry for lunch, our old salt captain, who was a character straight out of a Margaritaville story, expertly guided us back to the docks just as the sun was starting to come through the clouds.

Coconuts stamped with the Bear Flag logo

Having heard about Bear Flag Fish Co. from some friends, we decided to head there for food. After all, being on the water whetted our appetite for fresh fish! We found the little restaurant in a cute enclave in the neighborhoods of the Newport Peninsula, nestled between boutiques and beach cottages on a quiet tree lined street. But the restaurant wasn't quiet - it was bustling with activity and a line going out the door. While waiting in line, you can grab a drink from the wall, anything from coconut water to canned sodas or Pellegrino. Once ordering at the counter, it will be hard to decide on just one thing! They offer a variety of seafood tacos and burritos, and a big case shows off all the fresh fish and salads. I opted for a side of ahi poke and a side of seaweed salad (both AMAZING) and Jordi got a fish burrito. We got a side of chips and salsa, which was enough to feed a family. Outside there are two big tables meant to share. As we munched our lunch in the sun, we saw some of our sailing mates who wandered into the same spot for lunch, and joined us the rest of the meal. Apparently this place is BYOB, so if you have a hankering for some craft brew to go with your fresh fish, it's a delightful spot to enjoy it. Newport Beach is full of spots to walk, ride your bike, shop, or do something fun on the water. I would highly recommend the Bear Flag Fish Company after your exertions, with a walk around the block peeking into shops or checking out the Lido theatre around the corner while you're there. Have fun - and tell me about your Newport adventures!

DANA POINT

Yoga in the Park

Free yoga in the park? What sounds like a group of stretching hippies in the shade is actually an organized event put on by a group of highly qualified yoga instructors, most hailing from local yoga studios. Every single day at 10 a.m. at Lantern Park (weather permitting), a rotating schedule has a different instructor show up to lead newbies and veterans alike through sun salutations and downward facing dog poses. I was pleasantly surprised how professional the teachers were - extremely open to teaching those that didn't know what they were doing and encouraging those that did. The donation based class is an hour long, and you definitely get a work out and stretch out of the deal, along with the fantastic views of the Dana Point Harbor. If you're a starving artist, penniless surfer or college student you can absolutely enjoy this free class, however, if you can afford it, I would highly recommend tipping these ladies and gentlemen for their time and effort in teaching. Even a five dollar tip is less than you would pay for a yoga class anywhere else!

Saturday Morning Pancakes booth at the Craft Fair in Dana Point

After an invigorating week day yoga session, head over to the harbor and refuel at Coffee Importers, popular for their delicious coffee and bagel sandwiches. However, if you go to Free Yoga on a Saturday, then I would recommend going to J.C. Beans Coffee House, another great spot and located next to the Saturday Farmers Market. Bookshelves line the walls and the smell of freshly roasted coffee greets you as you walk in the door. This independent little coffee shop is located on PCH, and it's only a block away from the Saturday Farmers Market (hours are 10 - 2). So grab your drink and walk the couple streets down to the tents and enjoy the little market. Although it's small, there are delicious fruits and veggies and it's worth the stroll. The first Saturday of the month also includes a craft fair, which is very very fun to walk around! Great jewelry, knitted hats, paintings, and my new favorite vendor - Saturday Morning Pancakes, where the cute and funny sayings stenciled on tea towels and pillows had me happily spending all my money :) The next fair is Saturday, August 4 - and who knows, maybe you'll even see Roney Macaroni there! I'm working on it, anyways.
So what with free yoga and a view of the Harbor, independent coffee shops and fun craft fairs - Dana Point delivers on a Saturday morning.

Fly to El Salvador

     I've heard it said that there's no such thing as love at first sight, but I've had it happen to me once. Jordi and I were en route to a backpacking trip in South America, and had a layover in El Salvador. When my ears started popping, I curiously peeked to see where we'd be landing. I saw little swells rolling into a curvy coast, white waves crashing along narrow strips of black sand and endless green stretching out under us. We flew closer over the lush treetops and big grassy fields, empty except for a few goats snacking in the shade. And then WHUMP - we landed! Here, by the ocean, the goats and the trees, was El Salvador's international airport. As I sat in the humid airport waiting for our flight to Lima, I looked out the big windows and imagined ditching all our plans, renting a jeep and booking it for the coast. What would we find?? It had to be good.

