San Luis Obispo is the quintessential California town. It has easy access to beaches, mountains, and, of course, wineries, with a downtown area full of bars and restaurants with cozy outdoor patios. Pretty much the ideal California experience.
For some reason, it doesn’t attract the insane amount of attention some other California destinations do – looking at you, Palm Springs and Carmel by the Sea. And that’s a shame, because honestly? It’s one of my favorite towns. And I’ve been to a LOT of California.
With a population of just under 50,000 people, San Luis Obispo, or SLO, California, as some people call it, has a great tight-knit community and small-town vibe while offering many activities for locals and travelers.
Thanks to the local university, and SLO’s position as the seat of the county, there’s a fair amount of dining, nightlife, events, and a great Performing Arts Center. It hosts concerts, live dance performances, speakers from all over the country, and much more.
If you’re in the state and looking for a great long weekend trip, but don’t want the complete wilderness of a National Park, trust me, this is the spot to recharge.
I’m going to write a little breakdown of what you can do in San Luis Obispo. It includes a lot of the activities and sights I liked, as well as cool destinations around the city. Let’s go!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. If you book something through them, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Get There Early for the Downtown SLO Farmer’s Market (Not What You Think)!
Many people head into San Luis Obispo for a weekend, not knowing they already missed one of the best parts of being in town. The Farmer’s Market! Plan to get into town by Thursday night so you can head to Higuera Street after 6 PM and take part in it.
Even if you’re not someone who usually cares about Farmer’s Markets (I’m not big aficionado myself), trust me when I say you will love this one. A bunch of stalls take over the main street, with street food, games, books, honestly anything you can think of.
Sample some pretty incredible freaking street food, browse local products, buy small souvenirs and other items – I found a stall called Blind Date With a Book where you buy books off descriptions, sight unseen, which is entirely my jam – or stop and get a drink while watching seemingly the entire county go by.
Get Coffee At Field Day Coffee
This may seem like your run-of-the-mill hipster coffee/remote working space, but it’s so much more. For starters, the coffee is truly amazing, and the staff is always in a friendly mood. Whether you want to relax, chat with a friend, or check your emails and get a few things done on your weekend, you’ll fit right in.
In addition, Field Day Coffee is owned and operated by a local couple (always in favor of supporting local businesses), Randy and Callie Price. They offer coffee and natural wine made by some great roasters and winemakers from all over the world. For those who haven’t tried it before, natural wine is made with sustainable winemaking practices.
Locally owned, sustainable, and welcoming, with excellent roasts to boot, is the highest acclaim I can give any coffee shop. I recommend stopping by and loading up on some caffeine before checking off your list of things to do in San Luis Obispo.
Visit the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Like most mid-size towns with Spanish names in California, San Luis Obispo is on the California Missions Trail, which roughly follows the Royal Road during Spanish colonization (El Camino Royale). The Mission of San Luis Obispo is a beautiful historical building, but more importantly, it houses a museum that showcases a lot of regional history.
Get a glimpse into what life was like in the ranch era of San Luis Obispo. Exhibits show how people lived, what people wore, what tools they used, and how the area developed over time.
The Mission is also usually the meeting point for walking tours of the area, which take you around other San Luis Obispo sights with a knowledgeable guide. The schedule changes somewhat but is always posted outside the entrance to the Mission.
Stop By Rocket Fizz For Retro Fun
One of the things I love about California towns is a kind of “out of time and place” vibe some shops and areas have. Some streets and stores feel like flashbacks to the 80s or 50s. Though they may not be listed among San Luis Obispo attractions, I still think they’re worth a stop.
Rocket Fizz is very much like that, calling to mind a vintage candy and pop shop. But it has a modern twist, as there are sweets and items from all over the world. Browse the many, many, international candy choices, and enjoy the retro decor.
Swing By The San Luis Obispo Art Museum
This was an unexpectedly great experience. The San Luis Obispo Art Museum is on the smaller side, so to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much. However, it actually has a few separate rooms, including a local exhibit, rotating exhibit featuring artists from all over the world, and an activity center.
This becomes less surprising once you walk around town and see a fair amount of art galleries on the street. It’s clear SLO is an artsy kind of city.
Besides the professional layout, the curators had a collection of local photographs from decades gone by. Seeing photos of Californians in SLO from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and little snapshots of local life back then was fascinating.
Enjoy Great Food by San Luis Creek
The downtown area is mostly built around San Luis Creek, which runs right through the town. Plenty of restaurants feature outdoor patios overlooking the creek and the greenery around it, creating a very relaxed dining atsmophere.
Choose between different cuisines, from Peruvian to Italian to classic American. One of my favorites was Novo Restaurant. The outdoor patio juts out onto the creek and is decorated with strings of lights, giving the whole space an ethereal feeling.
You can also take an afternoon stroll by the creek itself; it’s centrally located, so it’s a great place to take a pause and relax on a bench before continuing your walk around town.
