WhyshouldL.A. getall the fun?Sunny
SanLuisObispoCounty
,
on thecoastofCalifornia, is fullofopportunities foradventure
and isaworthymatch for its famousneighbors.Fromwineriesand
beaches tocountlessoutdooractivities, thisdestinationpromises
toshowyouagood time
HERETOPLAY
A
visit toAmerica’swest coast invariably
features thebighitters: SanFrancisco,
LosAngelesandSanDiego. Butbetween
thebright lightsof these famouscities
lies the lesser-knownSanLuisObispoCounty,
whichhasall thecharmof small townspairedwith
the sightsandadventuresyou’dexpect to find in its
illustriousneighbors.
Thecountyhas80milesofcoastlinebordering
thePacificOceanand itsmanycoastalcommunities
—suchasCambria,Cayucos,MorroBay,AvilaBeach
andPismoBeach—allboastasea-to-spoonphilos-
ophy thathascreatedaflourishingculinaryscene.
Whenyou’renoteatingoysters, abaloneand fresh
fish from itswaters, you
canexplore thecoun-
ty’scoastlineandfinda
rookeryofelephantseals,
whalewatchingopportu-
nitiesandeverykindof
watersport imaginable.
Foodieswill feel right
athomeas theywander
aroundanyoneof the13
farmers’markets that
popup invariouscities
andbeach towns throughoutSanLuisObispoCounty.
And ifyouwant toexperience theregion’s tastiest
dishes, embarkona ‘food-ucation’withorganizations
suchasFARMsteadEd,which takesguestsona tour
of local farms foradayof tastingsandhands-onexpe-
riences, frommilkinggoats togrowingyourown toma-
toes.Or, learn tocook from thecomfortofyourhotel.
Classesareavailableatmanyof thebudget-friendly
hotels,quietbedandbreakfastsandvacationrentals
thatfill thearea.
Ifwine tasting ismoreyour thing, checkoutPaso
Robles.Therural citywasnamedWineEnthusiast’s
WineRegionof theYear in2013andofferswine
trailsand tastingrooms thatcovermore than200
wineries.You’llfindRhônevarietiesofGrenacheand
Viognieron the trailsalongHighway46, traveling
botheastandwest, aswell asboldBordeauxreds
suchasCabernetSauvignonand fantasticRosés if
youstick to thescenicbackroadsof theAdelaida
District.Meanwhile, thevineyardsofEdnaValley,
less thananhour’sdrivesouth, and theflowering
fieldsofArroyoGrandeValleyofferupaward-win-
ning, cool-climatePinotNoirandChardonnay.
Distillinghasalsobecomeapopular trendamong
wineries,which take theirpremiumgrapes tocreate
high-endvodka, gin,brandyandwhiskeyspirits.
Therearealso15 localcraftbreweries,withmore in
development, topayavisit to.
SanLuisObispo
Countyboasts
asea-to-spoon
philosophythat
hascreateda
flourishing
culinaryscene
TheOceanoDunesat
PismoStateBeach
offer theonly
drive-onbeach in
California.Winddown
at theendof theday
withapicnicand
beachbonfire
PROMOTION
40
APRIL2016
AMERICANWAY
