If you feel the need to venture away from the Madonna Inn there are a few cool things to do in or around the San Luis Obispo area.

Harbor Hut in Morro Bay (approx.15 minutes from the Madonna Inn)
805.772.2255
1205 Embarcadero Road

Formerly the Samoa Hut. There are quite a few Tikis on the grounds including three rare sized Tahitian cannibal carvings. Special attention was paid to doorknobs and signage so don't overlook those! Dinner is about $15 an entree. While there is not a full drink menu they do make a large, strong concoction which they call a Mai Tai and one winter stopover we had a Hot Buttered Rum that was very tasty. There is a hamburger stand outside the restaurant where you can eat while viewing the Bay as well as the large Tikis that guard the front door.

LISTEN UP!
Jack Sands and Harvard "Harvey" Wallbanger will host a special bonus radio show on December 27, at 6 pm on KCPR 91.3 fm. Information for KCPR can be found at www.kcpr.org

Hearst Castle
http://www.hearstcastle.org
The Castle is located in San Simeon.
Reservations are recommended. For tour times and reservations, call
1-800-444-4445

And this AMAZING list of what to do via Katin in San Luis Obispo (Take in what you can!)

TIKI-LIKE STUFF!
Stuff-O-Rama, our local Tiki boutique. Tell Terry, the store
owner, hello! The store hours are GREAT since it is shares space with the video store INSOMNIAC VIDEO - open noon to midnite on the weekends! Lots of cool stuff, Tiki and other, well stocked since much of her business is through the Internet, www.stuff-o-rama.com, (805)781-9340. Located next to the Laundromat at the corner of Broad & South streets, 2161 Broad Street, kati-corner from the Fire Station. Fatty's Pizza, next door, gives 2-for-1 pizzas that are pretty good.

Traces of Tiki stuff can be found at CALIFORNIA BLONDE, 1137 Garden Street, by SLO Brewing Co. and Linnaea's Cafe.

DECADES has more retro shoes than I knew existed, plus all kinds of stuff from the past. New stuff about the past as well, including hula dolls and other Tiki-related sorts of things. A fun walk-through, 785 Higuera right in the middle of downtown.

SURF and BEACH
NOTE: the temperature of the ocean on the Central Coast is warmer than the Bay Area, but much colder than L.A. Don't plan to surf without a 3mil suit. Wherever you go, be very careful of rip currents and undertow (don't play in the "V" where the waves meet, kiddos).

For babes and play (smash ball, etc.), Avila Beach (15 mins south of SLO on 101) can't be beat. It also has a family side (the north side of the pier). Even when other beaches are fogged in, Avila is usually sunny and warm. No fires or overnight camping allowed. Interesting recent background story: in a huge controversy, UNICAL has done a "clean up" of the town soil that was contaminated from years of leaking oil transport and storage tanks and lines. They did it by removing and replacing the top twelve feet of soil for most of the town. Wow. That's a big project. It entailed tearing down the entire beachfront shop area, which is just now being rebuilt. So while you'll have a hard time getting amenities there at this time, it remains the popular spot for sun bathing and scenery.

Pismo Beach, farther south, is a much bigger beach. Home of national volleyball tournaments and four-wheelin' on the sand, it is a much different experience. At night, fires are allowed at Pismo, but not at Avila.

Morro Bay at the Rock has a nice long beach for walking, and you'll see surfers around the Rock. Careful swimming there - be sure you have a wet suit and board or float device, as the rip currents are really fast - and no lifeguards are on duty.

WEIRD SITES / PICTURE SPOTS / ODDS'N'ENDS
Visit GUMBALL ALLEY, downtown on Higuera Street between Garden St. and Broad St. Thousands of kids have plugged their gum on the walls, going from the ground to over 12 feet high! The smell alone is an experience that will remain uncategorized in your brain forever. Grab a pack of gum before you journey there and leave your own chew as a monument to future generations. Interesting note: a few years ago some people who were germ-a-phobic let gumball alley get to them and they somehow arranged the whole alley to be napalmed. You'll see the blackish soot marks and cooked gum under the current layers of new, fresh, sticky wads. Even fire cannot change the spirit or tradition of this only-one-like-it-in-America spot!

THURSDAY NITE FARMER'S MARKET is a traditional event here in SLO, very popular with the locals and students of Cal Poly. Usually has three to five different live bands, street acts, dancing, lots of food, and many booths for many causes and interests. Oh, yeah, and lots of fresh fruit and veggies for cheap! The week between Christmas and New Year's will probably be a quiet one for Farmer's Market. Catch it in October for the new wave of Poly Dollies at their best.

THE MISSION is surrounded by a nice park with a cool little outdoor amphitheater almost right in the center of downtown. There is live "Music in the Park" at 6pm on most summer Friday nights, some Saturdays. The Mission is one of the original California Missions built in the 1800's, and seems to be a popular place for the history buffs. I never really got into it. The Mission is between Higuera and Palm Street, between Chorro and Broad. Be sure to walk down along the creek, too, for ice cream shops, food, tables, music, and scenery.

