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As
you drive north on Highway 1, Los Osos is the first
town west of
San Luis Obispo and next door to
Morro Bay. In fact, it's surrounded by water on
two sides, the west and north side. The south side is
farmland and the edge of the Montanda
de Oro State Park. With controlled growth and locasl
trying to buy up the little private land around the
town to create a greenbelt, it sounds like a little
bit of paradise.
Unfortunately,
an ongoing battle over a sewer installation has created
a feud that makes the Hatfields and McCoys seem like
amatuers. The state water board mandated migration from
septic systems to a sewer treatment facility years ago.
This project was started by the county over 30 years
ago, then was turned over to a locally elected Community
Services District (CSD). Local groups formed to stop
the sewer system, and there's been little progress since.
In fact, the battle has become so vicious it's come
to impact many of the local institutions and is a common
complaint in local coffee circles.
With
costs spiralling out of control, locals could face charges
of over $200 a month in sewer treatment alone, making
the area unaffordable to the many local seniors that
live on a fixed income.
This
won't impact you as a visitor, but I'd advise not bringing
up local politics when speaking with natives.
Local
Business
There are two primary shopping areas in town. The largest
is along Los Osos Valley Road and contains the main
grocery stores, a mix of chain stores and local businesses,
and services like the post office and newspaper office.
While
you're there indulge yourself and stop by Carlock's
Bakery, a local institution. For dinner there's
the 10th
St Grill serving steak and seafood, and for the
frugal, Jimmy Bumps Pasta House has become a favorite.
There's also a take-out restaurant that serves some
of the best Thai food in the area, Lotus Thai Cuisine.
Order ahead at (805) 534-0489.
The other area is a small corner in Baywood Park, the
northwest corner of the town. Grab a cup of coffee and
hang out at the pier, eat dinner on the patio of Las
Cazuelas while watching the sun set, or even stay
overnight at one of the two inns. Be sure to make reservations
as early as possible for these inns, they're very popular.
There's also a pier for launching kayaks.
Local
Attractions
Local attrations in Los Osos include the Elfin
Forest,
Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, LO
Oaks Preserve, and Montaña
de Oro, as well as a beautiful 7 mile drive to the
coast.
When
the sun is out and you're watching the birds over the
Bay, you'll be entranced by the peaceful beauty of the
area.
Kayaking is very popular. There's a shark breeding area on the south end of the Bay where you can see a large variety of small sharks during breeding season.
Los Osos has a community center, the South Bay Community Center, which is little more than an empty building and meeting location. While community centers in Cambria and Morro Bay have grown and prospered, an inept board and lack of imagination has not only prevented it from growing but watched the few resources it has become out dated and in disrepair. It is an inexpensive facility for weddings and small events when compared with other commercial venues like Steamers in Pismo Beach.
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