Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains in central California, San Luis Obispo is coined the “Happiest City in America.” This cheerful town has a friendly atmosphere, 315 days of sunshine a year, a robust student population, and fun attractions like one of the best farmers’ markets in all of California (Thursdays), nearby beaches and Bubblegum Alley. Located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo is the perfect spot for a long weekend or stopover on a longer road trip.

GETTING TO SAN LUIS OBISPO

We traveled south to San Luis Obispo from the San Francisco Bay Area. You can travel 3.5 hours South via 101 for a more direct route or opt for the scenic route along Highway 1 that only adds an additional hour and half and offers some beautiful stops along the way. We took the scenic route on the way down and then the 101 home.

Some points of interest to consider along your road trip:

• Bixby Bridge: Bixby Creek Bridge, also known as Bixby Canyon Bridge, on the Big Sur coast of California, is one of the most photographed bridges in California. It is a reinforced concrete open arch bridge and the aesthetic design up against the Pacific Ocean makes for an iconic photo. The pull off here is always packed so approach slowly so you can find a spot. We kept going this trip and picked a more secluded spot to pull off and enjoy a picnic off our tailgate.

• Ragged Point: Often called the ‘Million Dollar View’ and known as the gateway to Big Sur, Ragged Point is another great spot for a pit stop along your route. We stopped here for the Northern lookout, but unfortunately there was a wedding taking place and we couldn’t access it. Apparently, there’s even a 0.8 mile trail, the Ragged Point Cliffside Trail, that stretches Highway 1and rewards hiker with a black sand beach at the base of the 300-foot Black Swift Falls waterfall. This stop even has restrooms, a hotel, cafe, and gas.

• Elephant Seals viewing point: As you continue onward you’ll find yourself in San Simeon where you can visit an elephant seal rookery. This is the only rookery in the world that is easily accessible, free, and open to the public every day of the year. There’s plenty of parking and a north and south viewing area. Depending on when you’re traveling, you might be able to catch a high population viewing. In peak times (January, April, and October), there are up to 17,000 animals on the San Simeon shores.

• Coastal towns: As you approach San Luis Obispo county there are several coastal towns you can stop in and enjoy or plan a day for exploring. First up is Cayucos. This laid back beach town features 6 miles of white sand beach stretching down to the famous Morro Rock. Morro Bay, home to Morro Rock, is up next in this string of coastal towns and has a quaint fishing village feel. Pismo Beach is just 20 minutes outside of SLO and the most southern of these coastal towns. Most famously known for its clam chowder from Splash Cafe, Pismo has a kitsch vibe that is more family driven. And as you can probably imagine the biggest draw in all off these towns are the beaches.

EXPLORING San Luis OBISPO

Perfectly positioned for a year-round mediterranean climate, San Luis Obispo, commonly known as SLO, has a charming downtown full of unique boutiques and restaurants. Sunny and warm during the day with an average of 70°F, the summers in SLO are mild and pleasant, and winter daytime temperatures tend to hover around 60°F. No wonder the city was named one of the “happiest places in America.”

There are a handful of noteworthy sights in and around SLO, outdoor activities and coastal day trips that can be enjoyed year-round. Explore our recommendations below to start planning your next trip to central California.

WALK OR BIKE AROUND DOWNTOWN

Downtown San Luis Obispo (SLO) spans two main streets – Higuara and Marsh – that are tree-lined and littered with cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy farm-to-table cuisine and sip local wines. These two streets run parallel to one another with hidden gems tucked in between. Some notable points of interest include Fremont Theatre, Mission San Luis, Bubblegum Alley (gross, but a popular spot to quickly check out and snap pic) and Tails, the local dog boutique.

According to the humans the food scene is pretty great. They tried to eat their way through SLO, but got full on day one. Several of their recs can be found in a later section of this guide.

explore abandoned architecture at cal poly

If you’re into photography, head out to the Cal Poly campus to explore an abandoned Architecture Graveyard. Left behind by university students, Architecture Graveyard used to be a site for architectural, engineering, and design students to build structures that ranged from sculptures to semi-houses.

To get to the graveyard, park on campus near Poly Canyon Road. On weekdays you will have to buy a parking permit for $5, on weekends and during the summer free parking can be found. Walk the dirt Poly Canyon road for about a mile until you see a sculpture map and stone turnstile to your left to enter the graveyard.

While cool to see some of the structures, all the debris and graffiti degrades the ambiance a bit and we would recommend visiting at sunset (there is not a lot of shade along the trail) to get some cooler shots with the lighting.

DIP YOUR PAWS IN THE SAND AT A DOG FRIENDLY BEACH

It’s not a California trip if a beach isn’t involved, and for us it’s gotta be dog friendly. When visiting the central coast you have several options to choose from

• Avila Beach is located just off Highway 1 and allows pups to spread their legs off-leash before 10am and after 5pm. Avila Beach is set along the coast with its own uniquely sunny and warm microclimate and can be found at the end of the Bob Jones “City to the Sea” trail. For all day off-leash options, head to The Olde Port Beach next to Harford Pier, or the Fisherman’s Beach, nicknamed “Dog Beach,” both have a leash-optional policy. We spent an afternoon at Fisherman’s Beach and it was just what I needed to stretch my paws a bit.

