Top 6 Things to Do in Arroyo Grande, CA
Arroyo Grande is a historic city near San Luis Obispo, with a charming downtown area appropriately called Arroyo Grande Village, dense urban areas, and more rural areas where homes are spaced out. The city has a rather small population of just 18,000.
Don’t let that worry you, though. There’s still a lot to do in the area.
Visit a Winery
There are several excellent wineries in Arroyo Grande. Instead of giving each its own full entry, we decided it made more sense to list them together. It can be fun to go from one tasting to another, just make sure you have a designated driver who isn’t drinking, especially if the rest of you want to sample a lot of wines.
Keep in mind that during COVID, these wineries may be partially or completely closed to visitors, though you can always order wine via their websites and choose pickup or delivery.
This winery is known for its estate wines from here in the Arroyo Grande Valley, including sparkling wines, pinot noirs, and chardonnays. From the Laetitia Vineyard and Winery site, you’ll get a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding, hilly vineyards. They have a wine club with exclusive member events and 20% savings on wine. Online, you can place an order for tasting room pickup delivery.
Since 1986, Talley Vineyards has been producing varieties of pinots and chardonnays, as well as syrah, grenache, sauvignon blanc, riesling, and more. They have a large and classy tasting room, something to look forward to visiting after COVID. Online, you can join the Talley Vineyards Wine Club and get first pick of single-vineyard wines as well as customizable club shipments.
Kynsi Winery features limited-production wines and their selection includes chardonnays, pinots, rhones, and various blends. Their club has three levels of membership, and each comes with a discount on purchases and periodic club wine packages. Online sales and curbside pick up are available, and in time the tasting room will again open to the public.
Rutiz Family Farms
Here’s a great opportunity to have a nice outing, get some delicious, fresh cooking ingredients, and support a local business. Rutiz Family Farms runs a popular food stand in front of their crop fields and sells pesticide-free berries, herbs, flowers, and a variety of vegetables. You can sign up for their weekly email newsletter on their website, which updates subscribers on what’s available. They take only cash and local checks, so make sure you have one or the other on hand. The stand hours vary, so you’ll want to check the website before you head over.
Clark Center for the Performing Arts
Every small city should have a theater like this one, but alas, many don’t. So, we think it’s a great idea to check out what’s on offer at Clark Center for the Performing Arts. You’ll find excellent family entertainment, including shows with professional performers and cultural events. All sorts of performing arts are represented, and they even put on shows about science.
The theater is large, with six seating sections. In the grand lobby, the center keeps works by local artists on display. Visit the website for photographs of this beautiful setting.
Clark Center for the Performing Arts also puts on live performances for children from kindergarten to sixth grade in the Lucia Mar Unified School District. They also put on science shows and more. Do keep in mind that shows are canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that you can check their website for updates.
Mustang Waterpark
Do you enjoy water slides? Most of us do, and Mustang Waterpark is the place to ride them in Arroyo Grande.
You can also reserve a cabana for gatherings, providing a nice place to eat, relax in the shade, and spend time with family and friends, or rent a cart or bike to more easily explore the surrounding Lopez Lake Recreation Area. You can host a birthday party here, enroll your kids in a water ride day camp, or take your kids under 10 to the kiddie pool. Just remember to supervise your kids while you’re there!
Oh yes, and Mustang Waterpark has a snack bar with burgers, hot dogs, nachos, salads, ice cream, and more.
Lopez Lake Regional Area
Yes, Mustang Waterpark is just one part of Lopez Lake Recreation Area, all of which is worth exploring. If you want to go on a local camping trip, this is the destination to enjoy. The shoreline is 22 miles around with warm lake water. There’s just so much to enjoy here among the oaks, including fishing, hiking, horse riding, boating, and zip-lining. There are 350 campsites both near the lake and within the woods. Plus, there are lots of hiking trails and picnic areas with barbecues, tables, seating, and shade.
For RVs, you’ll find full hook-up campsites. If you prefer a cabin instead of a tent, those are available too and are big enough to sleep six.
Biddle Regional Park
Biddle Regional Park is a lovely place to visit just five miles to the east of central Arroyo Grande, and a great place to play sports, have a picnic, or arrange a gathering of friends and family. Arroyo Grande Creek runs through it, and you’ll also find volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and lots of relaxing, grassy areas. Usually, there’s a gazebo available, though as of December 2020 it’s under new construction. This public park is open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.
If you need a place to keep your camping gear or other or other personal or business items, we’ve got you covered at Central Coast Self Storage in Arroyo Grande. Our units range from 5x5 to 10x20 and are individually alarmed for increased security. Visit us online or give us a call to ask about specials or make a reservation.
