It's a great place to renew jaded urban spirits. By car, it would take about six hours to cover the 282-mile distance down Interstate 5. We stayed at the Campbell House, an elegant city inn convenient to the Amtrak station and downtown. Homes in the East Skinner Butte Historic Landmark Area in which it's located date to the mid-19th century. A couple of blocks from the inn is the Fifth Street Public Market, a collection of shops, food stores and restaurants in a converted 1929 chicken slaughterhouse.
Focal point is the brick fountain in the inner courtyard, a popular gathering spot on warm days.
The market is home to several high quality shops. Although French Quarter specializes in fine bed and bath linens, it's also the place to find yellow rubber duckies. Rebecca's carries Mishi natural fiber women's clothing, jewelry and scarves. One of our favorites is Mamma Ro which has doubled its size since our last visit several years ago. For food, there's Mekala's Thai restaurant, the Metropol Bakery and Chelsea Grill and Pub.