Many of these things are what SLO County is known for; relaxation, community, adventure, and a slower life that lets you take things in and truly appreciate them. But have you done it all? Have you watched live theater at the Great American Melodrama, sang karaoke at Mother’s Tavern, or experienced the great food and personal service at Alphy’s Broiler? Have you gone horseback riding on the beach in Oceano or watched movies in the Sunken Gardens park in Atascadero? How about a special getaway at the Lighthouse in Avila Beach or a long, scenic bike ride down Bob Jones trail… have you done that? Ever watched a rodeo at the Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles or seen the Monarch butterflies flock to their sactuary in Pismo Beach?

You’ve probably done some of this, and if you’ve lived in SLO County for a long time, then you may have even done most of it. But I’m willing to bet that you haven’t done all of it. And even if you have… have you done all of it lately? There is so much that this county has to offer; many even call it a Dream Town. This New Year, get out there and experience the highly sought after “SLO Life”, even if only to rediscover the things about it that made you fall in love in the first place.

We live in a place that many would consider paradise. With beaches, lakes, and mountains all just a short and scenic drive away and an ideal climate almost year-round, it’s no surprise that San Luis Obispo is the destination for many looking to vacation or retire. In fact, Sunset Magazine recently named San Luis Obispo the second best dream town in the West, citing landmarks, climate and local traditions among the top contributing factors for the accolade.

Locals have long enjoyed the hikes at Bishop’s Peak, strolling downtown near the Historical Mission, picking up fresh produce every Thursday from the Farmer’s Market, and weekend wine tasting trysts at the many nearby vineyards. Pack in the lazy days at the lake, playing at the beach, and the friendly laid-back people, and it’s obvious why, “San Luis Obispo is the most Californian place in all of California“.

Image Credit: emdot

SLO Farmer’s Market usually makes for a laid-back Thursday evening in the streets downtown

Higuera Street was alive. The street strollers still enjoyed the fresh flowers and produce,caricature drawings, and unsurpassed local BBQ, but hey had a few more people than usual to make their way through and around. The energy could be felt all throughout downtown, with costumed Wowees, the “free hugs” guy gifting, well, free hugs, and overflowing sidewalks and streets. It almost felt like a mini-Vegas in downtown SLO.

This week’s Farmer’s Market frenzy was just the beginning,though, now that Cal Poly is back in. So if you’re looking for a little more excitement during your week, that’s the place to be on Thursday night!

It doesn’t seem like seven years have gone by since the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. That piece of history impacted every American, some more significantly than others, and will continue to be felt across the nation and in our own community. To honor those lost in the attacks as well as the men and women currently serving in the armed forces, there will be a memorial event held today at Ramona Garden Park. This is the sixth year that the event will be held, with the first ceremony held in 2002, and will begin at 5:30pm.

You can visit our community calendar for times and details, or visit the Grover Beach Parks and Recreation website.

Remembering 9/11

Residents are welcome and encouraged to attend to meet the candidates and discuss local issue with them first-hand in a forum style environment. Are there things you would like to be addressed? Would you like to hear about the plans for Pismo Beach? Do you have questions about how things are decided or why certain things happen? This is a great way to get informed so you can cast an educated vote on Election Day.

The forum events are sponsored by the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Shell Beach Improvement Group. In this historic time for our nation, each person’s decision to vote is more important than ever, both on a national and local level.

Get more information

After three years, the Five Cities Dog Park Association has finally started with the construction of the off-leash dog park. After overcoming challenges on where the park would be approved, the new location is going to be section of the Elm Street Park.

“Having an off-leash dog park is important for us because our dog, Malibu, is so energetic and active. Just taking her for walks is not enough. It’s going to be great to have a local place where she can run free,” said Grover Beach dog owner, Dustin Thompson.

This off-leash Dog Park will not be maintained by the city of Arroyo Grande but will be maintained by volunteers of the five cities dog park association. Since this a non profit organization they are responsible for raising the funds to construct and maintain this area of the park. This is great for the community as well as dog owners to get to meet new friends with the one thing in common they love — their dogs!

Visit the Five Cities Dog Park Association at: http://fivecitiesdogpark.org/index.htm

With the summer sun beating down on Grover Beach, locals and visitors filled the streets for this year’s Stone Soup Music Faire. With this being my first visit to the annual festival, I was curious about the food, entertainment, and people that the event would draw out. My answer came within the first few minutes of browsing around; everyone seemed to be there to relax, have a good time, talk amongst each other, and enjoy the day. Soon I too found myself unwinding, wandering along the streets and sidewalks as I browsed the boutiques, crafts, and local vendors. One such vendor, Chic Ztudio from Los Angeles, caught my eye with his beautifully hand-crafted jewelry, and I couldn’t resist buying a turquoise and red stoned necklace.

The most challenging part of the day came when it was time to decide what to eat,since the aroma of BBQ, roasted corn, jambalaya, and tacos were all competing for my attention since my arrival. I decided on an Asada Torta and fresh watermelon juice and sat down under the sun listening to the fun sound of String Planet on the main stage. As the day wandered into night, more and more people began to arrive until the main stage seating was full and the streets were alive with visitors walking up and down along the faire.

If you missed the opening day of the festival, you still have a chance to experince the fun, food, and entertainment on Sunday. Dr. Magic and String Planet are back, along with Salsa dance lessons and more.

Visit the Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce website for full details, and enjoy the pictures below!

Stephanie Brown Trafton's Winning Throw

On the international scene, Arroyo Grande is barely even a blip on the radar, with our downtown village and farmers’ markets the main highlights of the town. However, with Stephanie Brown Trafton’s gold medal discus throw on Monday, it’s getting more recognition than normal. The first woman from the United States to win gold since 1932, Stephanie is very proud to have earned the medal with her 212-foot 5-inches inches throw. Overcoming the efforts of anticipated gold-medal winner Yarelis Barrios of Cuba, Brown Trafton sealed the win when Barrios’ throw landed five feet short.

A native of Arroyo Grande and Cal Poly graduate, Stephanie has always excelled in track and field, winning All-American six times while attending the university. Beijing is Stephanie’s second trip to the Olympics after first competing in Athens four years ago, where she came home empty handed. Arroyo Grande residents are glad that her first defeat didn’t discourage Stephanie from forging ahead, as this year’s return to the games rewarded her with a rare piece of history.

Only the fifth local Olympian to ever win a medal at the games, Stephanie Brown Trafton has made us all proud and inpsired us to believe in, and go after, our dreams.

In a comment left by one local reader on the site, those habits have increased as well, “Walter, owner of Wally’s Bicycles, has told me he has been selling lots of commuter bikes. The perception seems to be that the only form of transportation is by automobiles. Maybe with more media coverage about commuting by bike, motorists might be more aware of bicyclists and be less aggressive. I began commuting to work by bike three months ago.” And perhaps that is the key to encouraging even more commuters to consider other options; making the conversation louder.

While riding a bike, walking, or even taking the bus to work is not practical for everyone, it certainly could work for many local residents who live in close proximity to their workplace. If non-automotive modes of transportation are embraced by a few, talked about in the local media, and encouraged by the community, we just may see a new and thriving trend in SLO County.

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How do you commute? Have you changed any of your transportation habits over the past year?