Caren’s Arroyo Grande/Central Coast Guidebook

Caren
Caren’s Arroyo Grande/Central Coast Guidebook

Food scene

Craft cocktails, busy atmosphere, and great food. Brussels sprouts are my favorite! And the lobster corn dogs- mmmm! Within walking distance to our guest house.
87 helybéli ajánlásával
Mason Bar and Kitchen
307 E Branch St
87 helybéli ajánlásával
Craft cocktails, busy atmosphere, and great food. Brussels sprouts are my favorite! And the lobster corn dogs- mmmm! Within walking distance to our guest house.
This is within walking distance of our guest house. American fare, with a great beer list and wine/cocktails too. Right downtown, so you can walk around and shop too.
78 helybéli ajánlásával
Rooster Creek Tavern
200 E Branch St
78 helybéli ajánlásával
This is within walking distance of our guest house. American fare, with a great beer list and wine/cocktails too. Right downtown, so you can walk around and shop too.
By far the best restaurant in the Five Cities area. They don't take reservations, but it's well worth the wait. This restaurant often makes national lists for it's fabulous food and flatbread pizzas. We highly recommend.
134 helybéli ajánlásával
Ember Restaurant
1200 E Grand Ave
134 helybéli ajánlásával
By far the best restaurant in the Five Cities area. They don't take reservations, but it's well worth the wait. This restaurant often makes national lists for it's fabulous food and flatbread pizzas. We highly recommend.
This quaint restaurant is a local favorite. It's often overshadowed by Rooster Creek Tavern next door, but it holds its own. Luis, the owner, is especially great with seafood, and often gets a special catch that he does interesting creations with. Don't miss the halibut if you can get it. Within walking distance of our guest house.
21 helybéli ajánlásával
Gina's Italian Cuisine
138 East Branch Street
21 helybéli ajánlásával
This quaint restaurant is a local favorite. It's often overshadowed by Rooster Creek Tavern next door, but it holds its own. Luis, the owner, is especially great with seafood, and often gets a special catch that he does interesting creations with. Don't miss the halibut if you can get it. Within walking distance of our guest house.
I know it says opening soon, but they're open now and roaring! This new establishment opened two days before the Covid closure in March, and they've been a huge hit. To have made the following they have while completely shut down and unknown speaks to their really great brews and food. They rotate their brews seasonally, and we can be found there ourselves very often. Within walking distance of our guest house. You'll need it- you won't be able to stop at just one. Currently they have a lamb sandwich that we highly recommend, but their menu changes quite often.
13 helybéli ajánlásával
Humdinger Brewing
116 W Branch St
13 helybéli ajánlásával
I know it says opening soon, but they're open now and roaring! This new establishment opened two days before the Covid closure in March, and they've been a huge hit. To have made the following they have while completely shut down and unknown speaks to their really great brews and food. They rotate their brews seasonally, and we can be found there ourselves very often. Within walking distance of our guest house. You'll need it- you won't be able to stop at just one. Currently they have a lamb sandwich that we highly recommend, but their menu changes quite often.

Recreation

If you like boating, windsurfing or fishing, Lopez Lake is perfect. Don't worry if you don't have a boat- they'll rent one to you. There is also a water slide park and an adventure park with zip-lines and an obstacle course. It's just to the east of our guest house, and only about a 10 minute drive. You can stop at Talley Vineyard on your way to/from for some great Pinots.
39 helybéli ajánlásával
Lopez Lake
Lopez Drive
39 helybéli ajánlásával
If you like boating, windsurfing or fishing, Lopez Lake is perfect. Don't worry if you don't have a boat- they'll rent one to you. There is also a water slide park and an adventure park with zip-lines and an obstacle course. It's just to the east of our guest house, and only about a 10 minute drive. You can stop at Talley Vineyard on your way to/from for some great Pinots.
If you like hiking, don't miss this. You'll be rewarded with sweeping coastal views that rival anywhere in the world. There are well established and maintained trails, but it is a significant elevation change so just know it's not a super-easy hike.
53 helybéli ajánlásával
Pismo Preserve
80 Mattie Rd
53 helybéli ajánlásával
If you like hiking, don't miss this. You'll be rewarded with sweeping coastal views that rival anywhere in the world. There are well established and maintained trails, but it is a significant elevation change so just know it's not a super-easy hike.

