County-Wide

Enjoy the many free large SLO County parks & Beaches

     Seasonal:

• Drive along the roads and look for wildflowers – Feb - May

• Visit 200+ artists studios during “Open Studios” on 3 weekends in OctoberWatch the elephant seals in San Simeon 

 

Avila Beach:

• Bike or stroll along the 2-mile “Bob Jones Trail”

• Check out the petting zoo animals at the “Avila Valley Barn”

• Drive along See Canyon Road to see Morro Rock from the vista point at top

• Go tide-pooling at the beach near Harford Pier

• Play / Swim/ BBQ at the Beaches in front of town

• Ride the Avila Beach Trolley on weekends

• See the seals, pelicans and starfish from Harford Pier

• See views of the ocean, Avila & Pismo Beach from the top of Cave Landing Road

• Stroll along the downtown Pier

• Stroll along the beach between town & Harford Pier – Bring your dog if you like!

• Stoll thru the “Labyrinth” & “Meditation Garden” at Sycamore Mineral Springs

• Take guided hike to Avila Beach Lighthouse (call for dates & reservation)

     Seasonal:

• Go to Farmers Market Friday afternoons (April–Sept) and enjoy the free music

 

Arroyo Grande:

• Stroll along the Creek Trail next to the downtown

• Go to Farmers Market downtown Saturday mornings

• Walk over the “Swinging Bridge” downtown

• Go to Farmers Market on Wednesday

• Invent a new ice cream at Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab on Wednesday evening

• Look at the chickens that wander loose near City Hall Downtown

• Visit the old one-room school house and other museums downtown

• Visit the historic Halcyon temple

• Window shop the great downtown antique stores & boutiques

• Bike Huasna Road to the old Huasna Schoolhouse

     Seasonal:

• Bring Picnic to “Village Summer Concert” selected Summer Sunday afternoons

• Go to the “Strawberry Festival” on the Saturday & Sunday of Memorial weekend

• See the classic cars at the “Arroyo Valley Car Sho” in late July

• Go to the Harvest Festival downtown in September

 

Atascadero

• Stroll or bike around Atascadero Lake

• Go to Farmers Market in the Sunken Gardens on Wednesday afternoons

• Visit the art galleries downtown

• Visit the Green Acres Lavender Farm and sniff acres of heavenly lavender

• Window shop the great downtown antique stores & boutiques

• Bring a picnic or BBQ at the Atascadero Lake Park

• Bike along El Camino Real between Atascadero & Santa Margarita

     Seasonal:

• Bring picnic and wine to the “Concert in the Park” Saturday evenings in Summer

• Bring picnic and enjoy band at “Tuesday Evenings Concerts” in summer

• Go to the “Sunken Gardens Flea Market” in April & September

• Look at the classic cars cruising downtown & on display in mid-August

• Play in the snow at the “Winter Wonderland Street Faire” in December

 

Baywood Park:

• Stroll on the small Pier near downtown

• Go to Farmers Market downtown Monday Afternoons

• Stroll along the boardwalk and see the pygmy trees of the “Elfin Forest”

• Watch birds in the estuary from the Audubon Society hut near downtown

• Stroll along the beach surrounding the town at low tide

     Seasonal:

• Go to “Oktoberfest”: car show, crafts, food & more downtown in late October

• Take guided tour thru the Elfin Forest on 3rd Saturday of month

 

Cambria:

• Go to Farmers Market in the “West Village” Vet’s Hall Friday Afternoons

• Ride the Trolley through the town on weekends

• Stroll along the boardwalk overlooking the ocean along Moonstone Beach Drive.

• Stroll thru East-West Ranch, admire the ocean views and look for wildlife

• Admire views from Santa Rosa Creek Road as you drive into Cambria

• Window shop the great downtown antique stores & boutiques

• Look for driftwood and admire the waves from Moonstone Beach

• Bike along the lower part of Santa Rosa Creek Road

     Seasonal:

• Enjoy the Chili Cook-Off & Car Show in April

• See latest creations at annual “Sculptors by the Sea” exhibit in May

• Enjoy the 4th of July Fireworks from Shamel Park

 

Cayucos:

• Sunbathe, swim or boogey-board at on the Cayucos State Beach

• Stroll along the pier, look for seals and admire view of Morro Rock

• Visit the Cayucos Art Association Gallery open Sunday afternoons

• Window shop the great downtown antique stores

     Seasonal:

• Go to the Farmers Markets on summer Friday mornings at the Vets Hall

• Swim in the ocean –or watch hundreds swim - at the “Polar Bear Dip” on Jan. 1.

