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City in California, United States
Photo: Flickr user: lastorset, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
San Luis Obispo is a city in San Luis Obispo County in the Central Coast region of California.
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Founded in 1772 by Junipero Serra, Mission San Luis Obispo was the fifth Catholic mission in California. Still an active parish, it is in the middle of downtown on Chorro St and Monterey St, with its main courtyard interrupting Monterey St for a full city block. In addition to the church, there is a small museum; both are definitely worth visiting. The Mission is part of the Mission Plaza development, which incorporates San Luis Creek and a number of stores and restaurants. Walk from the Mission to the creek and up to one of the restaurants for a bite to eat.
Housed in a beautiful library donated by Andrew Carnegie. There are three separate exhibit areas (two medium-sized rooms and a set of two much smaller rooms). There is a friendly attendant, and there is a good chance that you will find the exhibits interesting and worth looking at. For example, in October 2014, there were exhibits of impressive baskets by Native American tribes from the region and historic photographs of people and buildings in San Luis in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Really just a relatively large art gallery (or a couple of galleries), with art for sale. You might or might not find it interesting, but admission is free.
Take some time to walk around. It's changed rapidly over the past decade with the introduction of new developments and larger chain restaurants/stores, but still maintains a wonderful small town feel with the addition of pedestrian corridors between streets where you'll find locals hanging out.
Take a look and leave some of your own chewed gum behind. Located on the south side of Higuera Street between Broad St. and Garden St.
Depending on the season, college basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, and football games can be seen at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), in the hills on the northern end of town. Games are generally $5 for non-Cal Poly students.
Chronicles the history of the railroad in SLO County and how it shaped development.
On Thursday evenings head downtown on Higuera St. for the weekly farmers' market where bands, college students, and local farmers pack the streets for several blocks to create one of the best known farmers' markets in California. On the first Thursday of every month, hundreds of spirited bicycle enthusiasts congregate near the intersection of Chorro Street and Monterey Street to celebrate a themed, downtown bicycle parade, which starts promptly at 9:30PM.
Take Los Osos Valley Road 10 miles west of town to a park named one of the state's best-kept secrets by the L.A. Times a few years back, and with good reason; it's filled with an abundance of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails both along the ocean along the bluffs and inland into the coastal peaks; a dramatic cove with caves that kids and adults love; and miles of sandy beach and tidal pools. Trails range from casual ambles along the bluffs to the steep climbs up Valencia and Oats Peaks. Oats is the longer hike (about 5.5 miles / 9 km) but more rewarding, as it offers views of Valencia against the Pacific, as well as northward and eastward to the Nine Sisters and Cuesta Ridge; the trail also is less steep. A terrific nine-mile (14-km) loop can be made by continuing over the summit to the Coon Creek trail, then crossing back in front of the range along Rattlesnake Flats Trail. Take water! The "Mountain of Gold" also reigns as a popular out-and-back destination for the many road cyclists in the county, but cyclists ride westward early as strong winds pick up through Los Osos Valley in the early afternoon.
Nipomo and Monterey. The Children's Museum is an interactive, family experience, inspiring learning through play. Great for families with young children.
The Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly hosts a range of concerts, theater, comedy, speakers, and other events.
Follow Broad street out of town and vineyards will begin to appear on the left; in addition to the large namesake establishment, over a dozen smaller, high quality wineries are open for tasting. Explore the region between Edna Valley Road and Orcutt Road to the east.
This cavernous coffee shop/nightclub/restaurant/used bookstore/study spot offers a range of relatively affordable, tasty sandwiches for lunch; prices go up a little in the evening. It has a slightly edgy, intellectual vibe (photos of famous authors adorn the walls) and can be a pleasant place to spend an hour or two, sipping a coffee and sampling the games and books on offer. Kreuzberg (named for a hip neighborhood in Berlin) is a favorite study spot for Cal Poly students, and can become crowded around exam times. Live music is presented a few evenings a week.
A long-standing downtown institution, Linnaea's has a wide variety of teas along with the usual cafe fare. The large patio and garden out back is an excellent place to relax, and the back room often hosts musicians and poetry readings. Delicious dinner is served five nights a week. Wi-Fi is available for free.
One of the most authentic and tastiest Thai restaurants on the Central Coast. Any dish can be ordered spicy, on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the spiciest and not for the faint of heart. Dine in or take out. Open for lunch and dinner.
Authentic Mediterranean cuisine at reasonable prices, including gyro, shawarma, and award-winning pizza. Outdoor seating in a street-facing covered patio.
This SLO outlet of a small California chain (6 or 7 stores statewide) serves some creative, tasty burgers made with grass-fed beef, and some very good salads. Vegetarian burgers and other sandwiches also are available. However, the excellent selection of craft beers and bourbons is the place's greatest strength. Can be crowded at mealtimes and nights when Cal Poly is in session.
Corner of Higuera and Osos. Known locally as the best Tri-tip sandwich in the State of California. A must-have for anyone who wants to understand West Coast BBQ. Can be noisy - try for a table outside.
