Los Osos (California)

Text and pictures by Dorothy Upton (US exchange student in IES Num 1. Xábia)

My hometown in America is a little town called Los Osos on the central coast of California. It´s small but it has its unique qualities that make it special.

When I think of Los Osos the first thing that comes to mind is the Elfin Forest. The Elfin Forest is a protected estuary of various types of plants and animals that has a boardwalk built in it for walking. It´s a beautiful and peaceful piece of nature. It overlooks the marshy bay that connects to the Pacific Ocean. From the Elfin Forest you can also see the Morro Rock which is the huge and famous mountain in the city of Morro Bay that´s only a ten minute drive away.

Besides the beautiful view from the Elfin Forest, Los Osos also has the Baywood Pier. It´s a small pier that´s on the marshy bay and is another beautiful and relaxing place to be. There´s a popular little cafe as well, where you can buy a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the view.

Every Monday afternoon, near the bay, there´s the Los Osos Farmers Market where local farmers sell lots of organic products like fruit, vegetables, bread pastries, tea, coffee and much more. It´s a lovely time to talk and walk with friends while buying fresh food.

Also, if you drive ten minutes up a hill you come to Montaña de Oro which is a beach as well as a camp ground. It´s a wonderful place to hike and get fresh air buts it´s not recommended to swim in this small beach area. It´s a beautiful beach surrounded by cliffs and rocks but that makes it dangerous to swim and the sand is at a steep slope down into the ocean which makes the waves dangerous. However it´s an amazing view to look at in awe.

The small town of Los Osos may not be the most exciting or the most active place in California but it has a special beauty in the nature that surrounds the whole town that you really can´t find in any another place.