EATING & FOOD
The TIKI HUT serves stir-fry teriyaki bowls: chicken, beef, veggie, tofu, combo. Bowls include rice and veggies. A cool place owned by a cool local chick. Of course, great decor. Over near Cal Poly at 594 California Blvd, in the shopping center with Confetti's Party store. She also owns and operates the "mongolian beef stir fry" style place, Flame Bay, in the Network Mall at 778 Higuera. Great food, great portions, mix your hot-fry sauce and oils. Pick out your meat, veggies, and trimmings, and they fry them up with noodles. Really good!

SUSHI is a great experience on the Central Coast. For a premium sushi experience, one of the top five Sushi bars in California can be found 20 minutes from SLO in Morro Bay, HARADA'S on the Embarcadero. Or, stay downtown and find the back-alley TSURUGI'S Sushi (570 Higuera) behind Tortilla Flats on Nipomo Street - traditional and highly rated. Journey to the Laguna Lake side of town to eat at the excellent SAKURA RIKYU, newly expanded, traditional, great food! (11560 Los Osos Valley Road next to Upper Crust Pizza). You can't miss as long as you eat at one of these three places.

A new TAHOE JOE'S serves good food - a nice array of mountain-man kind sorts of dishes: buffalo wings, ribs, steaks, big burgers, nachos, salads, chicken, etc. Located in the Madonna Plaza shopping center across from Bed, Bath, & Beyond and Staples. 485 Madonna Road, a bit down the road from the Madonna Inn.

SLO BREWING CO at 1119 Garden Street downtown makes great burgers, chicken sandwiches, tasty appetizers, and their own selection of beers! They should have the holiday seasonal beer at that time, so be sure to check it out. Go upstairs for the food, pool tables, and full view of the brewing operations. The dancing and music will be happening downstairs past midnite, so when we're done at Madonna Inn you may want to migrate.

MO'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ is the hands-down beef BBQ place. Fantastic location downtown; tables and chairs collected from around the country. Good eatin'! 970 Higuera.

Need a quick sandwich? KONA's DELI downtown (726 Higuera) makes great sub-like - or should I say surfboard-shaped - sandwiches cheap. Further down Higuera (say high-gerra) Street is BEN FRANKLIN'S SANDWICH COMPANY, home of the Purple Dragon, 313 Higuera, a great spot for great sandwiches and a pit stop. Tell the owner, Big Jim, hello!

Cool experience: Waiters pour your water from six feet above the table while you eat sweetbreads and rock mountain oysters and wait for your awesome steak at McCLINTOCK'S STEAK HOUSE in Pismo Beach, 15 minutes south of San Luis down 101 (750 Mattie Rd, right along the freeway). This place is huge and a terrific place to eat. Many of the 'rich and famous" crowd eat there when traveling between Bay Area and L.A./San Diego. Highly recommended. Expect $20-$30/plate plus drinks and wine.

THE MORNING AFTER: BREAKFAST
MARGIE'S DINER, home of big food. Huge portions, awesome breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From blue plate specials like hot turkey to Slider's (three mini cheese burgers), this place just plain rocks. It is THE preferred choice for breakfast! Closes at 10pm. 1575 Calle Joaquin, over by the freeway on ramp on Los Osos Valley Road. You get to Calle Joaquin by acting like you are getting on the freeway at the stop light, but then going straight instead of left onto the on ramp. It's kind of a frontage road right along the freeway.

LOUISA'S PLACE right next to MO'S BBQ on Higuera Street, 964 Higuera. They have a hard time keeping up with the crowds on weekend mornings, so you may have to wait a few minutes for your food, but it is worth the wait. Greasy spoon lovers, this is a classic local diner with great food
and experienced waitresses. A taste of the past and highly recommended. Especially known for their Linguisa Omelets.

SUNSHINE DONUTS is your classic Kona-Coffee donut shop - like stepping back 30 years instantly. Bonus: damn good donuts! $1.25 donut and coffee special, tables inside and outside. Wide clientele, you never know who you are going to see there. Corner of South and Higuera Streets, address of 195 Higuera.

For just a Bagel and coffee or juice, THE BAGEL BASEMENT right downtown on Higuera will serve you well. Great selection of fresh baked bagels and bagel sandwich creations. Not open for dinner or late night. 673 Higuera.

SPORTS, EXERCISE & HIKING
Hike up Madonna Mountain and see a 360 degree view of San Luis, Laguna Lake, and the Ocean! Truly outstanding and a hike of only easy-to-medium difficulty. It's about 45 minutes up to the top at an easy pace, and only 20-25 minutes down, but leave a good 15-30 minutes for gawking at the top. Binoculars will serve you well, and bring some water. Attempt this hike only during day time hours unless you are with someone that has hiked it many times before, as there are some trail turns that are easily missed. Go to where Marsh and Higuera streets meet, there are entrances to 101 there. Take the 101 South onramp, but turn off to the right to the dirt road/driveway looking thing just before entering the freeway. Turn right again and park. You'll see the entry gate marked by a sign. Hike up and up and up and enjoy! Recommended you stay on the trail.

