Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
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professor. SLO is the classmate who consoled you when a girl broke your heart. SLO never lies to you, returns all your texts, and never forgets your birthday. e SLO experience began with a Pacific Surfliner Amtrak ride from San Diego's Santa Fe Depot. Who knew there was a 4am departure? It gets you to SLO just past noon. After a nap that ended in Los Angeles, I woke up for a gorgeous journey. In much of Central California, north of Santa Barbara, the train tracks are the only transportation route that hugs the Pacific Ocean. We immediately made friends with the staff at 17-room Petit Soleil, a cozy bed-and-breakfast, walkable to downtown SLO. e B&B, whose front desk doubles as a bar, offers a house-made breakfast daily (mmm, the quiche!), and nightly wine gatherings in a Parisian- style courtyard. We couldn't do anything to perturb the staff — not when we broke a wine glass in the room, called down for instructions on how to use the air conditioner (and the TV), or asked to store restaurant leftovers in their kitchen fridge. Requests were met with Fantasy Island smiles. For three days, my wife and I walked to and through the heart of town. We strolled past the 1940s-era Fremont theater, patronized Moondoggies surf shop, and browsed Boo Boo Records. Rolling Stone named Boo Boo one of the best record stores in the country. When you're surrounded by classic album covers, band t-shirts, and Beatles puppets, a clerk blasting vinyl is a reminder that while ch-ch-ch-changes are inevitable, David Bowie tunes are a constant. It's possible you've heard of SLO's Bubble Gum Alley. Over the years, it became a trend to slap your used gum on the walls of this alley. Yes, check it out, take a selfie, but no need to linger. e Mission San Luis Obispo Tolusa is abundantly more impressive. Spaniards built the mission in 1772, and it became the center of town. Take a solemn walk through the rustic Mission Plaza and peek into the historical working parish church. We had superb dining experiences. Lure Fish House is one of the newer spots. We reeled in Grassy Point oysters, Hamachi Crudo, and White Pacific Sea Bass. I had clam chowder and >> Rolling Stone named Boo Boo Records one of the best record stores in the country @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2024 85