Slo Your Roll: A Sister Trip 20 Years in the Making
After two decades of life pulling us in different directions, my sister Pratima and I finally carved out time for what we'd been promising ourselves for years: a proper girls' trip. No kids, no work calls, no agenda beyond reconnecting. San Luis Obispo turned out to be the perfect backdrop for hitting pause on our busy lives.
Garden Street Dreams
We made Hotel Cerro on charming Garden Street our home base – a little boutique gem that felt like the perfect blend of cozy and chic. After settling in, the next morning led us to Dunites tasting room, where we discovered exceptional natural wine. Natural wine is made from organic grapes using traditional winemaking methods with minimal additives or processing – a little less sugar and carbs. It was new to us and while the taste was slightly different it was refreshing and worth trying. Our conversation with the wine server became one of those unexpectedly touching moments – three women in our 40s sharing stories about life's winding path these past few years.
Next door, we walked into La Locanda for our first dinner, where the warm atmosphere set the tone for what would become a weekend of slowing down and savoring every moment.
Beach Therapy
The next morning, after fueling up with matcha at Scout Coffee, we laced up our sneakers for a 3 mile hike on Bob Jones Trail to Avila Beach. An easy hike that landed us at Avila Beach. We found ourselves running into a surf camp – some catching their first waves, others getting knocked down by the Pacific's playful force. Their fearless joy was infectious.
Downtown Discoveries
Back in downtown SLO, we treated ourselves to incredible vegan chilaquiles at Corazón and went around for some local shopping instead. Len Collective caught our attention with its curated mix of gifts, beauty finds, and jewelry. But the real highlight was reconnecting with our friends at Baxter Moerman, the custom design house. Mark gave us a private tour of their exceptional space, showing us the studio where they create the most intricate, beautiful pieces. The craftsmanship was absolutely mesmerizing.
Martinis and Memories
Dinner at Nate's on Marsh became the culinary highlight of our trip. Fun fact: Nate was once a jeweler too, which felt like a perfect full-circle moment. Their martini menu was playful and creative, and honestly, it might have been one of the most delicious meals we'd had in ages. We left absolutely stuffed but completely satisfied.
The Perfect Finale
Our final day had just one item on the agenda: Booker Winery in Paso Robles. I'd been following this winery for some time, particularly fascinated by designer Katie Martinez's recent interior redesign work. The space was absolutely exceptional – I might need an entire separate post just to do it justice. Known for their grenaches, this beautiful gem provided the perfect ending to our sister weekend.
What We Really Found
Looking back, this trip wasn't really about the places we visited or even the wine we tasted. It was about remembering who we are when we're not rushing to the next thing. Having no real agenda beyond being present with each other – and yes, wearing all our favorite jewelry without anywhere important to be – made this exactly what we needed.
Sometimes the best gift you can give yourself is permission to slo your roll.
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