Having driven through Arroyo Grande on Highway 101 many times, I didn''t realize there was an old town section to this quaint central California coast town.
Arroyo Grande is located 15 miles south of San Luis Obispo, 15 miles north of Santa Maria, and two miles east of the Pacific Ocean, just off the 101 Freeway. It''s halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Exiting the freeway east on Branch Street in Arroyo Grande, you come to a small downtown section with a main street and boutique type shops.
Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe in the center of town on Branch Street has been an establishment since 1901. This is one of two old fashioned butcher shops in Arroyo Grande, the other being on the ocean, west side of the freeway. Here you can give you desires to the proprietor and they will hand cut you a steak, roast, etc. to meet your specific needs. They even had a large goose in the display cooler ready for someone''s holiday table. It''s definitely personalized service.
The downtown section of town has restaurants including Mexican food, and antique, wine, and gift shops. There''s even one called the Re-Entry Shop for recycled goods. At the far end of Branch Street (about a block or two) there is a street accurately named Short Street, since it only goes a few feet to a small parking lot. Even though it seems to have gotten it''s name from its size, it actually is named for the family, the Shorts, who''s land was located here split by the Arroyo Grande Creek.
The creek is spanned by a historic swinging bridge built in 1875. It is purported to be the only one of its kind in California. The swinging bridge is 171 feet long and 40 feet above the creek. You can walk across the bridge to the small museum located in the nicely maintained Santa Manuela Schoolhouse.
This section of the California central coast holds many intriguing stops along the highway. You never know what old Arroyo Grande holds for you from the freeway and the reverse is true as well. They seem like two different worlds side by side.
The area around the downtown holds many vineyards where wine tastings take place. Two within Arroyo Grande itself are the Laetitia Vineyards and the Tally Vineyards. The village of Arroyo Grande may be small, only five square miles, but it has a charm and character all its own.