The sleepy town of Guadalupe takes up barely a mile and a half of Highway 1, right up to the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo county line. Most of Guadalupe’s attractions are available on the main drag, so the town is perfect for an afternoon stroll. Restaurants, stores, and several cultural institutions make the small but historic downtown a leisurely destination.
I made sure to arrive in Guadalupe hungry. There are several wonderful restaurants to choose from, but I opted for a burrito from Romo’s Market. The small market’s deli is well known across the Central Coast for the delicious and always fresh burritos, tacos, and other fare served every day. The family-owned market is also a neighborhood hub for Guadalupe’s residents to eat, chat, and shop.
Further into the heart of Guadalupe, the choice of cuisine diversifies. Foodies can enjoy the no-frills American food at the King Falafel, the piping hot pies at Two Guys pizza, or enjoy a local beer or wine at the Creative Juices Lounge. The choices are many, but none can be wrong, as both out-of-towners and natives alike can be seen enjoying each respective stop. There are also several thrift or second-hand stores in the downtown that are each definitely worth a perusal, whether for used records, knick knacks, or a good find in the clothing department.
A stroll down the Pacific Coast Highway in Guadalupe gives a real sense of history. The brick buildings of the 1940s and ’50s lend the tiny town its character. Before Guadalupe comes to an end at the Santa Maria River, several houses reveal some more of the iconic charm and early 20th century architecture that makes the town so picturesque. Two of these neighboring historic residences are home to The Dunes Center and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, two nonprofit institutions that everyone should visit while in Guadalupe.
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is a wonderful repository of many cultural artifacts and history. Since it began, Guadalupe has been home to a diverse range of transplants, including Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Filipinos, European immigrants, and many more. One room is chock full of the trophies and memorabilia of the town’s historic sports leagues and teams, others include historic maps, books, art, and artifacts. Friendly volunteers are always on hand with information about the town and the house, which includes stunning original restored woodwork and window-paned cabinets.
The Dunes Center next door is much more updated in order to house and showcase a variety of exhibits. Information and displays of the protected species of the dunes include dioramas, information-packed plaques, and even displays of animal bones found on the beach, like the long rib bones and spinal sections of a whale. Further near the back of the building, Guadalupe’s unique cultural history is showcased in the way of Dunite artifacts and recovered pieces of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments set. Original copies of the Dune Forum and information about the Bohemian Dunite community are dwarfed only by the massive, restored plaster Sphinx head recovered from Cecil B. DeMille’s dumping site in the dunes sand.
Visitors can take Highway 1 back South, hang a right on Highway 166, Santa Maria’s Main Street, and head for the beautiful rolling Guadalupe sand dunes. Pets aren’t allowed in the Guadalupe Dunes Park, but people can walk among the dunes and coastline where scenes from both The Ten Commandments and The Pirates of the Caribbean were shot. Just spending one afternoon in Guadalupe’s downtown, dunes, and coastline informs why generations of families have called the town home and why visitors find the veritable paradise a worthy place to stop and relax.
Walk the town
The Dunes Center offers a Guadalupe Walk and Talk event on Dec. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon starting at the Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. Free, donations accepted. More information is available at 343-3455, [email protected], or dunescenter.org.
Arts Editor Joe Payne wants another burrito. Contact him at [email protected].
