Avila Valley Barn

560 Avila Beach Dr., just off Hwy. 101, in San Luis Obispo, (805) 595-2816. Daily 9am-5pm, open seasonally spring to fall.

This is the perfect stop for a mid-trip stretch. A former fruit stand that grew and grew, the Avila Valley Barn now includes a free petting farm with goats and chickens and more, plus a seasonal U-pick farm. Inside the open-air barn store, you can purchase inexpensive food to feed the animals. You’ll also find fresh produce, local Slo-Maid ice cream, and an assortment of housemade pies fresh from the oven (these are served in many town restaurants and inns). I purchased a huge carrot-cake muffin to eat for breakfast the next day, and shared by two people there were enough leftovers for afternoon tea. Great gifts--think printed dish towels, house jams, and local honey--and seasonal items such as Christmas trees are also on hand. Pony rides and tractor-pulled wagon rides operate on weekends. Rustic is the word to describe this gem, including the ladies room, which is open-air and accessed through a curtain! Plenty of free parking is available on a dirt lot that can get muddy when it rains.