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San Luis Obispo

Almost midway between LA and San Francisco, at the junction of Hwys 101 and 1, San Luis Obispo is a popular overnight stop for road-trippers. It also makes a handy base from which to explore coastal towns Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and Morro Bay, as well as Hearst Castle. SLO may not have any big-ticket sights, unless you count the Spanish-Colonial mission and, perhaps, the kooky Madonna Inn. But this refreshingly low-key city does have an enviably high quality of life, helped along by CalPoly university students who inject a healthy dose of hubbub into the streets, bars and cafes. Thursdays are great time to be in SLO – the farmers market turns downtown’s Higuera St into a party with live music and sidewalk BBQs.

Explore San Luis Obispo

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout San Luis Obispo.

  • Church

    Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

    Those reverberatory bells heard around downtown emanate from this fifth California mission, founded by Padre Junípero Serra in 1772 and named for a 13th…

  • Museum

    San Luis Obispo Museum of Art

    By the creek, this small gallery showcases the work of local painters, sculptors, printmakers and fine-art photographers, as well as traveling California…

  • Winery

    Talley Vineyards

    Unpretentious, value-priced wines set among rolling hillsides, with vineyard tours ($10, including wine-tasting flight $20 to $40) by appointment.

  • Winery

    Tolosa Winery

    No-oak Chardonnay, barrel-selected Pinot Noir and bold estate Syrah, with artisanal cheese, charcuterie and chocolate pairings on weekends.

  • Winery

    Niven Family Wine Estates

    Samples from six different labels inside an early-20th-century wooden schoolhouse, with two bocce ball courts outside.

  • Winery

    Sextant Wines

    Boisterous tasting room pours different varietals from Edna Valley and Paso Robles, with a tiny gourmet deli.

  • Winery

    Chamisal Vineyards

    In a rust-colored barn tasting room, tipple hand-crafted, small-lot wines grown mostly organically.

  • Winery

    Edna Valley Vineyard

    Sip Paragon Vineyard estate Chardonnay by panoramic windows overlooking fields of grapes.

  • Winery

    Kynsi Winery

    Small, family-run vineyard pours cult-worthy Pinot Noir inside a cozy brick tasting room.

  • Street

    Bubblegum Alley

    SLO’s weirdest sight is colorfully plastered with thousands of wads of ABC (‘already been chewed’) gum. Watch where you step!

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in San Luis Obispo.

  • Activities