Much to do in the Village of Arroyo Grande

Friday, March 1st, 2024

visit Arroyo Grande

—Roosters, history, museums, pizza, wine, beer, ghosts, farms, theater, festivals, and the gateway to adventure, all of this and more is awaiting in Arroyo Grande, known as the Village to locals.

Some places are successful in retaining that old-time flavor of days gone by and still offer modern-day amenities and fun. Arroyo Grande is one of those towns.

This charming village is filled with one-of-a-kind shops with antique and vintage items, collectibles, clothing, sporting goods, gifts and more.

Pizza, a swinging bridge, history, concerts and roosters

Hungry after shopping? Stop in for a little piece of Alaska at Klondike Pizza. Specialty pizzas are on the menu and locals say the place is haunted.

As you walk around the village be sure to walk over the Swinging Bridge, the only one of its kind in California. The bridge is 171 feet long and swings 40 feet above the stream. Originally the bridge had no sides, but they were added in 1902. The bridge was donated to the city in 1911, destroyed by a storm in 1995, but since reconstructed.

Visit historic buildings dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s in Heritage Park. Concerts in the park offer live bands, dance troupes and other performances.

Centennial Park hosts the weekly Farmer’s Market and is home to a troupe of free-ranging roosters.

swinging bridge Arroyo Grande

Festivals, Festivals, Festivals

Arroyo Grande hosts festivals for just about every occasion and season. From the Holidays on into the new year, celebrating spring, summer and the fall harvest, Arroyo Grande is the place for families to enjoy outdoor music, vendors, and lots of tasty food, beer and wine.

Learn more about what’s going on in the village at visitarroyogrande.org.

Visit the farm

Just outside town Windmill Farms on North Thompson Avenue is a great place to take the kids, Visit the Critter Corral and feed the sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, turkeys, geese and miniature horse. In the barn find gourmet foods, gifts, pottery, garden art, succulents and more.

Adventures at Lopez Lake

A short drive east brings you to Lopez Lake for camping, hiking, boating, water-skiing, fishing and swimming. Exercise your outdoor adventure skills at Vista Lago Adventure Park and Mustang Waterpark for zip lining, waterslides and more.

–Ruth Ann Angus

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