My Central Coast favorites

The Village is one of the things I loved most about living in Arroyo Grande. It's got great restaurants, shops, coffee shops and bars, plus the swinging bridge, and so much more. It's where an ordinary outing turns into a little memory, and it captures so much of what makes this town feel special to me.

Ember is absolutely a must for date night. It's farm to table with the menu changing monthly, the cocktails are the best, and it's friendly for families too. Honestly, it's just an all around vibe.

RJ and I tried Nipomo Sushi for our "New to Us" series, and it completely exceeded our expectations. The Nipomo roll was my favorite, with the Firecracker a close second. Phan and Amber made the experience so welcoming and fun. We also appreciated being able to order gluten-free rolls for RJ.

My go-to for a challenging workout and a little time for myself. It's a reformer Pilates studio, with multiple studios across the Central Coast — I'm in and out of the Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande locations. Between motherhood and running a business, this is one of the routines I love making room for.

Being able to work a beach visit into an ordinary day is something I never want to take for granted. It's one of my favorite parts of raising our kids here, and one of the reasons I love calling the Central Coast home.

An afternoon of wine tasting with RJ or my girlfriends is one of my favorite ways to slow down. My favorites are Laetitia in Arroyo Grande, Presqu’ile in the Santa Maria Valley, and Chamisal in Edna Valley. Good wine, beautiful views, and time together. We're pretty lucky to have all of that here on the Central Coast.

Fresh produce, local vendors, and a reason to get outside with the kids. The Arroyo Grande farmers market runs on Wednesday and Saturday, and there's the Santa Maria farmers market too. Here in Nipomo we also have community member farm stands run right out of people's own homes. I love how a trip to the farmers market can turn an ordinary day into a little outing while supporting the people who grow and create right here in our community.