This hip offering by the folks from Kreuzberg (see budget listing) serves an adventurous seasonal menu using fresh local "farm-to-table" ingredients; Sidecar may be the best value in town. Enjoy an excellent bloody mary along with brunch on the weekends.
This elegant downtown restaurant features "wine country dining" on the ground floor of an attractive Victorian-era office building near the courthouse. A great meal can be made from appetizers at the bar, which is one of the few watering holes in town not overrun by students. $23–50 for entrees.
Novo's sister restaurant offers an exciting "global tapas" menu, serving such delights as duck confit crepes, spiced lamb kebabs, roasted beets with fennel, and stuffed piquillo peppers, all in small portions intended for sharing. Like Novo, it has a lovely patio, this one with a nice view of Mission San Luis Obispo across Mission Plaza; patio dining can be marred sometimes, though, by loud music from the restaurant next door.
Open until midnight on Saturdays, with last reservation time 9:30PM. This eatery is beloved by locals, although the expense of a visit is justified more by the truly lovely atmosphere than by the middling quality of the menu, which features "international" foods prepared with fresh local ingredients. Novo is most noted for its beautiful creekside patio; often overlooked is the romantic dining in the basement.
Nearby at San Luis at El Chorro Regional Park, Morro Bay State Park, Morro Strand State Beach, Pismo State Beach, Montana de Oro State Park, and Cerro Alto Campground (U.S. Forest Service).
An upscale country style hotel with small but charming rooms and a wonderful restaurant that serves large, hearty breakfasts. Their administrative building at 2223 Monterey Street (a block away) is what remains of the Milestone Mo-Tel.
An average motel with simple, clean, comfortable rooms in a convenient location.
Renovated hotel, featuring stylish, comfortable accommodations, meeting space and California vacation packages.
One of the Marriott hotel chains; clean, spacious rooms and pleasant staff, as expected from a large mid-range company.
Accommodations come with a complimentary cooked-to-order buffet breakfast, nightly manager's reception, parking, business center, fitness facility, and heated indoor pool and spa.
A bed and breakfast with 9 rooms and 4 suites. A little expensive for the level of luxury, but it is the only lodging in the heart of old-fashioned downtown San Luis Obispo.
Pets allowed with additional fee. No smoking.
A reliable chain hotel with clean, comfortable rooms and a warm, friendly, helpful staff.
A Hosteling International youth hostel with a homey feel, located within easy walking distance of downtown. For those who enjoy the communal vibe of a traditional hostel, this is by far the best option on a budget due to its combination of centrality, comfort, amenities and moderate cost. Family rooms are available. The hostel is closed between 11AM and 4:30 PM.
The hotel provides each guest with a large clean room with 2 closets, two sinks, king bed, balcony, DVD player, coffee maker, mini-fridge, free continental breakfast with waffle maker, and free DVD rental from the lobby.
A fun and crazy theme-room hotel on the side of the road. Don't miss the cafe, if only for an overpriced breakfast, or the pool/hot tub. Have a wander around the grounds and peek in at the rooms.
Very much a budget hotel. Don't expect luxury, or even function, necessarily, but the price is right.
Claims to provide a touch of European charm and says that their 16-room inn offers an "amazing gourmet breakfast" as well as complimentary wine tasting and appetizers in the evening.
A very nice 3-star hotel.
A comfortable 15-unit motel close to the Monterey St. exit from the 101 Freeway and about a 15-minute walk from downtown. You may find your bed just a tad lumpy, but the rooms are big and everything is quite acceptable, especially for the price. Very nice, helpful managers, and you may be allowed to leave your car in the lot for the afternoon after you check out, if you ask nicely.
A locally owned toy store that resembles something out of a movie. Filled to the brim with toys that you'll likely recognize for your childhood, it's a fun place to visit both for small children and nostalgic adults.
It's best described as nerd heaven. They have a large selection of new & used music, videogames (ranging from current systems back to the Atari), table-top games, movies, audio equipment, comics, model supplies, and more.
Two doors down from Boo Boo Records. A local bookstore filled to the brim with books.
This long-time local music store features a large selection of CDs and vinyl records. They also frequently sell tickets to a few local venues and occasionally host small indie shows within the store. The store is located near the corner of Osos St and Monterey St.
A nice small shop specializing in comics, and Cain the owner is almost always there if you have any questions or want a recommendation. Some of the best customer service in town. Located near Marsh and Chorro.
By train
By bus
By car
Since San Luis Obispo is home to the first ever motel (The Milestone Mo-Tel) it is definitely a car town.
By bus
SLO Transit Services are reliable and cover most points of interest, but end at 11PM on weekdays and 8PM on the weekends. A trolley links some of the hotels on Monterey Street to the downtown area.
By foot
Walking is a great way to get around, especially if you're staying close to downtown.
By bike
SLO keeps improving its bike infrastructure every year. Several bike shops offer rentals and some hotels have bike available for use by guests.
By pedicab
SLO Pedicab San Luis Obispo now has pedicab service.
By taxi
Taxi service is available from 234 Taxi (805-234-TAXI) but you certainly won't be able to hail a cab from a street corner; call for pick-up.
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San Luis Obispo · Regional · SBP
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