• Go to a “Peddler’s Fair” on Memorial Day, 4th of July & Labor Day weekends

• Go to the downtown “Antique Street Faire” in mid-October

• Window shop the “Gem & Mineral Show” in June & October

• Enjoy the 4th of July Parade & Fireworks & Sand-sculpture contest

• See hundreds of classic at the downtown Car Show in November

 

Grover Beach:

• Stroll thru the Monarch Grove Park and go the Beach

• Watch the ATV’ers crazy driving on the beach (or rent one, and do it yourself !)

• Window shop the beautiful gifts & plants at “Ron’s Nursery”

     Seasonal:

• Bring a picnic to a “Sizzlin’ Summer Concert” on alternating Sunday afternoons

• Enjoy the Garden Tour in May

• Enjoy the “Stone Soup Music Festival” in mid-August

• See the Monarch butterflies as they winter at “Monarch Grove” Park Nov. - Feb.

 

Los Osos:

• Go tide-pooling at Spooner’s Cove in Montana de Oro State Park

• Hike thru the Los Osos Oaks State Park Preserve

• Hike or bike the trails of the Montana de Oro State Park

• Stroll thru the beautiful “Sweet Springs Nature Preserve”

• Walk along the beach dunes stretching for miles from Montana de Oro State Park

• Hike through the Oaks Reserve off Los Osos Valley Road

• Walk the Dunes from Montana de Oro State Park entrance almost to Morro Rock

• Bike beautiful Turri Road along the extinct “Seven Sisters” volcanoes

• Bike along the downtown bike trail

     Seasonal:

• See old-time life recreation at “Pecho Ranch Day” in July

• Window shop the Arts & Crafts & Collectibles Fair in November

 

Morro Bay:

• Play or stroll on the beach near Morro Rock

• Bird watch –this is one of the top 10 places in the USA ! (over 200 species)

• Drive from Morro Bay to SLO on Hwy 1 –one of the most scenic drives in USA!

• Fly a kite at the windy Morro Strand State Beach

• Go to Farmers Market Saturday afternoon Downtown

• Go to the Farmers Market near downtown on Thursday afternoons

• Go to the huge car show downtown in early May

• Hike up the peak (one of the “Seven Sisters”) next to the Morro Bay Golf Course

• Kayak the very calm estuary. (Kayaks are available for rent.)

• Look for nests in the Heron Rookery Preserve near the Natural History Museum

• Play in the surf at Morro Strand State Beach

• See the otters and boats at the Embarcadero

• See the exhibits in the Estuary Nature Center in the Embarcadero

• Visit the ever-changing exhibits at Morro Bay Art Association Gallery downtown

• Visit art galleries during “Embarcadero Art Walk” -2nd Friday evening of month

• Window shop the stores downtown & on the Embarcadero

• Bike or stroll along boardwalk of Cloisters Park next to Morro Bay State Beach

      Seasonal:

• Admire the “Tall Ships” that sail to the Embarcadero in February & March

• Fly or watch the kites at the Kite Festival one weekend in April

• Go to the “Art in the Park” – Memorial Day, 4th of July & Labor Day Weekends

• Enjoy the “Avocado & Margarita Festival” in August

• Window shop the “Merchant’s Street Faire” in early August

• See the “Lighted Boat Parade” in early December

 

Oceano:

• Watch the ATV’ers go crazy driving on the beach (or rent, and do it yourself !)

 

Nipomo:

• Go to Farmers Market across from the Post Office on Sunday afternoons

• View the Dunes and fields from the top of Los Berros Road (near Valley Road)

• Visit the Dana Adobe, oldest house in SLO County, on Sunday

     Seasonal:

• Enjoy the “Green House Growers” Open House tour in April

 

Paso Robles:

• Go wine-tasting where there is no charge to taste (J. Lohr, Midlife Crisis..)