     Instead I contented myself with an almost-cold Diet Coke (so it goes in the tropics), a bag of Chiky's - Central America's Favorite Cookie, and my daydreams.

     We had an amazing time in South America and I'm so glad we went. However, I couldn't get El Salvador out of my mind. My brother, an avid surfer, often makes trips to El Sal, and it's to him I went with my enquiries. With nay a Lonely Planet in his repertoire, he told me tales about this mysteriously seductive place, his trips relying on memory and experience alone.

     Over a year of working, going to birthday parties and picking up the house on Saturdays went by when I decided to just buy the tickets. They're a little hard to come by these days - TACA is the only airline that flies direct from LA, and that's at one in the morning. It's not a hotspot, so for $200 more you could get yourself to London or Prague. Plus, a board bag costs $150 each way, so you almost may as well buy your surfboards a seat next to you. But we bought the tickets, decided to rent boards when we got there ($10/day), found a hostel with airport transfer, and off we went.

     After a sleepless night with an awful movie and an awful breakfast, I looked out my port hole and saw the loveliness I had seen over a year previously. Blue ocean, white waves, green trees and happy goats. Once again we landed, but this time we excitedly trooped out into the beautiful morning. A solid rain the night before left the air fresh and the earth heavy. Our driver met us outside and we piled into his red pick-up truck, chugging past coconut stands, loud busses and vine-laden trees. Windows down, we cruised along the one highway towards the coast, happy as clams. I was officially on my first date with the country I had spotted across the (waiting) room, and with the warm, damp wind in my face, everything was perfect.

Our trip in Pictures:

A quiet airport

Lawn mowers and fertilizer - La Libertad

Only street in town, it leads to the main
highway. And a gorgeous tree...

Delicious local coffee and reading up on politics -

Apparently a quarter of Salvadorans live

in the U.S. - a result of a revolution in the 80's

and a harsh economy (half in NY, half in LA)

Jordi scored a solo surf session

My spot as the photographer -

the neighborhood mutts liked to

keep me company!

The best (albeit only) pupusa place in town -

50 cents each can't be beat!

Iguana hangin out in the mango tree above our room :)

View of the waves at the river mouth from the hammock

Another town, another wave and still awesome

**UNFORTUNATELY blogspot is an awful forum for uploading pics, and I wasn't able to show you all the ones I wanted to, but you get the idea... :)

For a lil video of the trip:  http://vimeo.com/44334039

A Sunday Driver

Historic San Clemente Golf Club

Golfing, like skiing, is a rich man's sport. Or so I thought until I found myself putting in front of a local golf club - ocean sparkling in the distance, whir of carts driving by, and coffee still warm in my belly.
"How can this be free??" I thought to myself, as I focused on keeping my arms straight and aligning my feet.

Putting with a glimpse of the ocean

Golf can be a gaudy sport - How many clubs do you have? What kind? What brand? Do you own a cart? Are you properly dressed and cleated? Where did you learn? Are you a member? Have you eaten the ahi tartar down at the club?
But I have some news for you - ANYONE can enjoy the benefits and beauty of a golf course on a quiet morning or warm evening without breaking the bank, and I highly recommend it.

It all started when some friends invited Jordi to play golf with them on Saturday.
"But you don't play golf," I pointed out.
He figured he could borrow a club and whack some balls without prior lessons, and deciding to forgo his flip-flops in lieu of shoes at the last moment, he was out the door.
Once my spy to the Promised Land returned, he told me tales of rolling green hills flowing with milk and honey - or more specifically how one could putt for free in front of the restaurant, and drive for cheap, enjoying the spectacular views so many Orange County courses provide. Throw in a breakfast or Happy Hour and we had ourselves a date. Plus he assured me that this pertained to just about any golf course there is.

Misty morning and hot coffee

After dropping a Hamilton at Play It Again Sports for a couple of used clubs and balls, we set about researching the menus for clubs near our house. We most certainly wouldn't want to show up and Not Eat!
We decided on the San Clemente City Golf Course, located at the South end of town, just a few miles from us. Situated in the middle of a neighborhood, the atmosphere is not too exclusive or intimidating and they even have a restaurant that advertises in the local paper. We sat on the patio overlooking the greens, warm under a heat lamp in the quiet misty morning. We had breakfast and coffee and read the paper, and then went out front to try out our new clubs and balls. We putted about for awhile and Jordi gave me my first lesson. It was really fun to have a reason to hang out in the beautiful morning, the sun warming our backs as we purposefully practiced.

