The "Village"...

... as the locals refer to Arroyo Grande, is just a few miles from Pismo Beach.  We'd read about this quaint town recently in a magazine and decided to explore it this visit.  We'd hired dog-sitter, Katie, back for a few hours that day, looking forward to being able to go into the many shops we'd read lined the Arroyo Grande streets.  We'd also read about the town's historic district and the swinging bridge, so we started our mini-tour there.  The museums were closed, but we did enjoy the gardens, and the many monarch butterflies sipping nectar from the flowering trees.  And yes, we walked across the swinging bridge, which doesn't really swing, but it does bounce - a weird sensation!

Then we looked for a place for lunch on the main street and found a restaurant that will live in our memories, the Rooster Tavern.  We're not "designer pizza" kind of people, but we had a Proscuitto/Fresh Mozzarella/Arugula/White Truffle Oil Pizza that was just incredible.  Another place we will most definitely go back!  We followed that with a walk on the main drag and a bit of shopping.