San

Luis
Obispo

San Luis Obispo has beautiful sunsets.

50
 A Central Coast

By Sarah Parr
treasure...
All photos by Brady Teufel
San Luis Obispo
Parking in the
(Spanish for St.
downtown area can be
Louis, the Bishop)
a challenge for those
is a city in Califor-
interested in finding a
nia, located roughly
spot directly in front
midway between
of their final destina-
San Francisco and
tion. The city provides
Los Angeles on the
parking in three multi-
Central Coast. The
story parking structures
city, referred to lo-
throughout downtown
cally as SLO or
at: Chorro and Marsh
“San Luis,” is the
street intersection;
county seat of San
Palm Street between
Luis Obispo Coun-
Chorro and Morro
ty and is adjacent to
streets; on Palm Street
California Polytech-
between Chorro and
nic State Univer-
Osos streets.
sity (Cal Poly). As
Street parking down-
of the 2000 census,
town is metered. The
the city population
structures are free for
was 44,174.
the first hour and 75
The city is home
cents per hour there-
to San Luis Obispo Shell Beach is one of the more elegant beaches in after. Because of San
County Regional San Luis Obispo County. Luis Obispo’s location
Airport which offers
Greyhound also maintains carpooling and biking. halfway between Los
private and com-
a bus terminal in San Luis Cycling is occasion- Angeles and San Fran-
mercial air service to
Obispo. Public transporta- ally used as a mode of cisco, it has long been a
several major cities
tion includes the city-wide transportation in San stopping point for trav-
in the west. Amtrak
SLO Transit bus lines as Luis Obispo. Bike lanes elers. In fact, the word
provides daily rail
well as the county-wide are maintained on a few motel was coined here
service here as the
SLO Regional Transit sys- of the streets and the when the Motel Inn of
terminus of the Pa-
tem. Rideshare encour- number of bike stands San Luis Obispo was
cific Surfliner line
ages the use of the local are increasing, especially established in 1925.
and a stop on the
public transit, as well as in the downtown area. Since then, the pleas-
Coast Starlight line.
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 Madonna Mountain is one of the main mountains in San Luis Obispo.
ant year-round climate, 43 miles to the north of Another big attraction wine tasting several
pretty scenery, and San Luis Obispo. The is the development of wineries in the area
well-preserved, walk- Madonna Inn is another Edna Valley into a well- with a very short drive.
able downtown have famous local landmark. known wine region. Just Some of these wineries
made the city a tour- Established by Alex south of the city, people have won awards and
ist destination in itself. Madonna in 1958, the can spend an afternoon acclaim for their vin-
Downtown San Luis inn is a famously eccen-
Obispo is centered tric building known for
around the carefully re- its generous helping of
stored Mission San Luis pink, wildly kitschy de-
Obispo de Tolosa, origi- cor, themed guest rooms,
nally built in 1772. It is and a waterfall urinal
one of the best preserved in a men’s restroom.
examples of Spanish The Fremont The-
Mission architecture and ater is a historic Art
among the oldest build- Deco theater from the
ings in California. Its 1940s. It has appeared
bells are unique in that, in many movies includ-
unlike other California ing a three second clip
missions, the bell ringer in My Blue Heaven.
stands in the bellroom One famous tourist des-
with the bells when ring- tination is Bubble Gum
ing the cadences. The Alley. Since about 1960,
downtown area also people have been stick-
boasts many eclectic ing their chewed gum on
shops and boutiques. the walls of this alley lo-
Another big tourist at- cated on Higuera Street,
traction is Hearst Castle, between Broad and Gar-
the vast estate of pub- den streets. Bubble Gum
lishing magnate Wil- Alley has even appeared Big Falls is a popular outdoors attraction to ex-
liam Randolph Hearst, plorers.
on national television.

