Stopping Off in SLO

Everything in Santa Barbara was booked. We found a hotel an hour and half North in San Luis Obispo. Jonathan and I have always liked SLO. It is a charming college town, and great stopping off point on any trip to Southern California. We have never stayed there before, and aside from some consistently good cafe experiences, we didn't know what to expect.

After our recent visit, I think SLO is also a cost-effective, family-friendly weekend get-away. It is close to Morro Bay, a beautiful seaside town, it has some great restaurants, and plenty of hotels less than $100 a night.

We stayed at the Vagabond Inn. We called directly and got the AAA discount. It was a clean serviceable hotel, and we all enjoyed the shower and the bathtub.

We arrived there at 6 pm, and then after getting cleaned up headed to a taqueria recommended by the person working the front desk. Our dinner was great, although Caleb insisted on acting up, and he and I ended up in the car for most of dinner.

The next morning we woke early and went to the Apple Farm Restaurant & Bakery, which was refreshingly kitsch. The restaurant is a popular place for traditional brunch fare, but as long as you arrive before 9:30 am, the wait isn't too bad. After 9:30 am it is a 40 minute wait.

The restaurant had a treasure chest for the kids, coloring at the table, and the service was really quick -- all good things for dining with small children.

I think we'll plan a future trip to SLO where it is the focus instead of the stopping off point on the way to Southern California.