In San Luis Obispo, you will never be bored. There are so many things to do in San Luis Obispo. We will introduce you to the city’s top San Luis Obispo attractions so you can make the most of your trip.
🧐Getting to Know the San Luis Obispo
When visiting San Luis Obispo, it is important to know some precautions to prepare for the rest of your trip.
Four seasons in San Luis Obispo
Spring–March to May
Average temperatures: 55-65 ℉
Spring in the city is mild and full of life. Perfect for hiking, al fresco dining and exploring the sights.
Autumn–September to November
Average temperatures: 60-70 ℉
mostly sunny
Fall in San Luis Obispo is perfect for hiking and wine tasting.
Summer–June to August
Average temperatures: 65-75 ℉
The city is pleasantly warm in summer.
It is relatively quiet at this time, and there are not many tourists.
Winter–December to February
Average temperature: 50-60 ℉
The temperature is lower and the probability of rainfall is higher
Tourists need to pay attention to bringing rain gear
How to get to San Luis Obispo?
SLO County Airport (SBP)
The airport is only 10 minutes from the city centre. All international airports (San Jose, Fresno, Los Angeles, etc.) are also only a 3-hour drive from SLO. Although the airport is not large, it is convenient for travel distance.
Car
Located off Highway 101, San Luis Obispo is an ideal stop for road trips along the California coast. If you’re traveling from major cities in California, expect to take at least 2-4 hours to get to San Luis Obispo.
🎨Things to do in San Luis Obispo: Art and Culture
San Luis Orbis maintains a vibrant arts and culture scene. The city has world-class museums, galleries, and theatres. Visitors can experience the creativity and inspiration of local and international talents and swim in the ocean of art with us.
ARTober
In October, San Luis Obispo residents will be invited to participate in ARTober. It is an “Art at Night” event that explores culture through films, live performances, museum exhibits, and more.
ARTober is a month-long celebration highlighting nonprofit organizations each month to raise awareness of its important activities and the value they bring to the community. The first 50 people to visit and support the event will receive a free ARTober tote bag.
Upcoming Events
October 12, 2-4 pm
You can go to the SLO Repertory Theatre to see excellent drama performances. Individual tickets for the show will go on sale on July 10.
“Misery” tells the story of successful romance novelist Paul Shelton. His “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, saved him from a car accident. But he wakes up to find himself imprisoned in her secluded home. While Paul is recovering, Anne reads his new book and is furious when she finds out the author has killed off her favourite character, Mithril Chastain…
October 4, 5-8 pm
You can experience visual, written and performing arts in depth at SLO’s galleries, nonprofits and other businesses. The event is free to people.
Jan 14 – Dec 8
SLOM encourages cross-band learning and creative expression in children of all ages. You can take your kids to the San Luis Obispo Art Museum for an event. You will learn unique visual arts by creating works of art based on current exhibitions. It’s going to be a very unique San Luis Obispo things to do.
Museums & Galleries
If you want to enjoy art in peace, or if you want to participate in some low-cost things to do in SLO, visiting museums and art galleries will be a great choice.
We will recommend some of the best museums and art galleries in San Luis Obispo for your reference:
- San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
- San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
- Morro Bay Maritime Museum
- Piedras Blancas Light Station
- The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
- History Center of Sab Luis Obispo County
Live Music
For young people, live music is one of the things to do in San Luis Obispo, CA, where they can enjoy art and release their energy. SLO has many music events that will show you the charm of local music.
San Luis Obispo is between San Francisco and Los Angeles, often hosting concerts by touring artists. Whether you like rock or classical music, you can enjoy your favourite songs at live concerts every weekend. You can listen to free music performances at Concerts in the Plaza or attend music festivals on the beach. SLO Brew will give you a more intimate concert environment, with internationally renowned singers singing for you.
🌄Things to do in San Luis Obispo: SLO Attractions
To explore San Luis Obispo, you must visit the local attractions. Natural scenery or historical sites will show you the city’s unique charm.
Big Sur
Big Sur is known for its stunning beauty in California. There are a lot more off-road trails that offer a lot of beauty. The Big Sur Trail is very popular, and you can enjoy ocean views while taking in the coastal mountains on this route. While recent landslides in California have closed some roads, you can use the Caltrans map to view road closures and find open routes in the area. Big Sur will be one of the best things to see in San Luis Obispo.
101 Wine Tours, Beer, Olive Oil and Scenic Tours
101 Wine Tours will provide you with San Luis Obispo activities well worth the experience. It will tailor the event experience to customers’ needs and preferences. Whatever you want to experience in San Luis Obispo, it goes out of its way to ensure your stay is comfortable, memorable and fun. If you wish to sample the best local wines in SLO Coast Wine Country or visit the Santa Maria Valley and Paso Robles, it will provide you with the most comfortable service.