• Go to Farmers Market in the Downtown City Park on Saturdays mornings

• Go to Farmers Market in the Downtown City Park on Tuesdays afternoons

• Go to Farmers Market near downtown on Friday mornings

• Stroll the grounds of the historic Estrella Church & Cemetery

• Sample olive oils & tapenades at “We Olive” in the downtown

• Take a free tour of Tablas Creek Winery

• Window shop the great downtown antique stores & boutiques

• Bike the many country roads of wine country

     Seasonal:

• Bring picnic to the summer Friday evenings “Concerts in the Park”

• Sample the olive oils and vinegars at the Olive Festival in mid-August

• Enjoy creations at the “Art at the Spa” in August

• Go to one of the many other events held in the downtown city park

• Go to the free summer evening Shakespeare in the Park

• See the sights of the “Vine Street Victorian” evening in December

 

Pismo Beach:

• Play at the beach

• Stroll along the pier and look at the surfers

• Go window shopping at the downtown stores

• Walk thru park to the to the historic “Price House” behind town

     Seasonal:

• Window shop the monthly “Art at the Dinosaur Caves” April - October

• See the hundreds of classic cars at the Car show downtown in mid June

• People watch at the “Clam Festival” downtown in October

 

San Luis Obispo (city):

• Stroll along Creek Walk Downtown

• Go the Farmers Market downtown Thursday Night

• Go the Farmers Market Saturday Morning near Embassy Suites Hotel

• Check out the large used-book store downtown

• Hike “Poly Canyon” behind Cal Poly

• Look at the many public art works on display in town

• Stroll through the historic Victorian “Jack House” gardens downtown

• Stroll thru the Cal Poly campus

• Visit the artworks at San Luis Obispo “Art Center” (donation requested)

• Visit the historic Mission San Luis Obispo in the heart of downtown

• Visit art galleries during “Art After Dark” -1st Friday evening of every month

• Window shop the art galleries in the award winning downtown

• Bike along Orcutt Road thru Edna Valley Wine Country

• Check out the world-famous “Waterfall Urinal” in the Madonna Inn

• Drive from SLO to Morro Bay on Hwy 1 –one of the most scenic drives in USA!

• Gawk at (but don’t touch) the 50 year’s accumulation in “Bubble Gum Alley”

• Hike up Bishop Peak (note – arduous hike!)

• Hike up Reservoir Canyon (and discover the biggest waterfall in the county)

• Hike or mountain bike the “Madonna Mountain” above town

• See the antique toy planes, trains and cars in McCarthy Wholesale

     Seasonal:

• Bring picnic to a “Concert in the Plaza” Friday evenings in Summer

• Go the Cal Poly Open House and see the “Robot Race” exhibits in mid-April

• Visit one of the many Mission Plaza events held many weekends

• Go the Kick-Off Mozart Festival Concert at Mission Plaza in July

• See great creations at the “Art in the Jack House Gardens” in late August

 

San Miguel:

• Visit the historic Mission San Miguel and grounds

• Visit the Rios Caledonia Adobe Saturdays & Sundays

• Bike thru downtown and frontage road along Hwy 101

     Seasonal:

• See works by Master Sculptor John Olt in his gardens – weekends in June

• Visit the “Model A’s & Model T’s Car Show” - Rios Caledonia Adobe in June

 

San Simeon:

• Drive up Hwy 1 along Big Sur Coast – one of the most scenic drives in the USA!

• Peer up at Hearst Castle from the coast

• Stroll along the pier

• Stroll thru the Hearst Castle Reception Center, with museum & gift stores

• Visit the historic “San Simeon Market & Post Office” in Old San Simeon

• Watch the Elephant Seals on the beach –but don’t get too close !

• Stroll along the beach

 

Templeton:

• Go to the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings at the Downtown Park

• Visit the Art Gallery behind Castoro Cellars Tasting Room

• Bike along the back roads of the wine country

• Drive to Cambria on Highway 46 West and admire the beautiful views

     Seasonal

• Bring picnic & wine to the “Concert in the Park” Wednesday evenings in Summer

• Window shop the “Day in the Shade” Art Fair in May

• Go to the Templeton “Outdoor Quilt Show” downtown in June

• Bring a picnic to the “Lazy Locals” concerts held at Castoro Cellars in Summer

• Go to the Annual Basil Festival (and try the Basil Ice Cream!) in August