Arroyo Grande Creek is a great, beautiful place to take a nice stroll or walk. It's located right…read morebehind the Arroyo Grande Village. There's roosters roaming freely around. I used to take my daughter when she was young and she really enjoyed looking at the roosters. There's a bridge that takes you over to a park and you can picnic there. The creek also has some picnic tables where you can picnic. I'll upload some pictures soon.

This is a cute little park, part of the town that resembles somewhat of a hallmark movie. The…read moregazebos where you find your love sitting there waiting.... lol... It's just behind the main strip of downtown Arroyo Grande. There's a parking lot that turns into a farmers market on a certain day. It's not a big park but does pack a punch. You're greeted with the gazebo which was what we saw walking by. Then theres a bridge that crosses from the park to the other side to the neighborhood. Looking down from the bride, there's a little creek below with what looks somewhat like a trail. Not really for hiking but I'm sure a walking trail. There's stairs that will take you down to the creek area which is covered in greenery. I'm sure there's loads of mosquitoes so be prepared. The park, quaint and cute. Not majorly big but does pack a punch with its size. It still pretty mellow even though on the side is the main road with shops and restaurants.

This quaint little park, which is a delightful added attraction to Arroyo Grande's Village…read morewonderful Saturday Farmer's Market at noon, provides a pleasant spot for a break or a snack. There are a few benches and even picnic tables, that make it easy to eat some of the offerings from either the Farmer's Market, or some of the nearby locals stores that line this amazingly serene village. There are a plethora of restaurants, a coffee house, an ice-cream shop, pizza places, "vintage" ole school butcher, & baker/ Eclair Shop. There are also a ton of cool antique shops, gift shops, vine tasting shops and more. You can easily spend a good part of the day exploring this unique area & it is far more quaint than either downtown SLO or nearby downtown Pismo. This old restored cool slightly scary swinging bridge is rather unique [a capacity of only 5 people & was originally built by an land owner without any rails!] and leads one to yet another little park [ Heritage Square which has a small children area] on the other end [where there are also sometimes some community events]. There is also a local historical barn museum [ South County Historical Society ] complete with a model T & ~100 year old tractor/printing press & more, on the other side. The bridge overlooks the waters of AG creek and there are paths which hug this quite lazy serene creek. They are rather hazardous, since the fence is composed of fairly rotten wood...so please use caution. There are stairs down to the creek area at least two points [ one is at the little known Kiwanis Park {also with a few picnic tables & a creek view}, which is right next to the cool historic Arroyo Grande Bridge] along this back Olohan Alley. Off peak, you will see alot of colorful semi-wild Roasters. At the center of this small park, is a charming rotunda which sometimes has live music for those in the area for the Farmer's Market. While sometimes you can also find Artwork for sale in this area, it varies as does the vendor selection. There are some steadfast regular local AG, or other farmers, who come here almost every Saturday at Noon, year round. Some do the huge Sat. AM Farmer's Market in SLO @8AM [in Madonna Plaza near the Dollar Tree] first & then come here to sell the rest at noon here. While sometimes you can find baked goods here, you can always find freshly baked Eclairs, cupcakes, bread, and more at Eclair bakery just two blocks away. You can also frequent the amazing 100+ year old AG Butcher shop and either get their signature housemade smoked products/sausages, or get a fresh huge Tri-tip sandwich to eat in one of the nearby parks....like this one. Needless to say, AG village is home to a nice eclectic assortment of restaurants and shops that are so pleasant and enticing. In general, people here are very friendly and the whole place seems almost utopian...except it does cost money. Fortunately, prices are quite fair in general. Centennial Park is one of the many great cool features in AG Village that makes this area one of the local favorites. This park also has a cool history and even contains a time capsule to be opened in the future. The seemly "indigenous" rooster population is somewhat of a mystery. The local newspapers think that these guys have been abandoned here. They usually do not bother anyone and do add some color, mystery, and character to this area. I must have been here a zillion times, but only now I had noticed that I could not find a listing. While this could be redundant, I apologize. Thank you & please enjoy! BTW- On 8AM Wednesdays, there is yet another AG Farmers Market, but it is way down on Grande Ave. in the same Plaza as the Dollar Tree & Smart & Final.

This is a cute little park! We found it on a Let's Roam scavenger hunt and were glad that we did…read more There is only one picnic bench, but this is a great place to rest, relax, and enjoy lunch or a snack. This used to be the site of an old 1800's jail, which is still there with a plaque outlining all the history. If you are in the area and want a quiet place to relax, this is it!

