Light at Sensorio

Bruce Munro’s solar-powered light show is 15-acres of jaw-dropping joy in Paso Robles

By Misty Hall

Paso Robles: Land of gently rolling hillsides, dotted with oak trees, and blanketed in vineyards. During the daytime, it is a playground for wine lovers, with more than 200 wineries taking advantage of the many microclimates this topography affords. In the evening, there’s a totally different way to experience this landscape: Sensorio. With well over 100,000 color-changing lights spread across 15 acres of rural hills, this awe-inspiring spectacle has attracted world-wide attention in its four years of existence.

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The Piers of the Central Coast

Story and photos by Katherine McMahon

If you visit a beach on the Central Coast this summer, you may find yourself strolling out over the water on a wooden pier. Today, these structures are popular tourist destinations, but most were built for a very different reason. Back in the 1800s — long before Highway 101 was built — ships were the main suppliers of goods to this quickly-growing region. Piers allowed ships to offload their passengers and cargo much faster (and safer) than using the small barges of the past. These piers quite literally helped build the cities they belonged to.

Once the railways and highways were built, the piers weren’t needed like before. Several of them fell into disrepair and were removed, but some were repurposed and have become beloved recreational features in their beach communities.

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The Alchemy of Ojai Botanika

Eco-friendly soaps and candles find a following in Central Coast shops — and on the web

Story by  Misty Hall Photos by Malina Majikina

In a lot of ways, Ojai Botanika bridges the gap between old-school and new. Founder Malina Majikina started her soap and candle company the way craftspeople have done since, well, forever: through word of mouth. But her business really took off when she began connecting with customers through social media platforms, which allowed her to vastly expand her reach. Today, Ojai Botanika ships its all-natural soaps, candles, and curios around the world.

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Pick and Play at Underwood Family Farms

Story & photos by Adam Nunez

Nestled between the rolling hills of Moorpark, about 10 minutes north of Thousand Oaks, is an ideal summer family getaway. Underwood Family Farms is a sprawling 200 acres of farmland and a myriad of fun activities for the kids. There are animal petting and feeding stations, live animal shows, climbable haystacks, tricycles, tunnels, slides, tractor rides, and even a cow-shaped bouncy house.

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SLO Down and Explore Highway 227

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Cruise the Cannabis Coast

By Barbara Verde

“I can’t smell any cannabis, can you?” whispered one silver-haired woman to another as we waited outside Coastal Blooms farm in Carpinteria, on a particularly blustery Monday. I discreetly lifted my nose up and sniffed the air, bloodhound-style. Even though I was standing in the parking lot right outside of a 12-acre cannabis farm, I couldn’t smell a thing. I was a little perplexed, considering I can’t even hide the smell of the CBD oil I stash in my kitchen cupboard (anyone hungry for some Cheech and Chong Cheerios?)

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