Discover: San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Visitors Guide 2021/2022

Edged with 90 miles of coastline and well over a
dozen distinct cities and towns, SLO County is best
enjoyed outdoors. Bike the backroads through wine
country, paddle the oceans and lakes, trek miles
of trails through hills and along coasts or stroll the
many charming villages and shops. You’ll find new
delights at every turn.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
At the heart of the county is San Luis Obispo.
Meander through the celebrated downtown, where
streets are alive with new outdoor dining patios
and parklets. Or hit the greenbelt surrounding the
city for some hiking or biking. SLO is home to the
regional airport, county government, the main
Cuesta College campus and Cal Poly, with beaches
and vineyards just minutes away.
A few miles southeast along Highway 227, you’ll
find SLO’s wine region in quaint Edna Valley, amid
coastal hills and acres of vineyards. To the west
off Highway 101, the hills slope down to reveal
Avila Beach, with wineries, shops, and restaurants
fronting a long stretch of sandy shore.
NORTH COUNTY
Golden hills and the oak trees that populate them
greet you along Highway 101 north of San Luis
Obispo. After cresting the Cuesta Grade, you come
to Santa Margarita, offering wine tasting, zip lining
and a serene lake just down the road.
A few miles farther north lies Atascadero, boasting
a budding shopping core and expanding menu of
dining, breweries, a state-of-the-art multi screen
cinema, Atascadero Lake and its surrounding park,
and more than 100 animals at the county’s only zoo.
Hit Templeton for one of the county’s largest
farmers’ markets, a rustic downtown and
agricultural land loaded with grain, almond, cherry
and apple farms and more of the North County’s
signature vineyards and wineries.
Then there’s Paso Robles, home to a robust wine
region, a thriving downtown and the California
Mid-State Fair, an annual summer extravaganza
celebrating the county’s ranching history and
winemaking present while drawing a diverse slate
of A-list music acts and entertainers. For a day on
the water, don’t miss nearby Nacimiento Lake.
At the county’s northern edge, San Miguel is anchored
by the late 1700s Mission San Miguel and features
wineries sprinkled in with numerous cattle ranches.
NORTH COAST
Take Highway 1 north out of San Luis Obispo, and
you’ll find a scenic route leading to some of the
county’s most well-known beach communities,
Hearst Castle and the southern gateway of the
famous Big Sur coastline.
First comes Morro Bay, featuring a fisherman’s
wharf where you can pick up the fresh catch of the
day. Visit the Embarcadero for dining, antiques
and gift shops, kayak rentals and deep-sea fishing
tours, with towering Morro Rock providing a
distinctive backdrop.
Nearby, Los Osos offers the Elfin Forest, a 90-
acre natural area for exploring, and Montaña de
Oro State Park, with camping, hiking, mountain
biking, beaches, tide pools, beautiful vistas and
equestrian trails.
Keep heading north for a vintage 1950s-era
surf town and pier in Cayucos, and Harmony,
a tiny settlement boasting fresh small-batch ice
cream, a pottery shop, glassworks studio and
winery—and, according to the sign, a booming
population of 18.
Up the road, the village of Cambria is bursting
with artist studios, antiques, crafts and wine tasting
rooms. Round that off with a visit to Moonstone
Beach and you have a dynamite day trip.
Finally, you’ll find San Simeon, with Hearst Castle,
elephant seals, ragged ocean cliffs and, a little
further north, the Piedras Blancas Light Station
and Ragged Point at the gateway to Big Sur.
SOUTH COUNTY
To the south along Highway 101, San Luis Obispo
County offers world-famous coastal towns, quaint
village shopping and one of only a handful of
beaches in the country you can drive on.
First up is Pismo Beach, offering the
quintessential California beach town
experience, including a new pier plaza with a
selfie-ready giant illuminated sign, slide to the
beach and playground area welcoming you to
the popular surf and fishing spot with its many
shops and eateries.
Further south, Arroyo Grande offers a quaint
downtown village filled with boutiques,
restaurants, wine tasting, and resident roosters as
well as the road out to Lopez Lake, with boating,
fishing and camping.
Cut west onto Highway 1 South, and you’ll find
Grover Beach and Oceano. The Oceano dunes offer
the finest and most extensive coastal sand dunes in
California, popular with off-highway enthusiasts, as
well as surfers, surf anglers and campers.
Finally, along Highway 101 at the southernmost
edge of San Luis Obispo County is Nipomo, with
horseback riding through beautiful eucalyptus
groves, hiking through peaceful dunes, one of the
most popular barbecue joints in the area, and some
lush world-class golf courses.
DISCOVER SLO 2021/2022 | slochamber.org | 15