Whether visiting or living in this California destination, there are many things to see and do. Here are attractions, activities and events of interest:

Attractions

Arroyo Grande Parks and Recreation List of Parks provide beautiful places for wine picnics. The chickens in Arroyo Grande are local residents people feed. They live by the Arroyo Grande Bridge that crosses the creek. Arroyo Grande is filled with rambling roads leading out to some superb wineries where you can sample the best of the Central Coast.

Beaches- There's no beach in Arroyo Grande but you can see the ocean from some vantage points. If you head for Pismo Beach, the neighboring city, you've got great beaches, surfing, sunbathing and the fantastic Pismo Beach Pier.

Dining  -Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream - good stuff!

Events- Concerts on the Green.

Egg Hunt and Games

Festivals - Harvest Festival and Strawberry Festival on Memorial Weekend are biggies!

Shopping- Shop downtown or off the 101 Freeway where you can find Marshall's, Trader Joe's and big box convenience stores.

Sports

Vacations

Arroyo Grande is the Central Coast gateway to wine country. The road leading outside of town away from Interstate 101 takes you through some scenic hills where vineyards dot the landscape. It is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable wine country drives in all of California.

But for people who like authentic Central Coast, just drive downtown to the old shopping district. Park your car near the swinging bridge, and plan to spend a couple hours browsing the shops, grabbing some grub, and soaking up the local vibe. Roosters near the swinging bridge offer entertainment as you watch them strut like they own the place. Sometimes you might even see them cross the road and when they do, you keep your fingers crossed that they won't get hit. The locals are prepared, and tourists need to drive slow and watch for the cock-a-doodle-doo critters.

The most popular event in old town Arroyo Grande is the Memorial Weekend Strawberry festival voted by Sunset magazine as the best Memorial Event in all of California. We may disagree, because there's an equally interesting Strawberry Festival in Garden Grove going on at the same time. But for Central Coast, California journeys that include beaches, wine country and old-fashioned vacations, just book yourself a room at one of the Arroyo Grande hotels, or stay up the road in Pismo Beach on the beach, and you'll have the time of your life!

When you go:Be sure to visit Pismo Beach beaches; the Wine Country trails; Nipomo / Guadalupe Sand Dunes; and 2 missions south on Interstate 101 in Solvang and Lompoc.