Welcome to San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo (pop: 45,120) is located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. It has been referred to as "the happiest city in America" by Oprah Winfrey and the National Geographic book "Thrive" by Dan Buettner.

Spanish name for San Luis the Bishop, this city was founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities. The city, referred to locally as "SLO", "SLOtown", "S.L.O." and "San Luis", is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County and is adjacent to California Polytechnic State University.

Exciting high adventure opportunities for exploring, boating, camping, hiking, watersports, weekend retreats and more.

Travel along the famous Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Barbara to Monterey Bay and you will find many secluded hideaways with very romantic settings.

Mission Plaza
Cultural, theater, museum attraction center in downtown San Luis Obispo adjacent to the historic mission.

Los Osos Oaks SNR
State Nature Reserve
This Reserve features ancient sand dunes covered with centuries-old coast live oak trees. Some fine hiking trails traverse this reserve and allow visitors to observe native american settlements and local wildlife.

Montana de Oro State Park
A prominent landmark located on the coastline just south of Morro Bay California. It features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. Being one of the larger California State Parks it gets nearly one million visitors annually.

More Central Coast Resort Hotels:

Avila Lighthouse Suites
550 Front Street, Avila Beach, CA 93406;
Location: Beachfront;
Experience ocean front luxury just steps from the sand in Avila Beach at the Avila Lighthouse Suites. An all suite beach front resort featuring non-smoking spacious two room suites with microwave oven, refrigerator, coffee maker and private balcony. The property boasts a fitness room, day spa, conference center and family activities including ping pong, putting green and a life size chess board. Complimentary continental breakfast included.

Garden Street Inn Location: Downtown Westside - San Luis Obispo; A charming, restored 1887 Victorian home, The Garden Street Inn is just steps from all the sights, sounds, shopping and history of vintage San Luis Obispo. This nostalgic college town surrounded by the natural beauty of the rolling hills and coastal valleys. Golf, tennis, biking and hiking opportunities abound.

Comfort Inn Lamplighter Hotel Location: Eastside - Monterey Street Hotel District; The Comfort Inn and Suites Lamplighter is located in the heart of San Luis Obispo. Just minutes away from historic downtown where you will find The Mission, restaurants, shopping, newly built government center, movie theaters, night clubs, and much more for the entire family to enjoy.

Downtown Accommodations:
S.L.O. Westside area near the Old Mission:
Best Value Inn - Downtown
El Toro Inn
Ramada
San Luis Inn & Suites - Olive Street
Garden Street Inn - Downtown
Homestead Motel - Olive Street
Peach Tree Inn - home style innhouse
Rodeway Inn - Downtown
The Sanitorium Spa - Guest house near French Hospital
Hostel Obispo - 28-room International Hostel.

Hotel District Accommodations:
Monterey Street Hotel District - Downtown Eastside:
Apple Farm - Downtown Hotel District
Comfort Inn Lamplighter - Downtown Hotel District
Days Inn East - Cuesta County Park
Holiday Inn Express - Downtown Hotel District
La Cuesta Inn - Eastside
San Luis Creek Lodge - Downtown Hotel District
Somerset Inn - Best Western - Downtown Hotel District
Quality Suites -
Super 8 Motel - Eastside
Travelodge - Eastside
Villa Motel - Eastside

Laguna Lake Area Accommodations:
Southwest San Luis Obispo Area
Royal Oak Hotel - Best Western - Madonna Plaza Shopping Center
Courtyard by Marriott
Embassy Suites - Madonna Plaza Shopping Center
Rose Garden Inn - - Los Osos Valley Rd & US-101
Madonna Inn Resort & Spa Luxury European Resort
Vagabond Inn
Motel 6 North - Los Osos Valley Rd & US-101
Motel 6 South - Los Osos Valley Rd & US-101

Historic Mission Plaza
This historic building was the fifth of the early Californian Missions built by Father Serra in 1772. Nearby are downtown museums, restaurants and cultural arts center.

San Luis Obispo Children's Museum
1010 Nipomo St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401;
805-545-5874; Museum Website;
Open Tues-Sun;

Features special events, children's parties and friday evening concerts.

Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum
801 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-2641; 805-543-1763; Museum Website;
Honoring the men and women veterans of the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines.

More Local Museums
San Luis County History Center - San Luis Obispo CA - County History stories
SLO Museum of Art - San Luis Obispo CA - Promote diverse visual art experiences
Conservation Corps Museum - San Luis Obispo CA - Preservation 1930s CCC barracks and exhibits.

Tour Hearst Castle - San Simeon, CA
Park Website; Tour Website;
At its heyday, the Hearst Castle was the ultimate weekend getaway for the rich and famous. Visitors enjoyed the many pools, epicurean delights, lavish costume parties and magnificent gardens. It is one of the most popular attractions in California.

The Exploration Station - Grover Beach CA
Learning Museum where local families can enjoy revolving science exhibits, interactive displays, and weekly activities designed to spark the imagination and creativity of the youth in our community. Recent additions include adding an expanded Interactive Science Center.

