Arroyo Grande Village

Arroyo Grande Village is a nice little main street with a park and a swinging bridge. The historic storefronts along Branch Street, the main strip, are kept up beautifully, and there are many cafes to try. Make sure you try the milk chocolate chunk ice cream at Rori's Artisanal Creamery on Branch Street. There are some picnic tables with orange umbrellas outside and some booths inside. A model trail runs around the room by the ceiling, passing through a tunnel and coming back out! The ice cream is expensive but you can get an itty bitty scoop in a small cup or cone and it's better for your health anyway! A delicious place to eat is Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza, a counter-service cafe with a very cute interior, in a little stand-alone building covered in ivy and grape vines. The Mule Bakery bakes its pastries fresh every morning in the back (they are very sweet). You can sit outside at their nice seating along the road. If the pastries have sold out, you could buy one of their unique flavored sparkling waters. They have a very cute, modern counter area, with some gifts like notebooks. Cafe Andreini has coffee/tea, pastries, oatmeal, acai bowls, smoothies, avocado toast, and breakfast burritoes. Their sausage cheese croissants are good. You can sit at the wooden chairs and tables by the bright front windows, or in the back which is like someone's old living room. 

There is a sweet toy store called Little Oaks Toys and Books (closed Mon-Wed), and even a bookstore with an attractive interior, called Monarch Books. It has a cute kids section in the back too.
Admire the historic houses on Branch Street and then walk the little path along Tally Ho Creek on the right side of The Agrarian Hotel. It's very pretty! Then cross Branch Street and walk along Mason Street. You will pass historic houses with white picket fences, and flowers galore in April. There are more tropical trees here than in San Luis Obispo, such as magnolia trees and banana trees.
Walk to the dirt path that follows the creek at Kiwanis Park and enjoy the tropical trees, wildflowers, and plants (this area is somewhat deserted so bring a friend). There is a kind of tarzan feeling here which is fun. From the path you can look up at the delightful swinging bridge that extends high above the creek.
It's fun to walk across the swinging bridge! On the other side is a pleasant neighborhood with Heritage Square Park (a well-kept beautiful bandstand, toddler playground with horse bouncies, gorgeous trees, cool breezes, and a large lawn). Here you can find South County Historical Society which has three buildings to explore when open: a house with some items from history such as dolls and kitchen gadgets, and a garden with roses and a gazebo, a barn with interesting equipment from the past such as seed separators and tractors, and an old belltower school house. Summer concerts are held at the bandstand on every Sunday at 1-3 pm from July to September. Here is the 2025 schedule for summer concerts.
Branch Street Deli and Pizzeria, with lovely seating on a raised deck on the side of the building, has live music on Fri and Sat 5:30-8, and Sun 4-7. 
Timbre Winery, on the main strip, Branch Street, has occasional summer live music called Tunes at Timbre, generally Saturdays around 4pm. Check their facebook page.
Drive out to Lake Lopez, a sixteen minute drive inland, for a steep hike over the lake.
On the other side of the freeway:
If you want to say thank you for your vacation, or pray for comfort during troubles, drive 3 minutes over to Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, which has a little rock grotto in the cement plaza between the buildings. There is a statue of Mary, beautiful picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, flower bouquets, and candles. 
Sweet Pea Bakery is a cute bakery in a plain area, with good cowboy cookies and a tiny amount of seating on their entry balcony.

Directions

Exit Highway 101 southbound at Highway 227/ Grand Ave and turn left, or if northbound turn right. You are now on Branch Street. Park along the street. Or there is a free parking lot at 109 Nevada Street.
The swinging bridge is at Kiwanis Park.
Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza, 150 W. Branch Street.
Rori's Artisanal Creamery, 114 W. Branch Street.
The Mule Bakery, 117 E Branch St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. Open daily 7:30am or 8am, to 2pm or 3pm, depending on the day.
Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, 501 Fair Oaks Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. There is a large parking lot, and the little rock grotto to Our Lady of Guadalupe is in the cement plaza between the buildings.

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