My idea of a perfect day trip involves three things: Wine, shopping, and being able to enjoy the trip with my dog.
BB, my real true human daughter who only looks like a rat terrier, is a great shopping and drinking companion, albeit a rather fussy and pampered one. Before I make my mind up about any place, I first want to make sure it’s dog friendly. Can I carry my precious angel into your stores without being met with dirty looks, or is this a town that prefers two-legged shoppers?
I initially picked Atascadero to visit because of my love of the Carlton Hotel. A vintage fanatic with a penchant for 1920s/1930s aesthetics, I am madly in love with the hotel. Built in the 1920s, it was later renamed “The Carlton” to resemble the names of exclusive East Coast hotels in the hopes that it would attract celebrity clientele. And it did—Bette Davis, Fred MacMurray, Jack Benny, and others have slept in those rooms. The Carlton manages to feel posh and modern while maintaining the vintage vibe that makes it such a draw. (I also happened to steal a quick peek inside the restaurant and bar the hotel plans on opening, and it looks amazing.)
My plan was to visit the hotel and the shops within walking distance of its doors. My first stop was the The ARTery on Traffic Way, where I purchased a beautiful hardcover sketchbook for my fiancé. Next up, we headed over to Entrada Street, which is dotted by tons of eccentric looking shops and salons. We visited Amanda Doolin’s shop, Local Love. She was accompanied by Scout, a German Shepherd who spent a lot of time flirting with BB. Doolin’s shop is filled with a bounty of handmade items, including jewelry. I walked out with handfuls of $5 rings and gorgeous Terry Henry Glasswork earrings. Plus, Doolin gifted each shopper with a free loaf of sourdough bread to boot.
At Arlyne’s Flowers and Gifts on Palma, I scored a big bouquet of fresh spring flowers for $9.95, which they were offering as a special. We said hello to the shopkeeper at Butler Business Machines on Entrada, which is packed with vintage manual and electric typewriters. BB got a brand new pink coat at BiPi Gi’s for $20, which if you know how pricey fancy puppy attire can be, was a nice surprise.
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After all that, we needed a wine break. At El Paseo, which houses the Grape Encounters wine bar, I got the white wine flight featuring a Scheid Vineyards gewürztraminer for $12. The gewürztraminer was so good I bought a bottle of it and some cheese and meats for a mini-picnic later.
We ended our trip at Back on the Racks, a vintage store with curated items that reflect a stylish and trendy vibe. Owner Ivy Lizsow has a knack for spotting high quality vintage items that feel current and new. I got an H&M skirt for about $10, which is such a good deal it should be illegal.
Everywhere we went, BB was welcome and offered head pats or treats and a lot of compliments. It seems that every time someone mentions the city of Atascadero, it’s followed by a cringe. “There’s nothing to do up there” is the usual response. That is absurd, and BB and I proved otherwise in the course of one day. Plus, it’s not just dog friendly, it’s dog lovable.
Arts and Lifestyle Writer Rebecca Rose’s dog BB is a professional dog model destined to be a star. Contact her at rrose@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 23-30, 2017.
