Sometimes you need some damn peace and quiet.
No city sounds humming outside. No TV to watch. No children begging to be disciplined.
What you need is a remote cottage situated on a serene side street in a one-stoplight town like Los Alamos.
Bob Oswaks is the owner, and the cabins are located directly behind his bakery, Bob’s Well Bread Bakery, so every morning you awaken to the smell of fresh bread in the oven. Hell, you can even waltz into the bakery through a chain-link fence.
The rooms have puffy beds, cool artwork, Malin+Goetz products in the marble-topped bathroom and, vitally, no televisions. Translation: this is the ideal place to work on a script or get some thinking done.
Bob will serve breakfast (it’s part of the deal); try a steak-knife-necessary croque madame, or the avocado toast for a healthier option. Then grab a loaf for the road.
For Exercise
It’s always good to stretch your legs, especially if you’re up there to work. The Wind Caves above Gaviota State Park provide a strenuous hike and some rock formations that you can climb, leading to caves that face the Pacific — an ideal perch for contemplation.
For Lunch
Bell Street Farm has a succulent rotisserie chicken that comes with sides and a baguette. You can take it to go and eat it on the hike or in your cottage.
For Dinner
Go to Pico, a new spot that’s a couple of blocks down the street. The chef there does these shishito peppers with a soft-cooked egg that’s impossible to put down. And his pasta dishes are ace comfort food on a cold night.
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