52
 ...that ha
it other events, including
a stop on the way of
the Olympic Torch, the
Tour of California bicy-
cle race, Cinco de Mayo
celebrations, as well as
a long-standing Christ-
mas Parade. A Mardi
Gras parade that was
well attended has been
fraught with difficulties
Avila Beach is one of the most popular beaches. related to crowd control
and alcohol consump-
tages. The wine region use of downtown streets town Farmers’ Market tion. Debate about the
extends north beyond blocked off to end a one long “mall,” even cost of the parade, and
Paso Robles (30 miles tradition of teen/colle- rerouting part of a state the associated crowd
north) and Santa Ynez giate cruising. Farmers highway to accommo- control, continues.
(70 miles south). and vendors were al- date the street closures. Mardi Gras has not
A field station of the lowed to set up between The Farmers’ Market been the only local event
Marine Mammal Cen- barricades as a way to brought a great deal of reined in after gaining
ter is located in San bring people back to the revenue and has become acceptance. Cal Poly’s
Luis Obispo to support downtown area. Later, internationally known. open house, Poly Royal,
sea rescue and beach all traffic was blocked San Luis Obispo has was held every April
stranding rescue opera- off, making the down- been home of several until a 1990 riot of
tions for this section of
the California coast.
One of the main draws
is Farmers’ Market, a
large festival held down-
town on Higuera Street
every Thursday evening
year-round from 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m.. About three-
quarters of a mile of the
street is closed to cars.
Live entertainment is
featured and local farm-
ers and vendors sell
goods and produce. The
Farmers’ Market was
created in 1983 to make Agriculture is common in San Luis Obispo.

53
as
ts own unique culture.

Residents of San Luis Obispo gather every

The architecture of many downtown busi-
nesses is dominated by the Spanish mission
style.
Thursday night for the traditional Farmer’s
Market.
drunken revellers, many was founded in this
visitors to town, caused town. Formerly called
damage throughout Juice Club, Jamba Juice
residential neighbor- is now a national chain.
hoods and the business Although Juice Club was
district. The university not a Cal Poly senior proj-
cancelled the event for ect as some claim, three
several years before rein- of the four co-founders,
troducing a scaled-down Joe Vergara, Kevin Pe-
Open House. While ters, and Linda Olds
Poly Royal welcomed did graduate from the
the community for university. Jamba Juice
hikes, carnivals, “mag- still exists at the origi-
ic” shows put on by the nal Juice Club location:
Chemistry Department, 17 Chorro Street #C.
and other public perfor- City ordinance prevents
mances, the revamped businesses of any sort
version is designed for (including fast-food res-
students and parents. taurants) from construct-
Jamba Juice, famous ing new drive-up or
for its fruit smoothies, drive-through windows

54
 The plant life in San Luis Obispo is very diverse because of the climate of the area.

or services. Two branch- service existed before the of very few commer- in honor of this city.
es of one local bank are ordinance became law. cial buildings designed
the only locations in the San Luis Obispo was
The dentist office on by Frank Lloyd Wright.
entire city with drive-up the first American town
the corner of Santa Rosa A horse race on turf
service; their drive-up to ban indoor smoking
and Pacific streets is one named the San Luis
in all locations, includ-
Obispo Handicap is run
ing bars and restaurants.
at the Santa Anita Park

Cal Poly
San Luis Obispo
Comprising six dis-
tinct colleges, Cal Poly Poly ranked as the #1
offers a full spectrum Public Master’s Uni-
of degrees. Specifi- versity in the Western
cally, the university’s United States for the
engineering, architec- 15th consecutive year.
ture, and agriculture Many students apply
colleges consistently for admission to Cal
place at the top of Poly, yielding in 2009
United States na- a freshman acceptance
tional academic rank- rate of 36%. Cal Poly
ings. In U.S. News has over 117,000 liv-
& World Report’s ing alumni and, in fall
2008 America’s Best 2007, 19,777 students
Bishop’s Beak is visible from any point in San currently enrolled.
Colleges report, Cal
Luis Obispo.

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