Let’s be realistic. Yes, Cal Poly is a fantastic school, and yes, SLO is a nice little town, but do you really think that either would be as popular as they are if they were located somewhere else? That’s right– the best part of living in SLO is, by far, the close proximity to the beach.

The moment you see and smell the ocean, you instantly understand why so many are drawn to the coast. A beach is a place of beauty, serenity, life, wonder, and fun all at the same time. There are hundreds of activities to do at the beach, including:

• Water sports such as surfing or skimboarding.
• Laying out/tanning.
• Horseback riding.
• Quad riding in the dunes.
• Exploring caves/tidepools.
• Building sandcastles, or other kinds of sand sculptures.
• Playing beach volleyball.
• Simply taking a walk or a jog; it’s good excercise!
• Collecting seashells, interesting rocks, or whatever else you find fascinating.
• Play catch with a football or frisbee (with your friends or with your dog!).
• Take pictures! They can be works of art such as capturing an ocean sunset, or goofy snaposhots like putting seaweed on your head like a wig.
• Have a picnic.
• Climb rocks.
• If you don’t mind getting really cold, go wade in the ocean.
• Do your homework. Reading is far more relaxing on the beach than in your dorm room!
• Draw in the sand.
• Check out all the hotties in their swimsuits. (Don’t lie; you know you do it!)

Of course, every beach is a little bit different, and not everybody prefers the same beach. This is another advantage of living in SLO; you have your choice between Pismo, Avila, Shell Beach, Grover, and so much more! Most Cal Poly students favor Avila because it’s the warmest, but Pismo is also popular, especially for people who like to walk down the beach.

So grab your swimsuits and sunscreen and go have a blast in the sun and the sand!

A strange specimen my friends and I discovered on Halloween... What is it?

Meow!

A dog running along the shore. I believe he was chasing seagulls.

Hayden Hussey (foreground) and Amanda Todd (background), a couple of friends from my hometown who came to visit me.

Firstly, there’s Cold Stone Creamery, a little shop in downtown SLO that allows you to customize your own dessert. Just pick a flavor of ice cream, ask for whatever toppings you want, and watch as they mix it all up for you right before your eyes. Of course, they also have combinations of their own that you can order if you’re not feeling creative, as well as a variety of ice cream cakes, ice cream cupcakes, milkshakes, and various other ice cream-based products.

Also in downtown SLO is Bali’s, a frozen yogurt shop. Unlike Cold Stone, both the yogurt and the toppings are self-serve, and you are charged by how much your bowl of contents weighs. There is another self-serve frozen yogurt shop downtown called Yogurt Creations, but the majority of SLO residents seem to prefer Bali’s.

Now, if you’re looking for lunch rather than dessert, the ideal place to go is located right on Cal Poly’s campus in the dining complex. The Sandwich Factory is a favorite among students; even those who frequently complain about campus food admit that the Sandwich Factory is high in quality. All you do is check off the ingredients you want on a slip of paper, hand it to one of the employees, and they’ll make a fresh, homemade sandwich for you. You even get to choose the bread, so if you’re not quite in the mood for a sandwich, you can always get a pita or tortilla.

So next time you’re feeling hungry, but also a bit picky, feel free to stop by one of the places I’ve mentioned above. Trust me, your appetite will thank you.

A delicious looking example of a Bali's creation: chocolate-vanilla swirl with peanuts and caramel sauce.

(Note: I found the above photo at this link.)

Bike Happening began in June 2000, and what started off as a few dozen riders has now turned into a few hundred. Every month whoever wishes to take part in it meets at the Mission Plaza at 9:30 p.m., right about when Farmers’ Market ends. Since it’s not an official gathering– whoever wants to do it simply does– participants stress the importance of obeying traffic laws, so as to avoid any problems with the authorities. It’s not that people don’t have the right to ride their bikes around town, but when they do so in such large groups, they’re bound to attract attention.

What makes Bike Happening so unique is that each Happening has a theme. For example, if the theme was bunny ears, participants would show up wearing bunny ears. It’s not required that you follow the theme, but it is highly reccomended, and makes the experience a lot more fun. According to the Bike Happening website, the theme for March 2010 is going to be “Dr. Seuss, Green Eggs or Ham It Up,” so if you plan on attending, you’re encouraged to wear something green, something egg-related, or something ham-related.

Happy biking! Remember, have fun and stay safe.

Bike Happening participants riding down Santa Rosa and Higuera Streets.

The "founding fathers" of Bike Happening.

(Note: I acquired both photos from Bike Happening’s MySpace profile.)

Good luck!

While Downtown Brew does serve award-winning beer, it’s more famous for the way it manages to cater even to those under 21. This bar in downtown SLO is best known for hosting live bands. They’re usually local bands, but it’s also featured performances by bigger names such as Mickey Avalon, Flobots, The Stray Cats, Bouncing Souls, and Eddie Money.

It’s also common for Downtown Brew to host theme nights– for example, I attended an 80′s night there last quarter, where a couple of local bands plus some members of Cal Poly’s own jazz band played. The music, the decorations, and the attire of those in attendance was all 80′s themed.

Downtown Brew is located at 1119 Garden Street in San Luis Obispo, right across the street from Linnaea’s Cafe. If you’re curious what sorts of shows or theme nights are coming up, you can check out the bar’s website or MySpace page.

Who knew you could have so much fun sober in a bar?

