Relax in San Luis Obispo: A Charming California Gem

Never has there been a more aptly nicknamed laidback creekside community. SLO (San Luis Obispo) is nestled in the middle of the busy state of California; an artsy enclave with a bright mix of modern and ranch style living. The growing college campus of Cal State San Luis Obispo provides the backdrop for a quaint main street filled with boutique shopping and eclectic eateries that overflow onto the sidewalks. With hiking and biking trails just outside of town, there is plenty of exploring to be done here.

Get your day going with a strong latte from Seeds on Court Street, a well curated hobo chic coffee shop filled with cookbooks, cards, and other locally made products to peruse while you sip away. The pastries, flatbreads, and paninis are divine too, if you’re running late and end up brunching it. Just sitting outside in the shade watching the locals come and go like ants is entertainment enough for a lazy morning.

If you’re in town for a college visit, get ready for a treat. The campus is emerging from some growing pains over the last few years, but new additions (like the sand volleyball courts pictured above right) only add to the facilities SLO has to offer students. Just to drive the loop around the acreage is worth your while…the aesthetics of the performing arts venue (pictured above left), coupled with the goats and horses around the bend, will leave everyone smiling. If you have time later, hike the hill on campus keeping an eye out for the banana slugs (school mascot), and savor the western sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

The afternoon is full of possibility. Lots of folks can’t resist the draw of the Madonna Inn, originally built in 1958 and now boasting one hundred ten uniquely designed and decorated rooms. Part hotel, part happenstance museum, it might be worth the short hop across the 101 for lunch in the Gold Rush Steak House or a drink in the Silver Bar cocktail lounge. But, if all that sounds like just too much, head back into town to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (pictured above right). This beautiful Spanish adobe, established in 1772 by Father Serra, houses a church, museum and gift shop and offers guided tours of the meticulously maintained grounds.

As the day winds down, find somewhere special to take in the sunset, whether it’s along the creek that cuts through the middle of the city (pictured above left), or atop one of the many hills surrounding the area. As the lights around town pop on, it’s time to meander to your next meal. There are plenty of amazing choices, from casual food markets to creekside white linen dining. When my sister got married in Pismo Beach a few years back, we had an amazing pre wedding meal the night before at Novo Restaurant & Lounge. There’s something about eating outside, with the ambiance of the trees overhead and the creek below your feet that just makes everything that much better. On my daughter’s college road trip, we opted for the more casual Giuseppe’s; simple, authentic Italian within a comfortable retro atmosphere. Be sure to try the Bruschetta and Nonna’s Meatballs and save room for the homemade desserts; my favorites, carrot cake and gelato, are made daily using family recipes.

After a quick jaunt through town to help settle your big meal, and a quick peek at Bubblegum Alley (when in Rome!) , take refuge at the San Luis Creek Lodge. Tucked away a bit out of town, this small boutique hotel has everything you need and nothing more. The rooms are gorgeous and well curated, with heavenly beds and quality linens. When you check in, make plans to borrow bikes for the morning and ride through the beautiful backroads of this sweet hillside town.

Stay: San Luis Creek Lodge provides a quiet stay with all the luxury you would expect from a small boutique hotel. Complete with heavenly beds and complimentary bicycles to get you to town. Or, if downtown is where you want to be, try Hotel Cerro, whose unexpected rooftop pool and 4,000 square foot on site spa fit quaintly behind the brick facade on Garden Street.

Eat: Hearty homemade Italian can be found at Giuseppe’s Creekside, or for a more formal sit down along the creek, try Novo Restaurant & Lounge for dinner on the patio. Coffee and takeaway pastries from Slo Delicious Bakery or Seeds on Court Street.