Via Oregon - September/October 2021 - 32

When you're ready to refuel, head to the artsy Whiteaker
neighborhood. Over in " the Whit, " you can slurp chilespiked
broiled oysters, savor a Pilsner-poached local bratwurst,
or sip a Total Domination IPA as you lounge on the
patio at the Better Living Room, a gathering space run by
Ninkasi Brewing Co. Or you might relax on the patio at
Izakaya Meiji Company and graze on small plates such as
a miso soft-boiled egg, Japanese pickles, or hand-cut fries
with wasabi mayo.
San Luis Obispo, California
California Polytechnic State University, consistently one of
the West's top-rated graduate schools, affords an endless
array of distractions-ahem, attractions-for students, their
families, and other visitors. Not to mention the fact that
town, which sits in the heart of Central Coast wine country,
is just a short drive (10 or 15 miles) from Avila Beach and
Morro Bay.
Embrace the " SLO life " alongside residents at the
Downtown SLO Farmers' Market. On Thursdays from 6
to 9 p.m., musical performances and a rainbow of fruit and
32 VIA | SEPTEMBER+OCTOBER 2021
vegetable stands fill a five-block stretch of Higuera Street, a
festive evening stroll. On the first Thursday of each month,
stick around until 9:30 for Bike Night, when cyclists depart
Mission Plaza wearing outfits with zany themes such as
wildflowers and superpowers.
To join the crowd, or simply experience first-hand why
SLO is a fun place to ride, rent a bicycle from Foothill
Cyclery on East Foothill Boulevard. The flat, well-paved
Bob Jones City-to-Sea Trail heads past a creek and through
a sycamore forest to the Pacific Ocean. Or pedal through
Edna Valley's tawny hills to pinot noir or chardonnay tasting
at Claiborne and Churchill, Baileyana, and other area vintners
on a tour with Central Coast Outdoors.
Hikers can appreciate nature and art on the 2.5-mile path
through Poly Canyon Design Village. Irreverently dubbed
the " Architecture Graveyard, " the hillside hamlet showcases
idiosyncratic structures designed by students of Cal Poly's
esteemed architecture school.
To get a literal taste of SLO, head for High Street Deli
or Lincoln Market & Deli, several blocks from downtown
in opposite directions. The nearly 100-year-old
COURTESY MUSEUM OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY; OPPOSITE PAGE.
TOP TO BOTTOM: COURTESY CENTRAL COAST OUTDOORS; RYAN GOBUTY
Via Oregon - September/October 2021

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