Sunbuggy Fun Rental
Playing in the dunes is one of the children’s favourite SLO things to do. You can rent ATV, RZR and dune buggies to take your kids around the dunes. Sunbuggy Fun Rental has the best equipment and friendly staff. Its prices are only prepaid, and no hidden add-ons exist. Their high-end equipment will give you speed and fun on the dunes and protect you from getting stuck in the sand.
🍻Things to do in San Luis Obispo: Eat & Drinks
How can you explore San Luis Obispo without sampling the local cuisine? We will introduce you to various forms of food and give you an in-depth understanding of the local food culture.
Bars & Nightlife
SLO’s nightlife is fantastic. On a Saturday night, you can experience many St Luis Obispo things to do. The city centre has many bars, cafes, lounges and food. You can experience the SLO nightlife here and feel the beauty of SLO at night.
Bull’s Tavern has always been an iconic SLO restaurant. You can have a very comfortable and pleasant experience here. The bar’s prices are low, and you can enjoy a discount with cash. At the same time, the excellent staff and bartenders will bring you an enjoyable dining experience, and the delicious wine will bring you a wonderful evening.
Suppose you want to taste the most authentic local beer. Antigua Brewing Company will cater to your needs. It is a farm-to-glass craft brewery. The brewery will make the hops grown in San Luis Obispo into delicious beers. The beer produced by Antigua Brewing Company is the perfect choice for people to taste the food.
Barrelhouse Country is the perfect place for you to experience craft beer. Its talented brewers brew small batches of bar-specific beers, sodas, cider and non-alcoholic beverages. Barrelhouse Country also gets its suppliers to provide mouth-watering food to go with its craft beers. Not only that, you will enjoy delicious beer and food while they provide you with family-friendly live music or let you enjoy a concert hosted by the theater. You can check out the specific events on the website.
Breakfast & Coffee
SLO has many delicious breakfasts. Coming to this unique city and tasting the most authentic local breakfast will give you a deeper understanding of the place. SLO has a wide variety of restaurants to cater not only to the needs of big eaters but also to the tastes of discerning diners. In short, tasting a local breakfast is the freshest and best way to taste the season’s flavours.
The unique French fries and delicious fillings made up of delicious burritos are the most common breakfast in the region. Who doesn’t love a good burrito? They are flexible and convenient and will bring you the purest joy. The shops with delicious burritos are as follows:
Kreuzberg Coffee Company
This laid-back cafe is located in the heart of the city. You can enjoy a strong coffee and a delicious breakfast burrito here. You can enjoy the food here while soaking up the lively atmosphere of the cafe.
Charlie’s Place
If you want unlimited mimosa cocktails, this restaurant is a good choice. A delicious burrito with a mimosa cocktail is a delightful option. You will taste delicious food and feel the relaxed atmosphere here.
Breakfast Buzz
The restaurant is located northwest of the city centre. The burritos here are delicious. Their burritos are enormous; lots of melted cheese, crispy fried potatoes, and delicious guacamole will give you the best taste.
Libertine Brewing Company
For those who only eat vegetarian food, consider this restaurant. Not only do they produce the usual burritos, but they also serve people delicious vegetarian breakfast burritos. You will experience a unique and warm atmosphere here.
Brunch will do the trick if you’re looking for a lie-in and a delicious local breakfast. These restaurants are usually open in the morning, evening and afternoon. There are three restaurants:
Louisa’s Place
It was voted “best breakfast” in the polls. You can enjoy country-fried steak or home-cooked dishes such as biscuits and gravy while enjoying a comfortable stay.
Del Monte Cafe
Del Monte Cafe is a good choice if you’re looking for something different. Their diverse menu includes linguica, a unique and delicious option that will pique your interest.
Seeds
This restaurant is famous for brunch. The toast is delicious, and you can also eat the signature acai bowl with the toast. This delicious combination will help you start your day on the right foot.
A Quick Breakfast will save you a lot of time if you are in a hurry. Four restaurants are serving Quick Breakfast:
Nautical Bean
You will enjoy delicious local breakfast burritos, bagel sandwiches, muffins and lots of original coffee. You can easily find the cafe with three locations in San Luis Obispo.
Linnaea’s Cafe
Linnaea’s Cafe offers a unique coffee experience that will make you want to stay a little longer. Their outdoor terrace provides a perfect spot to enjoy your coffee while taking in the beautiful local scenery.
Black Horse
At Black Horse, you can indulge in a variety of cold and hot drinks, baked goods, sandwiches, and other coffees. With two branches in the city, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your cravings.