City/town information

This special gem is just 15 minutes from our guest house. It's a quaint little beach town with a boardwalk, pier, great sunbathing beach, and shops and restaurants. It's often a few degrees warmer than the surrounding area as well, so it's usually warm and sunny.
329 helybéli ajánlásával
Avila Beach
329 helybéli ajánlásával
This special gem is just 15 minutes from our guest house. It's a quaint little beach town with a boardwalk, pier, great sunbathing beach, and shops and restaurants. It's often a few degrees warmer than the surrounding area as well, so it's usually warm and sunny.
Just five minutes away, Pismo Beach is known worldwide for its laid back kitchy kind of vibe. (Remember Bugs Bunny always used to say he was headed here?) It's a great place to hang out, shop, eat, and explore. Beware there is a parking shortage, so take what you can when you find it.
186 helybéli ajánlásával
Pismo Beach
186 helybéli ajánlásával
Just five minutes away, Pismo Beach is known worldwide for its laid back kitchy kind of vibe. (Remember Bugs Bunny always used to say he was headed here?) It's a great place to hang out, shop, eat, and explore. Beware there is a parking shortage, so take what you can when you find it.

Attractions and Shopping

This fruit stand turned tourist attraction is wonderfully farmlike. They have fabulous fruit and produce, an ice cream shop, baked delights, and a gift shop. They also have animals that you can feed, including goats, an ostrich, cow, horse, and others. You'll feel you're out in the country surrounded by friends.
144 helybéli ajánlásával
Avila Valley Barn
560 Avila Beach Dr
144 helybéli ajánlásával
This fruit stand turned tourist attraction is wonderfully farmlike. They have fabulous fruit and produce, an ice cream shop, baked delights, and a gift shop. They also have animals that you can feed, including goats, an ostrich, cow, horse, and others. You'll feel you're out in the country surrounded by friends.
This is one of only three places in California where you can drive your car on the beach. You can also rent ATVs and use the off roading area if you're so inclined.
55 helybéli ajánlásával
Oceano Dunes SVRA
100 Cabrillo Hwy
55 helybéli ajánlásával
This is one of only three places in California where you can drive your car on the beach. You can also rent ATVs and use the off roading area if you're so inclined.

Wineries nearby

This winery is known for their amazing Pinot. They have others too, and also a wonderful tasting room. They are also a working farm, so if you can get your hands on a Harvest Box to take home with you, do take them up on it. Pick up a copy of their cookbook to take home with you- it is a wonderful reflection of the bounty in Arroyo Grande.
43 helybéli ajánlásával
Talley Vineyards
3031 Lopez Dr
43 helybéli ajánlásával
This winery is known for their amazing Pinot. They have others too, and also a wonderful tasting room. They are also a working farm, so if you can get your hands on a Harvest Box to take home with you, do take them up on it. Pick up a copy of their cookbook to take home with you- it is a wonderful reflection of the bounty in Arroyo Grande.
This winery makes my very favorite "champagne". (It started as Mason Deutz.) It's just off the 101 freeway, with easy access on the northbound side. If you're heading south, you'll have to pass it and get off on Los Berros Drive, and then head back north for a moment to get access.
49 helybéli ajánlásával
Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
453 Laetitia Vineyard Drive
49 helybéli ajánlásával
This winery makes my very favorite "champagne". (It started as Mason Deutz.) It's just off the 101 freeway, with easy access on the northbound side. If you're heading south, you'll have to pass it and get off on Los Berros Drive, and then head back north for a moment to get access.
This vineyard has really great wine from the Edna Valley, and a fantastic tasting room and play area. We have a special connection- my husband designed the original tasting room, and his office also did the recent remodel. Head here, and then "wine-d" your way back to our guest house via Orcutt Road on the way home. There are several others to visit on the way.
61 helybéli ajánlásával
Edna Valley Vineyard
2585 Biddle Ranch Rd
61 helybéli ajánlásával
This vineyard has really great wine from the Edna Valley, and a fantastic tasting room and play area. We have a special connection- my husband designed the original tasting room, and his office also did the recent remodel. Head here, and then "wine-d" your way back to our guest house via Orcutt Road on the way home. There are several others to visit on the way.
Also a short drive from our guest house, this family-owned vineyard has a great vibe and really good wines.
24 helybéli ajánlásával
Wolff Vineyards
6238 Orcutt Rd
24 helybéli ajánlásával
Also a short drive from our guest house, this family-owned vineyard has a great vibe and really good wines.

Várossal kapcsolatos tanácsok

Szokások és kultúra

Arroyo Grande is a really friendly place.

If you hear someone honking, it's usually to say hello to someone. Arroyo Grande's unofficial motto is "Nice Town, Normal People". You can even get a shirt that says that in the Village.
Közlekedés

Heading to Pismo Beach Downtown

Pismo Beach is a really fun place to walk around and visit. Just expect that you will see big crowds and very few locals. The traffic and parking is a big issue, so if you have reservations downtown be sure to leave yourself a bit of extra time.