Romanticizing Greece: Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos
September 2024
Written by: Strawberry Erica
How to spend one week in Greece for first-timers
I used to live in San Luis Obispo for four years while attending Cal Poly — so coming back five years later with JiJi, our new pup, for his first road trip felt extra special! The Central Coast holds such a special place in my heart, and it also happens to be super dog-friendly.
In this guide, I’ll be sharing all my favorite spots from the perspective of someone who actually lived here — and loved it on a student budget. While you can have a bougie Central Coast experience, this travel guide is tailored to a fun, casual, and affordable weekend getaway for you and your pup.
ATHENS: DAY ONE
Acropolis
Since we were coming from San Francisco, the drive to the Central Coast was just about 4 hours. If you take the afternoon off and hit the road around noon, you can avoid the worst of the traffic and still make it down in time to enjoy a relaxed evening and a nice dinner.
Since we were coming from San Francisco, the drive to the Central Coast was just about 4 hours. If you take the afternoon off and hit the road around noon, you can avoid the worst of the traffic and still make it down in time to enjoy a relaxed evening and a nice dinner.
Since we were coming from San Francisco, the drive to the Central Coast was just about 4 hours. If you take the afternoon off and hit the road around noon, you can avoid the worst of the traffic and still make it down in time to enjoy a relaxed evening and a nice dinner.
Since we were coming from San Francisco, the drive to the Central Coast was just about 4 hours. If you take the afternoon off and hit the road around noon, you can avoid the worst of the traffic and still make it down in time to enjoy a relaxed evening and a nice dinner.
Since we were coming from San Francisco, the drive to the Central Coast was just about 4 hours. If you take the afternoon off and hit the road around noon, you can avoid the worst of the traffic and still make it down in time to enjoy a relaxed evening and a nice dinner.
Since we were coming from San Francisco, the drive to the Central Coast was just about 4 hours. If you take the afternoon off and hit the road around noon, you can avoid the worst of the traffic and still make it down in time to enjoy a relaxed evening and a nice dinner.
Since we were coming from San Francisco, the drive to the Central Coast was just about 4 hours. If you take the afternoon off and hit the road around noon, you can avoid the worst of the traffic and still make it down in time to enjoy a relaxed evening and a nice dinner.
ATHENS: DAY TWO
Explore the neighborhoods
Grab a quick coffee and light breakfast from Scout Coffee in Morro Bay, then head to Montaña de Oro State Park — my favorite park in all of California. It’s got everything: massive sand dunes, tide pools, and beaches perfect for swimming.
Unfortunately, dogs are only allowed on the main roads and at Spooner’s Cove, but don’t let that stop you — driving through the park and pulling over at the scenic lookout points is so worth it. If you’re a beach lover, Spooner’s Cove is a gorgeous place to relax, with swimmable water and a unique rock formation right in the middle of the beach that makes the view extra special.
