San LuiS ObiSpOClassic California

San Luis Obispo (Spanish for St. Louis, the Bishop) is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. The city, referred to locally as SLO or “San Luis,” is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County and is adjacent to California Polytechnic State Univer sity (Cal Poly). As of the 2000 census, the city population was 44,174. The city is home to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport which offers private and commercial air service to several major cities in the west. Amtrak provides daily rail service here as the ter- minus of the Pacific Surfliner line and a stop on the Coast Starlight line. Greyhound also maintains a bus terminal in San Luis Obispo. Public transportation includes the city-wide SLO Transit bus lines as well as the county- wide SLO Regional Transit system. Rideshare encour ages the use of the local public transit, as well as car pooling and biking. Cycling is occasionally used as a mode of transportation in San Luis Obispo. Bike lanes are maintained on a few of the streets and the number of bike stands are in-creasing, especially in the downtown area.

by KRISTEN WEILENMANN

Bishop’s Peak is one of the most popular hiking trails among locals. Park off to the right side of Foothill Boule-vard a mile or so past the residential area--you will likely see groups of horses grazing around the trailhead. photo courtesy of Brady Tuefel 1

SLO

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Parking in the downtown area can be a challenge for those interested in finding a spot directly in front of their final destination. The city provides parking in three multistory parking structures throughout downtown at: Chorro and Marsh street intersection; Palm Street be-tween Chorro and Morro streets; on Palm Street between Chorro and Osos streets. Street parking downtown is metered. The structures are free for the first hour and 75 cents per hour thereafter.

Because of San Luis Obispo’s location halfway be-tween Los Angeles and San Francisco, it has long been a stopping point for travelers. In fact, the word motel was coined here when the Motel Inn of San Luis Obispo was established in 1925. Since then, the pleasant year-round climate, pretty scenery, and well-preserved, walkable downtown have made the city a tourist destination in itself. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

photos courtesy of mikebaird on Flikr

One of the main draws is Farmers’ Market, a large festival held downtown 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 farmers and vendors sell goods and produce. The Farmers’ Market was created in 1983 to make use of downtown streets blocked off to end a tradition of teen/collegiate cruising. Farmers and vendors were allowed to set up between barricades as a way to bring people back to the downtown area. Later, all traffic was blocked off, making the downtown Farmers’ Market one long “mall,” even rerouting part of a state highway to accommodate the street closures. The Farmers’ Market brought a great deal of revenue and has become internationally known.

courtesy of Ignacio Castaño on Flikr courtesy of Josh LeClair on Flikrcourtesy of emdot on Flikr

Getting started in

Downtown San Luis Obispo is centered around the carefully restored Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, originally built in 1772. It is one of the best preserved examples of Spanish Mission architec-ture and among the oldest buildings in California. Its bells are unique in that, unlike other California missions, the bell ringer stands in the bellroom with the bells when ringing the cadences. The downtown area also boasts many eclectic shops and boutiques.

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Another big tourist attraction is Hearst Castle, the vast estate of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, 43 miles to the north of San Luis Obispo.

courtesy of Trey Ratcliff on FlikrMadonna Inn is another famous local landmark. Estab-lished by Alex Madonna in 1958, the inn is a famously eccentric building known for its generous helping of pink, wildly kitschy decor, themed guest rooms, and a waterfall urinal in a men’s restroom.

courtesy of Rian Castillo on Flikr

The Fremont Theater is a historic Art Deco theater from the 1940s. It has appeared in many movies including a three second clip in My Blue Heaven.

courtesy of Trader Chris on FlikrOne famous tourist destination is Bubble Gum Alley. Since about 1960, people have been sticking their chewed gum on the walls of this alley located on Higuera Street,

Another big attraction is the development of Edna Valley into a well-known wine region. Just south of the city, people can spend an afternoon wine tasting several wineries in the area with a very short drive. Some of these wineries have won awards and acclaim for their vintages. The wine region extends north be-yond Paso Robles (30 miles north) and Santa Ynez (70 miles south). Price Check

Hearst CastleMadonna InnFremont TheaterBubble Gum AlleyEdna Valley Winery

courtesy of chicabrandita on Flikr

$$$ $$$$$$$ free! $$

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San Luis Obispo has been home of several other events, including a stop on the way of the Olympic Torch, the Tour of California bicycle race, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, as well as a long-standing Christmas Parade. A Mardi Gras parade that was well attended has been fraught with difficulties related to crowd control and alcohol consumption. Debate about the cost of the parade, and the associated crowd control, continues.

Mardi Gras has not been the only local event reined in after gaining acceptance. Cal Poly’s open house, Poly Royal, was held every April until a 1990 riot of drunken revellers, many visitors to town, caused damage throughout residential neigh-borhoods and the business district. The university cancelled the event for several years before reintroducing a scaled-down Open House. While Poly Royal welcomed the community for hikes, carnivals, “magic” shows put on by the Chemistry

Year roundexcitement

...and one of a kindscenery

photos courtesy of Brady Tuefel

Whether you’re

a mountain person

or you prefer the beach,

SLO offers the best

of both worlds

courtesy of Juan Manuel Caicedo Carvajal on Flikr courtesy of Maria de las Mercedes on Flikr

San Luis Obispo was the

first American town to

ban indoor smoking in

all locations, including

bars and restaurants

Jamba Juice, famous for its fruit smoothies, was founded in this town. Formerly called Juice Club, Jamba Juice is now a national chain. Although Juice Club was not a Cal Poly senior project as some claim, three of the four co-founders, Joe Vergara, Kevin Peters, and Linda Olds did graduate from the university. Jamba Juice still exists at the original Juice Club location: 17 Chorro Street #C.

City ordinance prevents businesses of any sort (including fast-food restaurants) from constructing new drive-up or drive-through windows or services. Two branches of one local bank are the only locations in the entire city with drive-up service; their drive-up service existed before the ordinance became law.

The dentist office on the corner of Santa Rosa and Pacific streets is one of very few commercial buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. A horse race on turf named the San Luis Obispo Handicap is run at the Santa Anita Park in honor of this city.

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excitement

scenery

Stemming fromSLO

photo courtesy of Brady Tuefel

New legislation is

in the making to expand

the indoor smoking ban

to include public areas

like Mission Plaza

and Farmer’s Market