A couple weeks later, we went for another golf adventure. This time we were on a bike ride, and decided to stop by the golf course for some driving and a drink. They have clubs for borrowing and a basket of balls costs $6. We then found a spot on the line-up and practiced schwacking the balls into the netherworld. Once our basket of balls was out, we sat by the fire-pits at the outdoor patio. Jordi ordered a beer and I got an iced tea. Drinks and driving set us back about $15, and provided fun, mellow outdoor entertainment on a beautiful spring day.

Driving range

I'd like to explore some different golf courses and check out all the different views and menus they come with, while practicing my stance and aim. My favorite aspect of golf, or in our case putting and driving, is that it gives us an excuse to be social, outside, and affordably "fancy", all in the same swing. Southern California has some of the best weather in world -  so get off the internet and go for a midweek putt or a 'Sunday drive'!

Greens at the Golf Course

The local line-up. (Picture by Nic Romano)

It was a rainy Saturday morning, and as I drank my tea I remembered some chatter from the night before about an organic farm stand at the golf course.  Friends had come over for dinner and after a bottle of wine and talk of packing suitcases and getting on a train to Oregon, the benefits of raising goats, the odds of winning the lottery, how to blog on Wordpress and other topics of conversation throughout the evening, I couldn't be sure if the farm at the golf course was a dream or a real thing -- or as real as our plan to raise goats in Oregon. Maybe we had also planned to farm the golf course? So I decided to trek off to find the mystical organic farm stand somewhere in the fog of my memory and the San Clemente hills.

Turning off the street and down a lane with cypress trees on each side, whisking me to the front doors of the elegant Bella Collina club, I felt a bit self conscious with my put-puttering car whose ceiling is falling in on my head and whose dashboard is held together with silver duct tape. No matter -- I rather like pretending I belong when I obviously don't, so I held my head high as BMW's and Mustangs passed me on their way out the cypress-lined drive through the heavy oak gates. 

I spotted some green umbrella's on the hill side and sighed in relief at the sight of a miniature farmers market taking place. It was real after all. 

I marched up the stone steps and Farmer Nic greeted me, though I didn't know his name until later. Try some raisins, he said, pouring some plump and juicy dried grapes into my palm.

I sampled the fava beans, sucked on a honey stick and picked my own rainbow chard as Farmer Nic packed me a basket of seasonal produce, freshly baked bread and pizza doughs, with a packet of raisins thrown in for good measure.

He told me how his grandfather traveled from Italy to the mines of the Midwest in search of a future. How his grandmother refused to leave her hilly, goat-herding hometown to meet her husband in America, but eventually succumbed to his pleading when he threatened her with divorce. Once in America they grew their own vegetables fertilized with manure, raised their own goats, chickens and children, and baked bread on Tuesdays. 

And here he is now, farming a faux Tuscan hillside with organic procedures and a vibrant heritage. Maybe he came straight out of a book, or maybe the book is just waiting to be written. I thought for sure a farm stand in the golf course must have been a figment of my imagination, but it's as real as the goat-herder from Italy and his golf course greens-growing grandson Nic. 

Villa Romano Green Farms located at Bella Collina Towne and Golf Club

Open from 10-1 on Saturdays

To pre-order a Harvest Basket e-mail farmernic@vrgreenfarms.com

*Although not certified organic, Farmer Nic uses all natural, sustainable practices -just like his family before him. 

Visit my website at www.kirstenrenee.com 

A Hike in the Canyon, With Fudge

Hiking in the hills of Ortega Canyon

     I had been on Ortega Highway once, winding through the canyon from Lake Elsinore to the coast.  In spite of feeling carsick, I thought the scenery was very pretty. But until I kept hearing people talk about their weekend adventures, which seemed to always take place in Ortega Canyon, I didn't realize there was so much to discover off the road.

Ortega Oaks Candy Store and Goods, on Ortega Highway

     So the other day, when neither of us had work, I put my foot down for a trip to Ortega Canyon, which is part of the Cleveland National Forest. My husband was reluctant, as we had no idea where to go, where to park, if you needed a Park Pass to hike or how much that would cost, or how far we would have to drive before finding something - if anything.
     But I had heard about a good hiking trail behind the Candy Store on Ortega Highway. I figured that was enough information to go on, so I packed our lunch and waters, tossed Jordi the car keys and hopped in the front seat.  (Kind of like a dog holding his leash when it's time to go to the park....)
Being the good sport that he is, he followed suit and started driving us off to our adventure. The coastal fog receded as we drove into the Canyon, giving way to a beautiful sunny day. Houses became sparse, and eventually we found ourselves officially entering the National Forest.

