SLO RIDE
Coastal Living|Summer 2023
INSTEAD OF BOMBING UP THE CALI COAST FROM L.A. TO BIG SUR, THIS ROAD-TRIPPER TAPPED THE BRAKES AND DISCOVERED 80 MILES OF BIG BEACHES, QUIRKY SURF TOWNS, AND GREAT WINERIES
MEG LUKENS NOONAN 
SLO RIDE

Sure, I could have sped through San Luis Obispo County, arrived in Big Sur in time for a late lunch. Lots of people do that-heavy-foot it north from L.A., hell-bent on the operatic drama of that famous ragged coastline. But I would have missed the morning light on Moonstone Beach, and the seals in the breakers, and the hula-sway of rockbound kelp. I would have missed the easygoing surf towns, small-lot wineries, and fog-veiled fishing villages and the people who instill them with heart. Look: The San Luis Obispo area's serendipitous acronym couldn't be more explicit about how best to roll through this glorious, underrated, 80-mile stretch of California's Central Coast: SLO. I'm glad I got the message.

Midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, SLO Cal, as it's known, forms a kind of land bridge between Southern and Northern California. South coast towns, including Pismo Beach and Avila Beach, have broad, sandy shorelines, (relatively) warmer water, and playful Surf City vibes. Head north on Pacific-hugging Highway 1 through Morro Bay, Cayucos, and Cambria and things skew rockier, cooler, and more meditative. Much of the coastline is bordered by ranchland that gives way in ascending grassy waves to the summits of the Santa Lucia Range. Beyond them is the Paso Robles wine region-a compelling reason to make the short drive inland. Spend a few days connecting some of SLO Cal's most appealing dots, as I did, and you start to understand: It's a gift to live a little off the pace.

Robbie Domingues grew up riding the shapely waves next to the Pismo Beach pier. Even as a kid, he was aware that his beloved hometown was "not L.A. and not the Bay." (That line became a proud mantra for Esteem Surf Co, the board shop he opened in Pismo in 2002.) Being in the middle, he says, meant being largely overlooked.

Denne historien er fra Summer 2023-utgaven av Coastal Living.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Summer 2023-utgaven av Coastal Living.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA COASTAL LIVINGSe alt
FOOTLOOSE - fieesta
Coastal Living

FOOTLOOSE - fieesta

An Australian idyll gets colorful with bold art and Mexico inspired vibrance

time-read
2 mins  |
Winter 2023
Seeing Pink
Coastal Living

Seeing Pink

Every year, hundreds of Lilly Pulitzer fans congregate in Palm Beach, Florida, to celebrate their muse and her inimitable fashion. MEG LUKENS NOONAN joined the party

time-read
5 mins  |
Winter 2023
SOUTH AFRICAN - SPLENDOR
Coastal Living

SOUTH AFRICAN - SPLENDOR

Inspired by Kommetjie's rugged coastal landscape, a pair of South African designers use color and texture to create a year-round family retreat

time-read
3 mins  |
Winter 2023
MUSSEL BEACH
Coastal Living

MUSSEL BEACH

Mussels are perhaps the easiest seafood meal, ready in mere minutes. Their subtly sweet taste is enhanced in all types of recipes, from buttered pasta to spicy Thai soups.

time-read
5 mins  |
Winter 2023
LIVING IN COLOR
Coastal Living

LIVING IN COLOR

DESIGNER KARA MILLER STEEPS A WEST PALM BEACH FAMILY HOME IN HAPPY HUES AND THOUGHTFUL PATTERN PLAYS, ALL WITH ROOM TO GROW

time-read
4 mins  |
Winter 2023
BLUE AND WHITE DONE RIGHT
Coastal Living

BLUE AND WHITE DONE RIGHT

THE CLASSIC COLOR COMBINATION-AND COASTAL FAVORITEIS EXPLORED AND CELEBRATED

time-read
2 mins  |
Winter 2023
All the Right Ingredients
Coastal Living

All the Right Ingredients

One of the first purchases homeowners Mary McDonald made for the house was a medallion that she commissioned sculptor Stan Bitters to create for the front entrance.

time-read
4 mins  |
Winter 2023
BORA BORA
Coastal Living

BORA BORA

It could be enough to linger in the enticing overwater bungalows of these famed French Polynesian islands, but the greater beauty lies beyond: in the mountains, amid the islets, and beneath the shimmering waters

time-read
5 mins  |
Winter 2023
FOOD & WINE CLASSIC
Coastal Living

FOOD & WINE CLASSIC

Gather with world-class chefs, wine and spirit experts, and industry leaders at America's most iconic culinary festival.

time-read
7 mins  |
Winter 2023
THE BAHAMAS' SERENE SECRET
Coastal Living

THE BAHAMAS' SERENE SECRET

The island of Eleuthera, just 50 miles east of Nassau, is lesser known in the Bahamas-and its fans are happy for it to stay that way.

time-read
1 min  |
Winter 2023