This is a guest post by Susan Guillory of The Unexplorer.
Having visited California’s Central Coast last year with my girlfriends, I already knew how beautiful the area was and how much there was to see and do. But I’d never ventured into San Luis Obispo (known as SLO to locals) and hadn’t yet experienced the kind of hospitality that can only be found in small, authentic towns like this one.
This year, my friend Lori and I decided to return, this time to SLO, for a relaxing weekend getaway. We were graciously hosted by the City of SLO and were provided with comped hotel accommodations (in exchange for this review) at Apple Farm Inn.
Wow. This place isn’t hard to review because I haven’t stopped raving about it to my friends!
A Welcome Welcome at Apple Farm Inn
From the second you arrive, this place sells itself. Grumpy and tired after far too many hours in LA traffic, I was surprised when the man checking me in gave me a glass of wine for each of us and fresh baked cookies. This is a good sign…
As the gentleman showed me the map, he pointed to the millhouse. I could hear the waterwheel churning just outside of the office…and something else.
“That’s the bullfrogs,” he smiled, “They start up at sunset, but they quiet down after a few hours.”
Sounded pretty fairy tale to me!
Lori and I took the elevator up to our room. It was one of the biggest rooms I’ve ever stayed in. None of this space-is-a-commodity-so-you-have-barely-enough-room-for-a-bed nonsense you find in larger cities. The room was large enough for two beds, a living area with a window seat, and a fireplace. The bathroom was also spacious.
While the public areas of the hotel were decorated in country charm, the room was tasteful and neutral in colors. There were even two bottles of Martinelli’s sparkling apple juice left for us (which got replaced daily)! Turndown service included Andes mints. Perfect touches make for a memorable stay.
We drifted off to the waaack-waaack of the bullfrogs and slept like stones.
Full of Quaint Charm
The next morning, we ate breakfast from the on-site bakery. I, of course, opted for an apple streusel muffin, given the apple theme of the place (though, sadly, the property has no apple farm). After breakfast, we meandered around, exploring the millhouse and its working water wheel.
Though we could have taken a trolley to downtown San Luis Obispo (for $.50!), we opted to drive. After exploring all the shops and restaurants (I’ll write about that in my next post), we hurried back to Apple Farm Inn because it was wine tasting time! They actually have a wine tasting on-site for guests to sample local wines! Again, it was special touches like this that endeared this place to me.
Had we not had so much we wanted to see in the area, I could have easily lounged by the pool and never left the property all weekend!
Need to Know:
There are actually two properties with Apple Farm Inn: the Inn has three floors of over-sized elegant accommodations uniquely appointed in a contemporary country design, while Trellis Court Motel is adjacent to the Inn and has exterior corridors and offers the drive up ease of a motel.
Rooms start around $209 a night for Apple Farm Inn and $109 for Trellis Court Motel.
Free wi-fi is available. Apple Farm Inn is not pet-friendly.
Check-in: 4 pm
Check-out: noon
Insider Tips:
As I said, you can take the trolley into SLO, though oddly enough, we never saw one. You could walk, though it would be quite a slog along a not-so-pedestrian-friendly road. But there’s plenty of street parking in downtown SLO, and then you’ll have your car handy to put all your purchases in.
Get there for Thursday’s Farmer’s Market, for sure. Not only will you find great local produce, but there are plenty of musicians and bites to eat. And if you don’t find anything to your liking at the prepared food booths, the restaurants that line Higuera, where the market is held, are all open.
If You Go:
Apple Farm Inn
2015 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, California 93401
800-255-2040
Apple Farm Inn review and all photography by travel writer Susan Guillory. I received a comped stay at this hotel, though all opinions are my own.