Inside the candy shop

     We finally came across the Ortega Oaks Candy Store and Goods about 20 miles from the 5 Freeway and located on the South side of the Highway. Apparently this little store sells day use passes for $5 to park in the National Forest. You hang one in your car and it's good until 10 a.m. the next morning. We pulled into the little parking lot next to a simple blue building on the side of the road, with picnic tables and umbrellas outside. We walked through the screen door and into the shop, which felt more like the kitchen and living room of an old aunt with a bad sense of style, a welcoming heart and a talent for cooking fudge.
     With bins full of nostalgia-inducing candies (Andes mints and salt water taffy are my favs)
 and homemade chocolates, we couldn't simply walk off with our park pass, but picked out some dark chocolate almond bark as well.
     Trail heads go up from behind the candy shop, as well as from the parking lot across the street. Hiking and horseback riding are allowed on both sides, but mountain biking is only allowed on trails North of the highway.
     We opted for a trail that began behind the shop marked "Bear Canyon Trail". From that trail, we ended up doing a loop about five miles long. We stopped along the way to have our sack lunch - a typical meal of pb&j, carrots, fruit and BONUS: the almond chocolate bark we picked up at the candy store.

You can't see the bees, but they were there. The hive is
in the dark spot of the trunk.

     Walking back we heard a loud hum, and stopped to see a large swarm of bees who had taken over a tree trunk lying across the creek. I wished I could dip my hand into the fresh honey, but thought better of it and satisfied myself with a picture instead. I'm definitely going to buy some Ortega Canyon honey next chance I get, though!
     We finished the rest of the loop in no time, and were back at the car in a few hours, tired and content. Finding some homemade chocolate in the middle of nowhere, purchasing a pass for only $5, hiking in the woods with no one but the birds and bees, and a beautiful, relatively short drive to get there made a great success out of our uncertain outing!

Quick Trip to SLO Town

View towards town from the bridge over the railroad tracks.

     Try saying San Luis Obispo over and over, and you will understand why the locals call it SLO. However, it's an appropriate nickname for this pretty little town, where bike lanes and independent coffee shops outnumber luxury cars or fast food. I graduated college here five years ago, and still run into people I know downtown - it's the kind of place that will stick with you forever.
     My husband and I both went to to school at Cal Poly and always welcome an opportunity to come back and visit. Some friends of ours recently bought a house up there, and very courageously invited a whole slew of college friends and significant others to a weekend reunion/housewarming party. Although in all honesty the weekend mostly consisted of talking, laughing, drinking wine, staying up way too late and generally pretending we were all in college again, we did find a bit of time to do some of the SLO things we love.

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

     After working on Friday, driving, staying up talking and getting a few hours of sleep on the floor next to everyone else, Jordi woke up early Saturday morning and headed across the train tracks towards downtown for some coffee before everyone else woke up. Linnaea's is an old-time favorite, with a cute patio outside and a laid-back barista, probably wearing gardening clogs or sporting dreads, whipping up your drink. After a round of chess with an old man named Mark who needed a partner, Jordi finished his coffee and headed back to the house where I was just waking up, and wanting MY morning cuppa!
So off we went again across the bridge, over the train tracks and down into town. One of my favorite little spots is called Uptown Coffee, which apparently has changed its name to Black Horse. At any rate, I love the bustling vibe, the fresh scents of coffee and pastries and the little fireplace inside with stacks of newspapers next to it. Hipsters instead of hippies serve the coffee here, there's plenty of space for laptops, and the bike racks are full of single-speeds. Choosing your coffee shop is almost like choosing your identity - but luckily you can frequent them all, knowing you'll encounter tasty brews and smiling baristas.
     With my steaming to-go cup in hand, we strolled downtown towards the Mission San Luis Obispo, which was founded by Friar Junipero Serra in 1776 and named after French Bishop, Saint Louis of Toulouse. After the War of Independence from Spain broke out in 1810, the Mission remained self-sufficient, receiving hardly any funds from Spain, nor from the new Mexican government, but by that time the community around the Mission was well established and lived on to to be what is now San Luis Obispo. The small Mission and it's gardens in the back are definitely worth a look around. On the other side of the plaza are steps down to the San Luis Creek. A path next to the creek makes for a pretty meandering walk.

