When the Danish flavors of Solvang drew us to California’s Central Coast earlier this yr, we selected to make San Luis Obispo our residence base. It was the right alternative as there are such a lot of enjoyable and free issues to do in San Luis Obispo and in close by cities.
Affectionally known as SLO, this faculty city can also be extremely walkable and dog-friendly, excellent for our excursions with Kokomo.
I’d been to SLO a couple of times earlier than, however most of our Central Coast explorations beforehand had been within the Monterey space. We have been decided to benefit from our time there and take a look at as most of the distinctive issues to do in San Luis Obispo County as attainable. Listed here are our favorites.
The most effective issues to do in San Luis Obispo
I’ve mapped out this record so you can even use it as a one-day San Luis Obispo itinerary if that’s on a regular basis you have got within the precise metropolis.
1. Scout Espresso
Begin your day on the hippest espresso store on the town: Scout Espresso.
Their downtown location is housed in an ethereal area crammed with pure mild, artisan items, and scrumptious aromas. Attempt one in all their seasonal coffees, paired with a made-in-house-from-scratch pastry. I actually favored their Sunshine Bun.
If you happen to want one thing a little bit extra substantial to start out your day (particularly should you’re occurring the Bishop Peak hike beneath), try Large Sky Cafe for its recent, wholesome choices.
2. Bubblegum Alley
Upon getting your meals and caffeine in hand, take a fast detour to Bubblegum Alley.
It’s precisely because it sounds, a complete alley of individuals’s chewed bubblegum caught on the partitions. Funky? Disgusting? You determine.
3. Bishop Peak
I at all times wish to get in one thing energetic in my journeys, and Bishop Peak affords essentially the most elevation change in SLO.
The tallest of the 9 Sisters vary, Bishop Peak offers roughly 1100 ft in elevation acquire in its 3.4-mile out-and-back path. Rock climbers will discover loads of choices for them right here as effectively.
If you happen to’re fortunate, chances are you’ll even get a go to from Moose, a gray Nice Dane who apparently leaves his yard and climbs Bishop Peak on his personal moderately continuously. Spare him some water and provides his proprietor a name should you see him — the quantity is on his collar.
4. Madonna Inn
In your approach again to downtown SLO, take a detour to the well-known Madonna Inn.
Identified for its themed visitor rooms — from the Austrian Suite to the Love Nest — this eccentric little spot off the freeway brings company from throughout. It’s not dog-friendly so we didn’t keep there, but it surely was nonetheless enjoyable to go searching and discover the property.
5. Flour Home
For lunch, head to Flour Home for an genuine slice of Neapolitan pizza. Owned by an Italian/Italian-American couple, Flour Home serves up a rotating menu of pizzas baked in wood-burning pizza ovens in-built Italy, together with pastas and engaging cocktails.
Not feeling pizza? Outdated Slo BBQ Co. is one other nice alternative for lunch!
6. Downtown SLO
After you’re all crammed up, stroll it off by exploring downtown SLO by foot. Compact and walkable, but filled with greater than 100 shops.
Don’t overlook to seek for the cows of the Cow Parade! This one is #6: Cow-cu-lations. We have been fortunate sufficient to additionally meet #60 Marilyn Mooonroe, #8 Gladys, and #55 Moo-nipero Serra throughout our time within the San Luis Obispo space.
7. San Luis Obispo Chinatown
Whilst you’re exploring downtown SLO, don’t miss Chinatown. And sure, you’ll have to preserve your eyes broad open to keep away from lacking it.
Whereas SLO used to have a a lot greater Chinatown, at the moment it is only one mere metropolis block. The Ah Louis Retailer, the Mee Heng Low Chop Suey home, and some plaques are all that continues to be. It’s nonetheless price viewing them although to be taught and perceive what was right here earlier than racism and exclusion pushed the neighborhood out.
Mee Heng Low can also be nonetheless an working chop suey and noodle home, so you can even seize a chunk there to expertise a little bit little bit of SLO’s previous Chinatown historical past.
8. SLO Brewery
Whenever you’re prepared for a day comfortable hour, seize a automobile and jump over to The Rock to benefit from the beers of the hometown SLO Brew. The taproom is roughly 10 minutes away from downtown and continuously has stay music and different occasions.
SLO Brew has a rotating record of beers together with a couple of staples, so each go to affords up one thing new.
9. The Creamery
For dinner, come again downtown and head to The Creamery.
Regardless of the title, there’s greater than only a creamery there. This market affords a wide range of eating places and outlets. Goshi for sushi, Bear & the Wren for pizza, Mama’s Meatball for Italian, and extra. My favourite is getting nitrogen-crafted ice cream for dessert at Nite Creamery. Be certain to avoid wasting sufficient room so you have got area for the complete cone!
If none of that strikes your fancy, one other good dinner spot is Luna Purple. It’s a little bit of a Latin-Spanish fusion, with loads of tapas, tacos, and paella for sharing below a beautiful courtyard constructed for open-air eating. For much more worldwide choices, Novo’s menu is numerous sufficient to verify everybody has one thing they like.
10. El Chorro Regional Park
Bonus: You probably have a canine, try El Chorro Regional Park! It’s residence to a big canine park that we took Kokomo to virtually each weekday.
There are additionally miles of mountaineering trails and choices for tenting and picnicking.
The most effective day journeys from San Luis Obispo
Outdoors of metropolis correct, there are numerous choices for day journeys from San Luis Obispo. We made certain to pack our weekends with them.
When you’ve taken these day journeys, let me know which one is your favourite!
1. Discover the Danish influences of Solvang
As I discussed originally, Solvang’s European aptitude is what drew us to spend time in SLO within the first place, so we undoubtedly needed to make a visit there.
