San Luis Obispo California is my favorite home away from home. For those that have never been, San Luis Obispo County is located halfway between Los Angeles CA and San Francisco CA on the scenic Central Coast. Though I haven't heard it lately, one of their mottos is "Come up for air." And if you want to fit in there, please don't call it San Louie. It's Luis as in 'Lewis'.

It is also the home of California Polytechnic State University, and because of the constant influx of students, many people that never would have heard of it have come to love it.

I have lived there on and off throughout my life. When I'm not living there, I go back whenever possible.

The local beaches are names you'd recognize around the world: Pismo, Avila, Morro Bay, Pirate's Cove, Shell Beach and the list goes on.

Just make sure you book motel and hotel reservations well in advance because there literally isn't a room to be had during graduations and major holidays.

Other sites worth a look are the Pismo Dunes, the Heron Rookery in Morro Bay State Park, Gumball Alley in SLO, the old Creamery in SLO, the Paso Robles State Fair, the Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival (don't miss the swinging bridge), Lopez Lake, Montana De Oro cliffs, and the monarch migration near Grover Beach.

Update: Here is another hub I just found with even more great links. http://hubpages.com/_l6f64eotqm13/hub/Enjoying_the_Central_Coast_in_2-3_Days

It's an excellent hub and I don't understand why it doesn't have a better hubscore.

Every time I visit China town there is less and less of it left.

If you go over to the Amtrak train station you'll see a fairly new sculpture of 2 Chinese laborers.

And in the S.L.O. downtown area there is a new Asian sculpture going up. It looks like a pagoda gazebo. Hopefully the next time I go up there it will be finished.

Paula Zima's bear sculpture. http://www.paulazima.com/

Recently they added 2 bear cubs frolicking in the water. When the fountain was first installed the original flat stone the girl was sitting on cracked in half and they had to replace it.

The free mission tour docent told us that the Chumash were actually afraid of the bears because they attacted the tribe and sometimes ran off with their children. So she said they wouldn't be sitting casually next to a bear.

Sadly there are no more bears in the area.

My daughter (shown on the bear) said she asks people if they remember the time before the bear cubs were part of the fountain. Most of the time they insist the cubs have always been there.

Here I am working at the Morro Bay Harbor Festival, which happens every Oct. In the background is Morro Rock, which is a bird sanctuary. This area is popular with surfers, fishermen, and tourists.

To learn more about the Morro Bay Harbor Festival, go here: http://www.mbhf.com/about.html

Do you ever want to see those controversial movies or independent films that just don't have the marketing budget to make the major theater circuit? The Palm Theater is just the thing. Be forewarned, you may have to read subtitles!

If you'd rather go to a big old time theater with a huge marquis, try the Fremont in downtown SLO or if you want the best selection of current films, try the General Cinema Theaters on Marsh St. in SLO.