Carrizo Plain
Largest single native grassland remaining in California. It is one of the easiest places to view surface fractures of the San Andreas Fault which traverses below the plain. San Luis Obispo Attractions:
Exciting high adventure opportunities for exploring, boating, camping, hiking, watersports, weekend retreats and more.
Sinsheimer Park - S.L.O. sports complex and baseball stadium
Montana de Oro State Park - features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including 1,347-foot Valencia Peak.
CalPoly Campus Life - university attractions, intercollegiate sports, museums and performing arts.
Cuesta College Campus Life - university attractions, intercollegiate sports, museums and performing arts.
Camp San Luis Obispo - California National Guard training facility
Bishop Peak Natural Area - outdoor recreation
Edna Wine Country - vineyard tours.
Laguna Lake - lakefront recreation
Carrizo Plains National Monument - outdoor recreation
Los Padres National Forest - outdoor recreation

Central Coast Adventure Tours
Explore the Golden State - (Keyword: Central Coast)

Historic Mission Plaza
This historic building was the fifth of the early Californian Missions built by Father Serra in 1772. Nearby are downtown museums, restaurants and cultural arts center.

Central Coast Festivals, Faires & Shows
Local Special Events:

San Luis Obispo has been home of several other events, including a stop on the way of the Olympic Flame Relay, the Tour of California bicycle race, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, an annual Mozart festival, held every July, and a long-standing Christmas Parade.

During Summer months, local residents and visitors congregate in the Mission Plaza for a free outdoor concert every Friday evening. The event is called Concerts in the Plaza. Other noteworthy events include the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, Festival Mosaic, and the Plein Air Festival.

San Luis Obispo hosts a Farmer's Market every Thursday night from 6-9PM on Higuera Street, between Osos and Nipomo Streets. During this weekly event, the street is closed to vehicle traffic while vendors sell food and goods and various visual and music artists perform for the crowds.

Since June 2000, the first Thursday of every month is The Bike Happening (also known as Bike Nite) in San Luis Obispo. People gather after the Farmer's Market at the Mission Plaza with their bikes. The bikers then go around on multiple circuits on the main streets of downtown adhering to the traffic laws (for the most part). The ride is considered a fun/social ride meant to encourage people to get back on their bikes and to have fun. Each Bike Happening has a theme and a large portion of the crowd is in some costume adherent to the theme.

One of the cultural focal centers of San Luis Obispo is the Christopher Cohen Performing Arts Center built on the Cal Poly Campus, which was constructed utilizing the donations of local businesses and individuals. The Performing Arts Center consists of multiple venues, including the original Spanos Theatre. The largest venue, Harmon Hall, seats 1,300. Many high school and college programs are scheduled. Local artists perform plays, music and dance. The addition of the Performing Arts Center attracts many touring performances which are usually not found in communities of comparable size to San Luis Obispo. The Summer of 2007 was the opening concert of the Forbes Pipe Organ, which was built elevated into a side wall of Harmon Hall and required the donation of a further $3 million for purchase and installation.

S.L.O. Little Theatre
888 Morro St, San Luis Obispo CA 93401; 805-781-3889; Theater Website;

One of the oldest continuously running community theatres in the nation providing a wide variety of productions from musicals, comedies and dramas to our fundraising shows, all of which consistently perform to sold-out audiences.


Mid-State Fair - Paso Robles [Late-July] - Pagents, attractions, concerts and competitive exhibitions.
S.L.O. Film Festival - [Mid-March] - hosted annually at the Palm Theater.

Historic Mission Plaza
This historic building was the fifth of the early Californian Missions built by Father Serra in 1772. Nearby are downtown museums, restaurants and cultural arts center.

Lopez Lake Recreation Area
4200 acre recreation area surrounds this reservoir built on the Arroyo Grande Creek in 1969. Sailing, water skiing, swimming, fishing and camping are popular activities. There is also a waterslide next to the lake. The recreation area consists of 4,200 acres (1,700 ha) of open space, trails and camping areas.

Calpoly State University

Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, four-year, comprehensive public university located in San Luis Obispo, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California's Central Coast. Campus attractions include intercollegiate athletics, performing arts center, horticultural gardens, campus restaurants and student life events.

Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo Campus

Cuesta College is part of the San Luis Obispo County Community College District and offers over 76 Associate's degree programs and 96 certificate programs serving over 11,000 students.

Sinsheimer Park
City parks and recreation sports complex and baseball stadium. Home to SLO Blues and SLO Rattlers collegiate league baseball teams.

Oceano Dunes SVRA
Only state park where vehiciles drive onto the beach sand. Over 5.5 miles of beachfront for popular activities such as surfing, swimming, surf fishing, horseback riding, nature trails, camping and bird watching.

Central Coast Sports & Recreation


SLO Throwers Disc Golf Club

Central Coast Sports & Recreation


Sports & Athletics
Parks & Outdoor Recreation
Festival Guide - Sports Events
Regional Golf Courses

Central Coast Boy Scouts
Outdoor Recreational Adventure Activities for Youth:

Shopping Central Coast County

Mission Plaza Farmer's Market
Higuera St - Downtown - Thursday Evening (6-9PM)
70 farmers converge here every week with the freshest produce in town. Barbecued ribs, fresh produce, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.

San Luis Obispo Realty Brokers
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Visit San Luis Obispo
Janice Somers - San Luis Obispo Homes
Century 21 - San Luis Obispo Realty -
James Molnar - San Luis Obispo Homes
Ray Tate Realtors -
Amanda Weatherspoon - San Luis Obispo Real Estate -
Keith Byrd Real Estate - San Luis Obispo Real Estate -
San Luis Obispo Homes

San Luis Obispo Churches:

LDS Church - LDS Stake
Catholic Church - Diocese

Related San Luis Obispo Links:
Local Adventure Opportunities:
San Luis Obispo Visitors Guide
Tour San Luis Obispo County
City of San Luis Obispo
SLO Chamber of Commerce - Business Alliance
San Luis Obispo Galleries -
San Luis Obispo Homes
San Luis Obispo Resort Hotels
Central Coast Outdoors
Central Coast Tourism
Pacific Coast Highway Tour