Any Park that is NAMED…read more HOOSEGOW is a 5 Star for sure.... Just check out the history: From Wisegeek.com : " At some point in almost every Western novel, at least one character seems to end up "in the hoosegow." This colorful slang term is simply another word for "jail," and appears to originate from the early 20th century. "The hoosegow" in reference to a jail is generally heard in the American West, and alternate slang terms for a jail or prison like the clink, the brig, the joint, the pokey, the slammer, and the big house can be heard in other regions of the world. The etymology of "the hoosegow," like many terms from the American West, is rooted in the Spanish language. The word is a corruption of juzgado, a Spanish word used to refer to a court or tribunal, derived from the Latin word judicare, which happens to be closely related to English words like "judge" and "justice." The first documented instance of the hoosegow in print occurred in 1908, and the word may be even older. As a general rule, this word is used specifically in reference to a jail, differentiating it from a prison. A prison is a facility which is designed for long-term confinement of prisoners, typically including amenities like a medical clinic and a library for the use of the prisoners. A jail, on the other hand, is much more spartan, providing the bare minimum required for a few days of confinement. Someone can be thrown into the hoosegow for any number of crimes, ranging from public drunkenness to theft, and someone may be transferred from the hoosegow to a formal prison facility if he or she is convicted of a crime which requires long-term imprisonment. Typically, people remain in the hoosegow for only brief periods of time, such as the overnight stay commonly used to contain drunks, and they do not enter prison unless they are convicted of a crime. The exception to this rule is a prisoner on remand, who will be imprisoned while awaiting and undergoing trial. Someone is typically released from the hoosegow when someone arrives to bail him or her out, although in some cases prisoners may simply be released in the morning once it is determined that they are no longer a threat, especially in rural communities. However, a stay in the hoosegow does wind up on one's permanent record, and the prisoner may be required to pay a fine or attend a court trial to resolve the issue which landed him or her in the hoosegow in the first place." Anyway, apart from the history of this Park with it's own GENUINE ORIGINAL HOOSEGOW That was once used for the drunken ancestors of todays DRUNKED YELPERS! WHO STILL ROAM ABOUT TOWN! It is a cool mini-park all its own. Like so many Parks around here, it see's few people & is quite clean. It has a nice Picnic table to eat your spoils from AG town just below. A perfect vantage to delicately engulf some yummy cupcakes or eclairs. Or....get eat some some Ice-cream from Docs, Comfort food from the Inn, & even a Gyro or two. DO NOT BRING ALCOHOL INTO THIS PARK & DO NOT LEAVE LOOSE DOG TURDS.... A SPECIAL HELL AWAITS THOSE KIDS WHO's PARENTS NEGLECTED TO TEACH DEM RIGHT IN THIS FIRST PLACE! DO GRAFFITTI IN KIWANIS PARK... INTO THE HOOSEGOW YOU GO... HA HA!!!

Easy walk onto the beach and bathrooms ( really wet but at least there's a restroom). You can…read moredrive on to the beach if so inclined.

I always have a good time. Think about bringing a kite…read more Because Pismo's town is so crowded we enter the beach area from the town of Grover Beach, where it's less crowded. No, they don't have the pier, but folks are still clamming, and fishing from the beach. This time we walked the coast from Grover Beach, past the pier at Pismo, all the way to the cliffs on the north end. It was a nice walk, where the waves can touch your feet, and the sun kisses your skin. There are restrooms and outdoor showers at Grover, and at Pismo, and the parking at Grover is free. Closer to the pier you'll also find folks enjoying water sports - surfing, wading, swimming, parasurfing, etc. Just having a good time. If you enjoy the beach, Grover is the best approach to enjoying Pismo beach vibes on the Central Coast.

Very small but clean little playground for under two year olds. The fake grass is clean and neatly…read moretrimmed. The real grass around the area is also a great place for older kids to run and expel extra energy. This place does not have any swings or monkey bars but to keep a tiny tot entertained it's worth a visit. Some of the neighborhood kids sit around a gazebo with their phones and are well behaved. As you can see in my pictures this place is very very tiny so don't come here thinking you will spend hours, more like an hour tops. Definitely a good spot to have a quick picnic lunch!