Get A Cocktail at Sidecar
Sidecar is by far one of the coolest bars in town. Like many places in downtown SLO, it has a bit of a retro vibe to it that adds to its charm.
The mix of incredibly well-made cocktails, exposed brick wall, and old bookcases will make you feel pretty classy once you step in here. The bar is only open Wednesday through Sunday; but that makes it a perfect stop for a long weekend trip.
I carefully watched the bartender make my cocktail (because I was traveling alone and didn’t know what else to do while I was waiting), and realized this was one of those experienced mixologist kind of places, in the best way. If you’re still feeling snacky after dinner, you can also order one of their small bites.
The reason I recommend Sidecar is that it had a crowd that seemed more around my age group (25-40). San Luis Obispo has a surprising amount of nightlife and bar activity for a relatively small city, thanks mostly to the local university, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. So some of the nightlife venues may have a veeeery young average age, which is great for people who still have the energy of a 21-year-old, but perhaps not the best for other travelers, including yours truly. If you didn’t know I’m over 30, you can also tell because I use expressions like “yours truly”.
Check Out Gum Alley
Admittedly, this is a bit of a gimmicky tourist attraction. It’s honestly just a whoooole lot of gum stuck to alley walls, giving the entire alley a very unique look.
But hey, you’re in town, and chances are you’re going to walk right by one of the kookiest San Luis Obispo sights during your downtown explorations. So stop by and check it out. Unless you get really grossed out by used gum, in which case I’d look up the alley’s location so you know when to avert your eyes and keep walking.
Hike to the Waterfall in Reservoir Canyon
One of the best things to do in San Luis Obispo is discover the stunning nature surrounding the city. Located up in the mountains, but just half an hour from the coast itself, it’s perfectly situated for exploration.
The whole loop takes is 5.5 miles long and takes just over three hours to complete. It’s a great way to start your day with some sun and fresh air to feel energized.
Local Tip: So…I really second guessed giving this tip, because I think the whole hike is worth it…but because I know people have time and mobility constraints, here it goes: you don’t have to do the whole canyon hike to see the waterfall. You can literally just start at the end and check it out.
Stop By the Fremont Theater
This old classic movie theater was built in San Luis Obispo in 1941. Though it more often hosts concerts and live shows than movies these days, you should still stop by.
There are very few old-school movie theaters left in the US, and it’s really beautiful to see one of them not only surviving, but still being used in some way. Walk by at night, when the sign in the front lights up, and take a photo of the beautiful Fremont Theater to get a little slice of vintage Americana.
Take A Half Day Trip
Assuming you plan your long weekend trip to San Luis Obispo starting Thursday night (which I highly recommend) to Sunday evening, you definitely have time for a little excursion. The great news is that you’re right around some of California’s best wineries.
The whole world knows about Napa, but California actually has wineries all over the state. And honestly? I somewhat prefer the wine regions around SLO.
With much more reasonable prices and less of an upscale atmosphere, the wineries here feel closer to their close-to-the-land, California-farmer origins, rather than private-jet destinations for the ultra-rich. People lovingly work the land and wine production and then share their efforts with locals and passersby.
If wine isn’t your thing, you can always enjoy a view of the stunning Pacific Ocean (and if you’re brave, a dip), on one of the nearby beach towns instead. So let’s explore your options:
Do a Winery Tour in Paso Robles or Los Olivos
As you can see from the GetYourGuide tours available above, San Luis Obispo is in the heart of California wine country. Paso Robles is well-known for its vineyards and delicious wine selections. If you’re looking for something a little more low-key, Los Olivos, a small, quaint town surrounded by greenery, may be for you.
For those who prefer beer – as I do – you should also know that the area has some pretty cool breweries. Liquid Gravity Brewing Company is a great choice, and there are plenty of others.
Head to Avila Beach (or Pismo Beach)
Otherwise, spend a half-day soaking up the sun at either Avila or Pismo Beach. Both are a 30-45 minute drive from San Luis Obispo.
In addition to huge stretches of sand abutting the Pacific Ocean, these beaches also have charming towns of their own. Head down in the afternoon to lie on the sand. Then spend late afternoon or evening walking the coastal routes, checking out local shops and restaurants, and even occasional live music events and other festivals.
Stay at One of San Luis Obispo’s Boutique Hotels
I already wrote a review of the excellent (and pet-friendly) Petit Soleil hotel in town. If you’re visiting San Luis Obispo, I highly recommend a stay there. You can book a stay via my Booking.com affiliate link for Petit Soleil right here.
If not, there are plenty of independently-owned hotels you can book throughout, and around, the city itself. I recommend booking something within walking distance of the downtown area. After all, one of the biggest perks of a stay in San Luis Obispo is that you don’t have to get in your car 95% of the time. Better yet, if downtown is accessible on foot, you can indulge in some wine tastings without having to worry about a designated driver.
Have you been to San Luis Obispo? Did you discover any great things to do that aren’t on this list? Please let me know in the comments below! I always love to get more information.