San Luis Obispo is the “we’re halfway there” between Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, San Luis Obispo offers much more than a stopover city. SLO is known for the beaches and the wine (two great things for which to be known!). Visiting Mission Plaza is like taking a step back in time to see the historic Spanish-style buildings.
The area has a variety of beaches. Avila Beach has a hot springs. Pismo Beach is the chosen spot for surfing. Oceano is a rare coastal set of sand dunes, which is great for ATVs and sand buggies.
San Luis Obispo has two distinct wine regions. Paso Robles has 200 wineries and was named the 2013 “Wine Region of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The other region is San Luis Obispo Wine Country, which has a wide range of varietals.
San Luis Obispo has a strong agriculture industry. Every Thursday night, the city hosts one of the best farmer’s markets in the state. Many of the local restaurant boast of farm-fresh foods.
Easily the most notable attraction near San Luis Obispo is the Hearst Castle. This stunning landmark sits in the Santa Lucia Mountains, and holds a world-renown collection of ancient art.
San Luis Obispo has remarkably consistent weather throughout the year. Daily highs in winter still reach the mid-60s. Winter is the rainy season. It is the slow season, but January has Restaurant Week.
March is still part of the rainy season, but the spring season dries by April. Spring highs are around 70.
San Luis Obispo doesn't see nearly the volume of tourism as the larger California coastal cities, but summer is the busy season at the beaches. The weather is very dry and highs are in the upper 70s.
September and October are fantastic months. The weather is still dry and in the upper 70s. By October, harvest season kicks off for the local wineries.