Scout Coffee
This is the local favourite high-end coffee shop. You can enjoy delicious snacks and coffee here. Their breakfast is perfect for a quick bite to eat or to take out.
Lunch & Dinner
San Luis Obispo has a lot of good food. You can enjoy a variety of local and international cuisines here, which is worth noting.
Nate’s on Marsh
This restaurant is located just outside downtown San Luis Obispo. Nate's on Marsh has a lovely interior, palm print wallpaper, and a Western equestrian theme. Their dishes will leave you with endless memories. We recommend you try the La Scala salad and the Hand-cut pappardelle with Tablas Creek lamb ragu.
Mistura
San Luis Obispo has a global cuisine. You can enjoy authentic Peruvian cuisine at Mistura's outdoor seating area. The cuisine here blends pre-Columbian and Inca flavours to create an inspired menu.
The Oak Grill
The Oak Grill is located in the Hotel Cerro, where you can stay and enjoy their elaborate cuisine. Their cuisine is very coastal California. Morro Bay oysters, salad and coffee will start your day off right.
👨🏻👩🏻👦🏻Things to do in San Luis Obispo: Families
This city offers unlimited and affordable San Luis Obispo attractions. It is California’s top family vacation destination. The city has plenty to offer if you’re in San Luis Obispo with your family. It’s a great place for kids to entertain, with beaches, hiking, and farmers’ markets, all great San Luis Obispo things to do.
Avila Valley Barn
Built in 1985, the Avila Valley Barn is now one of the must-see attractions in San Luis Obispo. Avila Valley Barn is located on the road to the beach and appears like a rustic barn. Acres of orchards, blooming flowers and grape pergolas create a natural atmosphere. You can buy produce and taste olallieberry ice cream here. Whether riding a hayride to a pumpkin patch for Halloween or petting a goat at a petting zoo, playing in the Avila Valley Barn will be one of the unforgettable things to do in SLO for you and your kids.
Central Coast Gymnastics Sports Center, Inc.
Do you and your child enjoy participating in sports? Central Coast Gymnastics Sports Center, Inc. has 16,000 square feet of facilities. The company specializes in gymnastics, tumbling and trampoline, cheerleading and acrobatic fitness classes for children from 8 months to adults. You can experience things to do in San Luis Obispo, CA, that you wouldn’t normally do. At the same time, the company will host birthday parties for children ages two and up and super boot camps for children ages 3.5 to 13.5. Your child will have a great experience here.
SLO Skate Park
Do you and your kids like skateboarding? The SLO Skate Park will be the perfect venue. The 15,000-square-foot skate park features one-of-a-kind ramps, stairs, railings and three bowl-shaped runs of varying depths. These facilities will cater to the needs of skateboarders of all experience levels. The SLO Skate Park attracts many tourists and locals and has become a popular attraction for skateboarders and families. Experience skateboarding here will be a perfect San Luis Obispo activities.
🏘️Where to Stay
When you come to San Luis Obispo to play, accommodation is also an essential factor affecting the play experience. How to choose a quality apartment? uhomes.com, our website, will recommend perfect apartments to you. Our apartments include single rooms, shared rooms, studios, and 1B-5B. These apartments not only have excellent interiors but also very convenient public facilities. You can get a comfortable living experience here. In addition, our apartment is surrounded by convenient transportation and many SLO things to do to provide you with more pleasant experiences in San Luis Obispo.
Conclusion
San Luis Obispo is a beautiful and unique city that attracts many people to visit every year. We have recommended some great St Luis Obispo things to do and accommodations for you. Our recommendation will be of great help to you.
FAQ
Is San Luis Obispo worth visiting?
Yes, San Luis Obispo is well worth a visit. The city has stunning scenery, and it is a town on the central coast with beaches, hills, and vineyards. At the same time, the city has a vibrant history and shows people a deep cultural atmosphere. University towns, wine regions, farmers markets and the SLO Art Museum are good places to visit.
What is so special about San Luis Obispo?
San Luis Obispo has a quaint downtown, historic buildings and vintage attractions like the Sunset drive-in. At the same time, San Luis Obispo has a Mediterranean maritime climate, and the temperature is very comfortable all year round. San Luis Obispo is recognized as one of the happiest cities in the United States and has excellent outdoor activities.
Why is San Luis Obispo so expensive?
San Luis Obispo is a relatively expensive city to live in. The median home price in the city is $882,000. The housing market is hot, inventory is short, and prices are stable at unattainable levels. The average cost of raising a child under 4 for two adults is $24,700 per year in cities. At the same time, the town is a trendy retirement destination for people to escape the heat of the Central Valley and the high housing prices of Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