A Downtown Brew employee (center, purple shirt) posing with Flobots.

Downtown Brew employees with Bouncing Souls.

Think saving the planet doesn’t sound like very much fun? Think again.

On the first Saturday of every month, Environmental Council gets vollunteers together and has a beach clean-up at Avila. Though picking up litter may not be your ideal way to spend a Saturday morning, how can you not have fun at the beach? Not to mention that Environmental Council is a very friendly, welcoming group, so in addition to helping the community and getting yourself a day at the beach, it’s also an easy way to make new friends.

Another activity that Environmental Council frequently participates in is tree planting. Just last month it teamed up with fellow non-profit organization One Cool Earth and planted over 1000 trees at various locations around the San Luis Obispo area.

According to Barrie Valencia, one of Environmental Council’s program directors, the group tries to do something every weekend.

“This is just a volunteering organization,” she said. “We provide events, and hopefully people come. Sometimes it’s not even volunteer stuff. Sometimes it’s like ‘Hey, there’s an Environmental Council film festival.’ “

If you’d like to get involved in Environmental Council, you can contact it at environcouncil@gmail.com or (805) 756-5834, or simply show up for the next monthly beach clean-up. Vollunteers who wish to participate meet at the administration parking lot at 9:30 a.m.

Go green!

Environmental Council vollunteers shoveling soil during last month's tree planting.

Environmental Council vollunteers potting the trees.

Located in Avila, Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort began in 1886 when two prospectors looking for oil stumbled upon hot sulphur mineral water instead. Rather than get dissapointed by the lack of oil, the prospectors made use of their discovery, and turned the location into a getaway spot. It was sold in the 1930′s and turned into a therapeutic center staffed by doctors and nurses, but became a resort once again when it was sold again in the mid 1970′s. The current owner, King Ventures, has had the property since 2003.

Going hot tubbing is a popular activity not only among Cal Poly students, but many others in the area (young and old) as well. It’s easy to see the appeal: there’s just something about sitting in a hot tub that makes you feel as though you’re being pampered. The rec center may have a heated pool, but it’s just not quite the same.

If hot tubbing isn’t quite your thing, there are plenty of other fun things to do at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, including hiking, biking, massages, and yoga classes. Or if it’s a special occasion, there are areas specially designated for events such as weddings and receptions.

So why not take a little “me time”? We do have midterms going on right now after all, and it couldn’t hurt to have something to calm your nerves.

Everyone in SLO knows about Bubblegum Alley, though not everyone has the same opinion of it. It’s biggest criticism is it’s disgust factor, which is understandable considering that it is, after all, two 15 foot high, 70 foot long walls of chewed gum. Others don’t like it simply because they see it as a tourist trap– also understandable, since Bubblegum Alley is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, “must see” spot in downtown SLO.

To the majority of SLO residents, however, Bubblegum Alley is a beloved tradition that gives the town a bit of personality and (no pun intended) flavor. Many people, including myself, see more than just wads of gum stuck to brick walls: they see art.

You see, not everyone who leaves their gum on Bubblegum Alley simple sticks it there and is done with it. It’s extremely popular to make pictures or words out of the gum, especially when it comes to couples, the Greek letters of fraternities and sororities, and WOW (Week Of Welcome) group numbers. Because I am a proud Harry Potter nerd, when I left my sticky contribution to Bubblegum Alley last summer, I made it into the shape of a lightning bolt. (Last I checked, it was still there.)

Nobody knows exactly how Bubblegum Alley got started. One theory states that it used to be a graduation tradition for the SLO high school students, while another says that it began as a competition between the high school and Cal Poly students. Either way, if you find yourself with nothing to do, you’re the artistic type, and you don’t mind getting your fingers sticky, I would highly reccomend a trip to Bubblegum Alley. Just be careful not to touch the walls.

"Projectbubble Gum," the most famous piece of Bubblegum Alley artwork, created by professional artist Matthew Hoffman. In order to preserve it, it's located higher on the wall than most of the gum.

A patriotic piece: one of many examples of Bubblegum Alley artwork.

Some people even make their gum pictures three-dimensional, such as this flower.

(Note: I found all of the above photos at this link.)

It’s impossible to live in SLO, or even just visit it, without knowing about it’s Farmers’ Market. It’s a proud tradition that SLO has kept up ever since that fateful summer of ’78, though now it’s certainly been expanded.

Every Thursday, (except Thanksgiving Day or when it’s raining), part of Higuera Street is shut down so that over 120 vendors can gather to sell their goods. You typically see fruits, vegetables, and barbecued meats, but it’s not uncommon to stumble upon snacks and dessert. (My aunt had her first taste of Dippin’ Dots at a SLO Farmers’ Market!)

Farmers’ Market doesn’t just provide food, however. It’s also known for showcasing live entertainment, more often than not in the form of local bands. The barbecues and performances begin at 6:00 p.m., and the fun goes on for about three hours.

There’s absolutely no excuse for a Cal Poly student to be bored on a Thursday night. Not only because the majority of students don’t have class on Fridays, but also because there’s always something interesting or tasty to discover at the Farmers’ Market.

A typical crowd at the Farmers' Market.

In front of F. McLintock's: the most popular Farmers' Market barbecue.

It's not uncommon to see people selling flowers at the Farmers' Market either.

Note: I found the photos used in this post at the following links – Photo #1 | Photo #2 | Photo #3