Sarah (with Justin)
Property Manager
San Luis Obispo
Day 1 – San Luis Obispo
Whether you’re a local or just visiting if you ever have the opportunity stay at the landmark Madonna Inn in one of their 109 unique rooms. We spent our Honeymoon back in 2002 in the Bridal Falls Suite, named for the lovely hand-crafted leaded glass window, along with its unique rock walls, rock bathroom & waterfall shower. We often enjoy eating breakfast at the Madonna Inn Copper Café, they have a tasty eggs benedict & corned beef hash along with delicious pastries from their bakery.
Then we drive downtown to see a movie at the historic Fremont Theatre where we had our first date way back in 1995. Following the movie we have lunch next door at Buona Tavola, a Northern Italian restaurant we frequent for special occasions or anytime that also offers quaint outdoor garden seating. I enjoy their risotto with mushrooms & my husband likes the spicy penne pasta. To help work off lunch we walk from Buona Tavola to the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa to stroll in their beautiful rose garden. Then we walk through the San Luis Creek area that starts at Mission Plaza, goes by the Network & Creekside shopping areas, behind Novo Restaurant & Bakery & the Art Center then the path crosses Broad St. and goes behind The Natural Café & F. McLintock’s where there is another bridge that crosses over the creek to a nice grassy area with benches to watch the ducks in the creek.
Following all that walking it’s back to our room at the Madonna Inn for a well needed nap. For a romantic dinner we enjoy Café Roma, a rustic Italian restaurant in Railroad Square that is also a great place if it’s someone else’s treat. We like to start with carpaccio & ceasar salads followed by one of their daily pasta or seafood specials. For dessert I enjoy the chocolate mousse or ice cream tartuffo with an extra spoon for the hubby along with coffee. If we don’t indulge too much at dinner we enjoy the nightlife of downtown San Luis Obispo, especially the newly renovated Native Lounge (formerly Mission Grill).
Day 2 – South San Luis Obispo & Avila Beach
Once we check-out of one of the 109 unique rooms at the Madonna Inn we drive through town & stop at the town of Old Edna in South San Luis Obispo & pick up some goodies for breakfast and a picnic at Fiala’s Gourmet Café to take wine tasting through Edna Valley& if it’s not occupied tour the Edna Valley Bed & Breakfast (formerly Suite Edna) as a future romantic getaway spot.
We continue driving South to Avila Beach for another uniquely romantic resort we stay at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort on the road to Avila Beach in a room with a private outdoor mineral hot tub. I worked at Sycamore both while in college & after graduation & highly recommend their Suites that have fireplaces along with the outdoor tub. After checking in we go out for a walk around the lush grounds of the resort including the gardens, labyrinth (meditation maze) & across the bridge through the West Meadows down the path that meets up with the Bob Jones Bike Trail & stroll along the San Luis Creek all the way down to Avila Beach. On the way back continue down the trail past Sycamore until you reach Ontario Road & stop at the Avila Valley Barn for tasty local products like Olaliberry turnovers, Pasa Almond Bark, etc. to bring back to your room.
Following our walk we stop back at our room for a snack & hot tub soak. Next we visit the Monarch Butterfly Grove in the Pismo State Beach Area off Highway 1 on our way to Oceano to catch a show at the Great American Melodrama. We continue our day of snacking at the Melodrama with soft pretzels, nachos & cheesecake.
Day 3 – Morro Bay & North Coast
After a morning hot tub soak we have breakfast at the Garden’s of Avila Restaurant before checking out of Sycamore Mineral Springs. If we’re feeling adventurous & the road is open (requires 4 wheel drive) drive from Avila Beach to San Luis Obispo via See Canyon & Perfumo Canyon roads which lets out near the intersection of Los Osos Valley Road & Foothill. We go on down Los Osos Valley Road through the enchanted town of Los Osos to Montana de Oro State Park to take a walk through the eucalyptus trees to the beach & back then continue driving to Spooners Cove to relax.
From the park we drive to Morro Bay past the wetlands, stroll along the Embarcadero for shopping & visiting art galleries. Sometimes we like to act like kids & play on the Giant Chess Board. Next we have a “naked fish” lunch at the recently renovated Galley Seafood Grill & Bar. We recommend the Hawaiian Escolar & the Haibut when available & their homemade sorbet. The Galley has wonderful views of the water & Morro Rock along with a new hotel upstairs called the Anderson Inn for another romantic night’s stay.
Following lunch we drive North up Highway 1 & stop in the charming town of Harmony to stroll through the pottery store & Harmony Cellars. We continue up Highway 1 to downtown Cambria to browse through boutique shops, ride the trolley & have a piece of Olaliberry pie at Linn’s Bin. I love Olaliberries & they also make excellent pot pies. From downtown Cambria we head to Moonstone Beach & take a walk along the Boardwalk.
From Cambria we drive north through San Simeon to the Elephant Seals viewing area near Piedras Blancas. The peak of mating season is mid-February around Valentine’s Day. After seeing the elephant seals it’s back down Highway 1 South for a stop back in Morro Bay in time to watch the sunset by Morro Rock & have dinner at Windows on the Water, another restaurant we enjoy for special occasions because of their wonderful views of Morro Bay & fine Modern California Cuisine. They even serve locally grown Abalone.
Finally – very full and tired, drive back home…