• Pismo Beach is dog-friendly at any time of day, as long as you stay to the left of the pier.

• Morro Bay may be best known for its landmark rock, but it also has some lovely strands of coastline that are dog friendly. Morro Rock Beach requires your dog be on leash, but you can go leash-free at North Point Beach.

enjoy a mini wall crawl

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we’re suckers for wall art and plan a wall crawl everywhere we visit. Some cities don’t have as much wall art as others (have you read our San Diego guide?), but Doodle Mom always sniffs out some spots.

When exploring downtown SLO, stop by the Museum of Art and Marketplace Creamery for some colorful wall murals.

SLO Irresistible can be found right at the entrance of Marketplace Creamery on Higuera Street. After figuring out the perfect angle to photograph the mural, explore the open-air public market featuring local diverse eateries, artisan handiwork, and a bustling culinary community.

The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art brings its exhibitions outside for the public to enjoy. Pacificaribbean is a large-scale mural painted on four of the walls of the museum. The mural was inspired by artist Juan Alberto Negroni’s childhood in Puerto Rico.

ENJOY ALL THE DOG FRIENDLY PATIOS

We’re all used to dining al fresco, and the patio options in downtown San Luis Obispo do not disappoint. COVID-19 led to several parklet expansions that have thankfully stuck around. Whether you’re looking for coffee and pastries, weekend brunch, local wine and food pairings or nice dinner for a special occasion, SLO has something for all of the above.

Breakfast/Brunch

• Seeds: The humans ate here twice because Doodle Mom loved the avocado toast so much.

• Mint + Craft: Casual breakfast option for something quick or on the go.

• Sally Loo’s: Cute patio on the outskirts of downtown that won Doodle Dad’s heart with their breakfast burrito.

Lunch

• Park 1039: A delicious eatery and market that strives to source the best food and wine the world has to offer in downtown San Luis Obispo. Utilizing fresh, local ingredients for their menu, the items change daily. The spicy almonds are a must and the ambiance of this parklet was our fav.

Dinner

• Hotel Cerro: Easily the yummiest meal the humans had with the cutest patio that transported us to a Mediterranean coast. Do not miss the avocado hummus!

• Sidecar: Limited, but tasty menu. Known for their cocktails.

Drinks/Dessert

• Central Coast Brewing: Go for the beer, skip the food. Spacious patio.

• Whalebird Kombucha: Tiny tasty room with Kombucha on tap. Get a flavor to go in a cup, growler or mix and match with a build your pack of whatever they have in their fridge. The humans liked every single flavor they tried.

• Scout coffee: Cozy, local spot with two locations on Garden (downtown) and Foothill Blvd.

• Doc Burnstein’s original ice cream lab: Plan to split an order at Doc’s. The humans typically like two scoops for some variety and ended up walking away with a pint each of ice cream.

SIP WINE IN EDNA VALLEY

The coastal climate and rich soils make Edna Valley perfect for growing cool-climate grapes for chardonnay and pinot noir. When visiting Edna Valley, you can taste these and dozens of other locally grown varietals, with more than 27 distinct tasting rooms scattered along Orcutt Road. Each vineyard tasting room has its own unique character and varying views of the scenic valley set against rolling hills and a mountain backdrop.

There are several dog friendly wineries throughout the valley, so take your pick, make a reservation and enjoy a day in wine country.

We opted to visit Malene Winery – open Friday through Sunday by reservation – that hosts tastings out of a mobile ’69 Airstream. Known as the “Malene Scene,” this mobile tasting room is parked adjacent to Chamisal Vineyards’ winery for the summer months and serves up a flight of three rosé cuvées overlooking some of Edna Valley’s most beautiful vineyards. The humans loved the rosé here so much that they bought a bottle to enjoy on the lawn after their tasting and took another to go.

STAY AT DOG FRIENDLY HOTEL CERRO

Hotel Cerro is one of the first upscale hotels to open in San Luis Obispo and it’s right in the middle of downtown, although you wouldn’t know it with all the greenery throughout the property. The boutique hotel has 65 well-appointed rooms with an on-site restaurant (do not pass on the avocado hummus!), parking, an edible garden, and a laid-back rooftop pool with views of the rolling hills. Splurge for a suite and enjoy a private patio off your room equipped with a fire pit.

PAIR YOUR TRIP WITH A VISIT TO Paso Robles

Known for its wineries and olive groves, Paso Robles is 30-minutes north of San Luis Obispo and can make a great addition to your central coast trip if you’re staying in the area longer than a weekend.

Explore more than 200 wineries, a beautiful field of lights called Sensorio (with a new installation!), and an accessible downtown. When we visited we enjoyed our stay at the dog friendly Allegretto Resort where rooms have direct access to a private patio and property courtyard.

Let us now if you’re heading to SLO or Paso Robles and have any questions about things to do and where to stay!