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It
seemed as though we frequently gravitated to the
Central Coast of California. One of our favorite
places was and still is the Lake Lopez Regional
Park. Tucked away in the mountains about 10 miles
inland from the Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific
Ocean, you will find this beautiful lake and campground
which is part of the San Luis Obispo County Park
System.
With 22 miles
of shoreline, a deep clear blue lake that will allow
you to get comfortably lost by boat, and spacious
campsites, this is a great place for both adults
and children. Being on the lake of course provides
all of the nautical advantages such as fishing,
boating, water skiing, and canoeing. The park itself
also provides its own entertainment. The spacious
campsites allow you to enjoy the view and the natural
surroundings without the obstruction of another
RV at your door. When we were up there recently
we enjoyed watching a family of wild turkeys hanging
around an unattended RV and they seemed oblivious
to our presence. There are lots of things to do
here, including picnicking, nature walks and bird
watching. In the warm weather the kids will most
certainly enjoy the water slide available at the
park and the fishing classes provided by the Park
Rangers.
Beware of one
thing, however, there are a couple of signs at the
Rangers Station which indicate that the presence
of mountain lions and bears are not unheard of in
the park.
If you are inclined
to leave the park and wander around the neighboring
towns there is plenty to see. At the base of the
mountain highway that takes you to and from Lake
Lopez, lays a little town called Arroyo Grande.
Centrally located between Los Angeles and San Francisco,
this community boasts that they have a “stunning
environment and a selection of world class wineries”.
I don’t know about the wineries, but I can tell
you that the area scenery is stunning. The temperature
here is almost ideal year round. It rarely drops
to freezing during the winter and the summer heat
almost never goes above 85 degrees. As you pass
through the main street of town there are some quant
little shops and restaurants but don’t just stop
there. Be sure and cross over the bridge in the
middle of town so that you can enjoy visiting the
heart of Arroyo Grande.
Just past the
bridge there is a restaurant that we seldom pass
without stopping for breakfast (weekends only),
or lunch. McClintocks is a favorite of ours. From
the moment that you walk into the restaurant you
feel as though you have stepped back into the old
West. Along one wall is a lively bar straight out
of that Western Era. It is a place where friends
gather for a good time and good conversation. The
bar sets the tone and is the main focus of the restaurant.
The wall hangings, decorations and food service
items carry the theme through. Don’t be surprised
when your meal is served to you in an old mining
pan. The pan may be plain, but the food is not.
One thing that
I really get a kick out of is their notice of daily
specials. There is what looks like, a giant paper
towel rack hanging on the wall. It is filled with
a huge role of white paper upon which is written
the daily special. When the specials change they
only need to tear off the bottom portion of the
roll and there is a clean sheet ready to go.
Everything they
serve from the huge onion rings to their barbequed
ribs and steaks are excellent. We have eaten there
many times over the years and have never been disappointed.
The prices are very reasonable and served by a very
friendly and courteous staff. They actually have
another location in Pismo Beach on a hill above
Highway 101 which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. This
restaurant is much larger and more upscale than
the one in Arroyo Grande, but the menu is the same
and it is just as good.
After leaving
Arroyo Grande, we take Highway 101 North to Pismo
Beach, a picturesque coastal city which is famous
for having one of California’s longest stretches
of beach. A huge replica of a clam shell welcomes
visitors as they depart from the main highway to
enter the town.
I remember that
at one point in time Pismo Beach was beginning to
deteriorate and we stopped spending time there.
A portion of the Pier had been destroyed, the amusement
park that was situated near the pier and a lot of
the businesses were looking run down. But a few
years ago, the town took a huge turn. There are
many new home and business developments in the city
and surrounding area. The area near the Pismo Beach
pier has become a thriving community which offers
an abundance of hotels, motels, and good restaurants
to the ever growing tourist population.
We always enjoy
wandering along Pomeroy Street, window shopping,
maybe stopping to eat something in a restaurant
and never missing a trip into the candy store for
some yummy salt water taffy or a candy apple. We
also enjoy taking a leisurely walk on the Pismo
Beach Pier. You can see surfers in their wet suits
riding their brightly colored surfboards, sun bathers
and fisherman all doing what they love to do. We
enjoy listening to the ocean waves slapping up against
the pilings of the pier and the squawking of the
seagulls as they swoop down for the catch of the
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When we were there
just a short time ago we had lunch at the Pier Side
Seafood Restaurant. This is a very popular place
for locals and tourists, with both inside and outside
dining right on the oceans edge. While enjoying
some wonderful fish and chips, we were entertained
by about a dozen seagulls that swarmed empty tables
as soon as the previous diner’s vacated them. Don’t
let anyone tell you that seagulls don’t eat hamburgers,
fruit and green salad, because they do! I watched
them gulp down everything they could get their beaks
on before the service people came to clean and prepare
the tables for the next guests. The restaurant doesn’t
seem to mind this intrusion. |
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RV Parks are abundant
in and around Pismo Beach. |
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For those of you
who enjoy hiking, there are a few other Regional
Parks in the area that offer extensive hiking
trails, such as the Santa Margarita Lake Regional
Park and the El Chorro Regional Park.
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All in all, just
spending some time in this area is a lot of fun
and we have never run out of things to do or see. |
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