Top Reasons to Visit Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort
- Voted a top 10 mineral-springs spa by Spa magazine and SpaFinder in 2009, this resort has been in operation for more than 100 years. The naturally hot sulfur mineral water found onsite is said to be healing and soothing.
- All of the queen spa rooms and the double-bed rooms have attached private mineral-spring hot tubs.
- The Oasis, the onsite mineral-springs hot tub with a waterfall, can hold up to 30 people. There is also a full-service spa, yoga classes, and a meditation labyrinth on the property. Additionally, you'll have access to a hiking trail and a walking path to the beach.
- The award-winning onsite eatery, Gardens of Avila Restaurant, serves farm-to-table cuisine made with ingredients from organic farms. Some menu highlights: the grilled albacore tostada and drake duck breast with roasted carrots.
San Luis Obispo, California: Historical Californian City Close to Hiking and the Pacific Coast
Founded in 1772 as a mission community, San Luis Obispo is one of the oldest towns in California. Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo—nicknamed “SLO”—has a thriving downtown. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is its centerpiece. It was the original mission of the city; it has been completely restored and now houses a museum. Near the mission, you can wander through posh boutique shops and dine at upscale restaurants.
San Luis Obispo is almost perpetually sunny, with more than 300 rain-free days every year. The city is bisected by a string of hills known as the Nine Sisters, and six of these hills are open for climbing, hiking, and mountain biking. And with the Pacific coastline and beaches 10 miles away, people flock here to go windsurfing, kayaking, surfing, and kiteboarding. Also nearby is the resort town of Avila Beach, famous for its hot mineral springs.
The city made international headlines in 1990 when it became the first place in the world to ban smoking in all public buildings, including bars and restaurants. This action sparked worldwide antismoking laws, and today, it’s a citable offense to smoke in public at all in SLO. Considering the city’s famously strict health codes, it’s a delightful surprise that the Bubble Gum Alley exists here. Locals and visitors have been sticking their chewed gum on Bubble Gum Alley’s walls since about 1960, and in turn, the alley is now a massive, mosaic-like public artwork that is at once beautiful and grotesque.
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