For a great afternoon trip just 20 minutes out of San Luis Obispo, take a drive past Los Osos to MONTANTA DE ORO NATIONAL PARK, where stunning cliffs meet the ocean. Great tide pools, Spooner's Cove beach (a favorite SCUBA spot on the Central Coast), and miles of beautiful hiking trails are the ticket for awesome views and nature. Take along a local to discover Hazard Canyon surfing spot, where the "natives" have built several structures and carvings from driftwood. You'll drive through the fabled Eucalyptus Forest- smell the air and imagine how happy Koalas would be there. An incredible picture spot. Campsites available.

GOLF at the premium AVILA BAY CLUB, 15 mins out of SLO Town toward Avila Beach. Golfing at the edge of the ocean will make you get sensation of what it must be like at Pebble Beach, without the hefty price tag. For a quick game, beginners, or hackers, you can play a full round of golf for just $7.50 at Laguna Lake Golf Course,11175 Los Osos Valley Road, keep going down Los Osos Valley Road past the Laguna Shopping Center, and it'll be on your left as you are coming from the freeway. Driving range included. Wow.

BOOKS AND BOOKS
LEON's Books, 659 Higuera downtown, next to Aaron Brothers Art & Framing, has a wide wide selection of used books of all categories. If you are downtown and a book lover, don't miss this place. There is also Leon's Annex, which has only paperbacks, near Stuff-O-Rama.

If you are going out to Montana De Oro (see above), you'll have to drive right by LOS OSOS BOOK EXCHANGE, 2149 10th Street in Los Osos. The owner, George, is very knowledgeable and fun to talk to - he's like a Cirque Du Solae performer in the domain of language, a spoon-bender of memes and concepts. Look all around the store for his reality-questioning yet official looking signs - you may well agree with most of them. Ask George about sea stories and Polynesian lore, he knows you are coming! Two kitties live in the shop, along with about 22,000+ books. Open 7 days a week.

PHOENIX BOOKS has a terrific collection of edge, zine books, used and new, martial arts, and exotica. My place of preference when shopping in SLO, handy right downtown, 990 Monterey, a block over from Higuera, behind MO's BBQ, across from HUDSON'S GRILL. Very near to BOO-BOO's Records, too.

MUSIC AND CD'S
BOO-BOO RECORDS is the best local place. Lots of selection, a great used section, and now a new "wing" for Jazz, Classical, and New Age. Check out the BOO-BOO's WAX MUSEUM for cool aged vinyl. Right next to Phoenix Books on Monterey Street. 978 Monterey.

CHEAP THRILLS AND RECYCLED RECORDS has used and new, plus video cartridge games. Moved recently to a new location at 712 Marsh Street, at Marsh and Broad.

WANNA CATCH A FLICK?
The coolest movie theater around: The Freemont Theater on Monterey Street (between Osos and Santa Rosa Street). Known for it's midnite movies and amazing bizarre ceiling, this is a great visit for theater and movie buffs. It has been used as a location itself for several movies shoots. Unfortunately, it plays the standard run of movies. It was refurbished about fifteen years ago, and it could use it again. On Monterey Street between Santa Rosa and Osos Streets.

For the alternative and independent movie scene, check out the way-cool PALM THEATER at 817 Palm Street near downtown (near Palm & Chorro Street). Always plays the edge of the movie scene, less expensive, and nice cozy theaters (maybe 50 people in the two smaller, 100 in the larger). Funky scene.

The DRIVE-IN is a drive in, rather run down at this stage of history. Due for a refurb in the future. But you can still have fun there, of course. Ask someone how to get there.

DANGER, ADVENTURE AND YOU DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT HERE
Harry's Bar in Pismo beach: the place to go if you want to get into a fight.

The San Luis Sewer Tour: There are tunnels that run under much of downtown San Luis, portions of which has recently been re-built (the old ones were sinking slowly). Walking in the creek (yes, you will get wet) and through the underground tunnels (bring a flashlight - or not) to emerge on the other side is a thrill that was a highlight of the WOW (Week of Welcome) activated for new Cal Poly students. Unfortunately, due to city ordinances and liability problems, those tours don't happen anymore. They don't want you under there, either. Makes it all the more appealing, doesn't it? Bring fodder for all the homeless people that live under there, and be prepared for them to yell at you if you are going through late at night, as they are trying to sleep for crying out loud!

WARNING: DO NOT CLIMB the buildings or hop the rooftops of downtown San Luis, unless you are looking to be arrested. This activity has been a favorite of young Cal Poly adventurers for decades, and the city has gotten serious. There are now motion detectors, microphones, and infrared detectors placed strategically around the rooftops of downtown. I've seen the system design; you will get busted in short order. Too bad, we'll just have to find some other fun.

PIRATE'S COVE is the local nude beach, turn left up the hill on the way out to Avail Beach as you pass the Avila Bay Golf Course holes on the right. Status at the beach is unknown - sometimes it is amazing, sometimes may be more than you bargained for, gay and straight, sometimes just boring.