How have I never been here!!?!? This place is spectacular!…read more I was driving home from Pismo by myself and decided to take the scenic route. When I saw a sign that said Dunes open, I immediately was intrigued. It's a little off the beaten path but so worth it. I drove past the gate and down a windy road that was narrowed by the sand blowing onto the blacktop road. The sand was untouched. Crisp ripples of waves made of sand for miles. Then a parking lot overlooking a turbulent ocean and pristine beaches. Not a soul on the beach. I took my shoes off and made fresh footprints in the sand all the way to the water's edge. It was glorious! Back in the parking lot I read several placards of information and history about the area scattered around the parking lot as several other cars came and parked. There are several picnic benches and what looked to be a few pot toilets available. A fairly decent parking lot and handicap parking spots available. Grab a picnic and enjoy the day.

I went to La Pasadita Oaxaquena to get nachos and wanted to eat it at the beach. This beach looked…read morelike the best one that was closest. As I approached the entrance, I saw a board of rules (very helpful before you enter the preserve). Also, there is a little booth where someone will greet you. I was greeted by Megan, the Ranger. She was very friendly and greeted me with a great big smile! That was a good sign prior to entering the place :) On my way to the beach, I saw a bunch of cows that stared me down as I slowly drove down the road. I know they were staring because they were curious versus wanting to trample me to death...I think. The whole preserve is kept soooo cleeeean! I'm glad that it hasn't been bombarded like the other beaches. Overall, mind-blowing experience. Can't wait to come back. Would I recommend? Absolutely! Will I be back? Yup!

La Purísima Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc is one of the most fascinating and immersive…read moredestinations you can visit. It is the most fully restored of all 21 California missions. Established as the 11th mission in the chain, it is by far one of my top favorites, probably second to Santa Barbara, really! It's absolutely beautiful, as you will soon read. It was actually destroyed by an earthquake in 1812 and was rebuilt at its current location. Today, you can explore over 20 reconstructed buildings, including the church, workshops, living quarters, and blacksmith shop, that reflect the daily life of both the people who lived and worked here. The park is open almost every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, and it's perfect for both self-guided and docent-led tours. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM and provides helpful information and exhibits to get you started. I highly recommend a docent-led tour, the docents are so incredibly knowledgeable, and there's so much to learn about this historic site. On Demonstration Days, which take place several times a year, the mission hosts hands-on living history events, including blacksmithing, weaving, and candle-making. I look forward to visiting during Demonstration Days. I seriously can't wait to get back here. The grounds are large, rural, and so peaceful. There's a nearly three-mile trail loop. Parking is $6 per vehicle and $5 for seniors. I saw several dogs, but it does get very hot, and they are only allowed on the designated trails, not in the buildings, for obvious reasons. There are tons of animals, too. There were horses, steers, chickens, and more. Do not miss La Tienda, the mission's gift shop, where you can pick up local crafts, mission-themed books, and souvenirs. The local crafts are beautiful. I highly recommend this site for a half- or full-day visit! Make sure to set aside enough time for this beautiful gem. The drive alone is so beautiful and serene.

I came to this park to do some hiking and there are many trails. I would be careful because I am…read morepretty sure I heard rattle snacks in the distance though the trail path is very large you probably won't find any unless you go off the path. I recommend checking out the visitor center before doing the trails because you can get good information as well as all the different trails in the given map. Parking - I paid $6 to park on their private lot. The money goes to help them maintain the state park but if you don't want to pay I saw many people parking right outside on the street across and walking down.

Beautiful manzanita, oak and ceanothus lined trails that stretch from the edge of vandenberg space…read moreforce base to vandenberg village. There is even a hidden pond. Most of the trails are well developed but some are a bit overgrown as you get deeper into the chapparal. Watch out for poison oak.

The trailhead is located at the end of Constellation Road, near Cabrillo High School and Northoaks…read moreDrive. Parking is found along the street. The reserve is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. No bikes or equestrian use is allowed. Cabrillo High School is my old ala mater back when we had to strike 2 rocks together to make fire. I am surprised that no one has "Yelped" Burton Mesa Trailhead since the land was acquired in 1991 and has many trails leading into the chaparral and marshland. You can find some rare wildflowers there. It's a beautiful, serene walk in the middle of Vandenberg Village and also borders our local Air Force Base land. Nice hike while I was in California early May. Though, this time of year can be damp and cold, Vandenberg Village is a bit higher than the city of Lompoc, and most days, you are above the fog, and a bit dryer and warmer. The trail was empty on an afternoon, weekday. Love the beauty of nature and the Central Coast in California