Someday is ample for exploring all of the Danish issues to do in Solvang, although when you have two days to spare, you may tack on visits to the vineyards and olive groves of close by Santa Ynez and Los Olivos.
2. Pismo Seashore
Our first day journey whereas residing in SLO, although, was to Pismo Seashore.
You may simply spend the complete day on the boardwalk and on the seashore, which is the place most individuals head to when in Pismo Seashore.
If crowds aren’t your factor, nonetheless, head to one of many metropolis parks. Pismo Seashore has a few dozen parks that provide nice views. The funnily-named Dinosaur Caves Park, for instance, has 11 acres of ocean-front, bluff-top trails to explores.
My favourite, although, was the Monarch Butterfly Grove. Whereas we visited in-season, the butterfly numbers have been extraordinarily low on the day we visited. There have been purportedly round 2,000, although we solely noticed a couple of dozen. It was nonetheless an extremely cool sight.
Within the 2021-2022 season, the grove is counting upwards to 22,000 — sure, a 10x enchancment!
3. Avila Seashore
Subsequent to Pismo Seashore is the neighborhood of Avila Seashore. Whereas it’s considerably smaller than Pismo Seashore, there are many issues to do in Avila Seashore. I additionally choose it over Pismo Seashore.
For an energetic day, hike the Ontario Ridge Path, which affords expansive views of Avila Seashore. Discover Pirate’s Cove alongside the best way if you want, so long as you don’t have any never-nudes within the group — this secluded seashore is clothing-optional.
For a extra enjoyable day, head over to the seashore itself. Take a dip through the hotter hours after which benefit from the boardwalk at evening. This little neighborhood is filled with wine tasting rooms and eating places.
And should you’ve obtained your canine member of the family together with you, Avila Seashore can also be residence to a really busy canine seashore.
4. Morro Bay
Persevering with to go up the coast, you’ll hit Morro Bay. It’s residence to what I contemplate the very best canine seashore within the space. Morro Bay Canine Seashore is greater than most seashores are to start with, and it’s fully off-leash! Kokomo had essentially the most superb time there bouncing out and in of the water and enjoying with dozens of recent pals.
For the human people, if watching tons of joyous canine isn’t sufficient, Morro Bay additionally affords a ton of energetic choices.
The calm waters of Morro Bay are excellent for paddleboarding and kayaking, whether or not to see the eponymous Morro Rock or the hoards of sea lions that decision the bay residence. There are additionally many mountaineering alternatives within the space, most famously on the beautiful Montaña de Oro State Park.
5. Cayucos
Reality be informed, I’d by no means heard of Cayucos earlier than we arrived in San Luis Obispo. It’s simply north of Morro Bay, a small unincorporated city of lower than 3000 individuals.
There’s not a ton of particular issues to do in Cayucos, although it’s a fully idyllic place to spend a day simply enjoyable. It’s a humorous city, too, directly a beachside resort and an Outdated Wild West relic.
Stroll by the principle strip, dotted with cute boutiques and thrift outlets. Lookup for the Outdated West West murals. Calm down on the dog-friendly seashores (on leashes, please).
Cayucos doesn’t supply an excessive amount of when it comes to spectacular meals now that smoked fish tacos from Ruddell’s Smokehouse are about to be a factor of the previous (closing on the finish of 2021). If you happen to occur to be hungry earlier than 5 p.m. although, head to the deli contained in the Cayucos Gasoline Mini Mart. Yep, on the gasoline station that has a number of the greatest meals on the town. In any other case, drive over to Morro Bay.
6. Cambria & Concord
In all probability my favourite day journey from San Luis Obispo! And sure, as you’ll have guessed, these cities are additional north up the coast.
Whereas numerous the Central Coast is comparable in panorama, there’s one thing about Cambria and Concord that’s simply extremely cute and charming. From beautiful seashore views to idyllic farms, don’t miss these gems!
7. San Simeon
San Simeon is about as north as I’d go on the central coast and nonetheless name it a day journey from San Luis Obispo. Past that, you’re within the nice expanse that’s the Large Sur Coast.
Roughly a 45-minute drive from San Luis Obispo, San Simeon is residence to the gorgeous but ostentatious Hearst Citadel. If you happen to like castles, European structure, or the glory of the Twenties, you’ll like Hearst Citadel. It’s a little bit little bit of Europe on the California coast!
8. Paso Robles
The great thing about SLO’s location is that it’s smack dab in between a bunch of coastal cities and plenty of wine hotspots inland. Now that we’ve hit all of the seashore spots, it’s time to speak about wine. I received’t undergo all of the wine choices there, simply Paso.
Paso Robles is arguably the realm’s most well-known wine area.
There are greater than 200 wineries in Paso Robles, so be at liberty to make this a multi-day journey at any level. My options: JUSTIN, Persistent Cellars, and Adelaida Vineyards. All of them have loads of out of doors seating and are all dog-friendly wineries.
The place to remain in San Luis Obispo
We lived in a long-term Airbnb that I might not advocate, however SLO does have superb Airbnbs and VBROs. (Sadly, I can not bear in mind the precise ones I stayed at beforehand.)
Inns-wise, I might completely keep on the Madonna Inn to expertise it if we go to SLO with out Kokomo in tow. For a spot proper in downtown, I might recommend the Granada Resort & Bistro.
Wish to keep in one of many adjoining cities? Take a look at trip leases like this cute little cottage in Concord or one in all many boutique inns obtainable.
What’s your favourite factor to do in San Luis Obispo? Obtained a gem that I didn’t embrace right here? Let me know within the feedback.
Pin this for a future journey!
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