     We made it back to the house by the time everyone else was waking up, hanging out for awhile until they went off to the SLO Beer Fest at the Veterans Hall, while Jordi and I opted instead to take our bikes for a ride. I'm of the opinion that you can't fully appreciate San Luis Obispo if you don't ride a bike. For three years I lived here relying solely on my bike, and not only is the whole town bike-able, but it's also more enjoyable on a bike. Not every town is better on a bike, so take advantage! We pedaled along the quiet tree lined streets into town and parked outside of Big Sky Cafe, one of my favorite all-around restaurants in SLO.

Add caption

     Made to feel like you are outside in a European square under the stars, the food is fresh, local and delicious. You can get hot beignets or a big plate of farmers market produce, come on a date or with the entire family. The gourmet or homey options are all made with natural ingredients, drawing you back to test their breakfast, lunch and dinner menus! 

     After eating, we walked around town and ran into an old roommate of Jordi's who was busy building out a restaurant space for his soon-to-come eatery called Old San Luis BBQ. We then rode back over the train tracks and visited another friend who has a super cute house in the nighborhoods, complete with a vegetable patch, fruit trees, glass milk bottles in the windowsill and decks everywhere (having a good porch is a prerequisite for the SLO life). 

On our way back to the house where we were staying, we detoured through the park where we used to play tennis during the summers, which also boasts a baseball feild, bbq's, pool center, frisbee golf, and is located just off the bike path.

Bike path on the other side of the train tracks from

Downtown, near Sinsheimer Park.

     Once back at the house, we spent the rest of the evening with friends.
     The next morning, after packing up, breakfast and goodbye's, Jordi and I hung out in downtown for a bit more. We love the big ol' Barnes and Noble, with a coffee shop and windows overlooking the square below. It's one of the busiest places in town and also the best hang out "homework" spots. On this rainy day it was packed with little kids, families and studying college students, with people sitting in every corner and standing in every isle. We bought some CD's to listen to on the road, and continued our walk down memory lane.
     Hands Gallery is one of my favorite shops, selling anything from furniture and books to glassware and jewelery. Then of course there's Bali's self serve frozen yogurt, a SLO classic, located towards the top of Higuera Street. One of the first frozen yogurt shops around, the self serve yogurt and toppings are affordable and make for a fun outing. Next door is the University gift shop, Cal Poly Downtown, which is appropriate because both Cal Poly and Bali's are almost equally important to the town of SLO. And right up the street lies another local hotspot, Firestone Grill, which makes for the perfect trifecta of what SLO entails - Cal Poly pride, Firestones tri-tip sandwich and Bali's fro-yo. Throw in a bike, a front porch and an orange tree, and there you have the SLO life.

     As we headed out of town, I remembered I wanted to stop at the Madonna Inn to get a piece of chocolate cake. Enough said - even if we passed the off-ramp, the chocolate cake is reason to turn around. At any rate, Madonna Inn warrants a visit if you are in SLO, simply to see the elaborate and custom-made details, or as Wikipedia eloquently says, "some tourists stop just to peek at the famous rock waterfall urinal located in the men's washroom, a feature designed by Hollywood set designer Harvey Allen Warren." Like a quick trip to Disneyland... Apparently they have amazing steak, but all I've ever ordered is the chocolate cake, which is six lush layers of decadence that I highly recommend. And if you're thinking of getting married, it makes for an awesome wedding cake - I speak from experience ;) Madonna Mountain is right in the backyard of the Inn, and if you have time while in SLO, a hike to the top of this hill, or one of the many others in the neighborhood, will grant you great views and a couple hours of outdoor exercise.

     We drove through the hills and back towards reality, leaving behind San Luis Obispo, a little fairytale land where everyone seems to be outdoorsy, friendly and relaxed. When the entire coast is covered in fog, SLO is always sunny. Where the biggest issues seem to be which craft beer is organic or whether to go to Paso or Santa Inez for some wine tasting. If you find yourself driving up the coast, make time for this sleepy little town. And the longer you stay, the less sleepy it will seem. 

                                                                                                                                              

Dining room at Madonna Inn