San Luis Obispo

No destination is perfect, but in San Luis Obispo County, the city of San Luis Obispo comes pretty darn close. Situated on the edge of the Edna Valley wine region and home to California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, this is both a college town and a wine country–town all rolled into one, with gorgeous open space for hiking and mountain biking nearby. One of California’s most appealing places to live, it’s no wonder that San Luis Obispo was recognized a few years ago as the happiest city in the country. It’s also striving to be one of the most sustainable: The city has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, a goal backed by a comprehensive Climate Action Plan. Among other initiatives, this has led to the installation of more than 150 EV vehicle charging stations.

Downtown San Luis Obispo

Life in this Central Coast community centers on its exciting downtown, where you’ll find blocks of historic buildings in styles from Spanish Colonial to Victorian. Founded in 1772 as the fifth of California’s missions and built in the 1790s, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa connects contemporary visitors to the city’s distant Spanish past. The mission still celebrates daily mass and you can take docent-led tours or explore on your own to see the parish’s serene, meditative gardens and centuries-old devotional art. For a look at more recent California works, walk two blocks from the mission to downtown’s San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.

San Luis Obispo is at its most vibrant Thursday nights during the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market, when San Luis Obispo County growers and specialty food vendors set up stands that line blocks of the downtown. (Don’t miss the tri-tip!) And every Friday evening from late June through early September, another hub of downtown activity is in Mission Plaza as it hosts Concerts in the Plaza, a series of free, family-friendly live music performances.

San Luis Obispo Wine and Craft Breweries

Craft beer fans can sip their way through town and tap into the SLO-brewed creations at a host of local favorites: SLO Brew, Libertine Brewing Co., and Central Coast Brewing Co. Winemaking in the area dates back to the Mission Era, and these days local wine production is centered on the Edna Valley, a boutique region known for cool, ocean-influenced growing conditions that are ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Head to such standouts as Edna Valley Vineyard, where the contemporary tasting room has sweeping views, and Claiborne & Churchill Winery for its acclaimed estate Riesling. Back in town, discover varietals from an assortment of Central Coast wineries at Central Coast Wines.

Restaurants in San Luis Obispo

The city is definitely a culinary destination, with a dining scene that marries local ingredients with classic American and California fare as well as global tastes. Novo Restaurant and Lounge’s eclectic menu delectably combines them all, and has a deck overlooking the walking paths along restored San Luis Obispo Creek. Book a table at Ox & Anchor for an upscale steakhouse experience that has earned it a nod from the Michelin Guide; drop by Eureka! for a more casual meal of burgers (try the innovative arugula fig burger with goat cheese), tacos, and house-special sweet potato fries. If you’ve got a yen for pasta or a classic entrée such as bone-in pork chop or salmon piccata, Nate’s on Marsh is another Michelin-recognized eatery that will not disappoint.

Outdoor Activities in San Luis Obispo

After all the good food, beer, and wine in San Luis Obispo, you’ll definitely want to burn some calories. The tallest of the chain of volcanic mountains known as the Nine Sisters, Bishop Peak rises to 1,559 feet and has both easy and more challenging routes that wind along its rocky slopes. Plus, the view from the summit is one of the Central Coast’s best. In winter and spring, the Irish Hills Natural Reserve lives up to its name as the landscape turns a vivid emerald green, making these 720 acres a top mountain biking and hiking destination. And while San Luis Obispo isn’t right on the coast, it’s close enough for a gentle bike ride to Avila Beach along the Bob Jones City-to-Sea Trail.

Where to Stay in San Luis Obispo

The city has a range of accommodation options right downtown. Standouts include Hotel Cerro, which offers stylish modern rooms and suites, and Hotel SLO, where a vibe of luxurious simplicity is present everywhere, including the onsite Sol Spa and the aforementioned Ox + Anchor steakhouse. Meanwhile on the edge of town, the landmark Madonna Inn has drawn generations of travelers eager to experience its elaborately decorated, eccentric themed rooms. After all, where else could you take your pick of a hot pink or caveman-themed suite, both with indoor rock waterfall showers?

Glamping Near San Luis Obispo

It's also possible to have an overnight experience here that remains close to nature. With its beautiful shoreline and towering forests, the Central Coast is made for camping. So it should come as no surprise that San Luis Obispo County is the home of what may be one of the original glampsites: Camp Arroyo Grande. Since 1885, visitors and locals have been recreating on these sprawling grounds, located 16 miles from the city of San Luis Obispo. Book a traditional campsite or a rustic lodge or cabin, all of them within a block of the town of Arroyo Grande. A little closer to the city (SLO) is a Flying Flag resort in Avila Beach; it offers RV, drive-in and bike-in sites, as well as a range of seaside cabins and cottages, and Airstreams.