Thecityof
SanLuisObispo
servesas thehubof thecountyand
is justminutes fromworld-classwinecountryandbeaches.
Picturesquesurroundingsaside, thecity’scharmingdowntown
isamust-seedestination in itsownright
“SLO”ITDOWNON
CALIFORNIA’SWESTCOAST
T
hecityofSanLuisObispo,whichsits
roughly10miles inland from itsnearest
beach,halfwaybetween thebright lightsof
SanFranciscoandLosAngeles,hasquietly
beengarneringastellarreputationasa foodiepara-
disenestled into thecountryside. SanLuisObispo,
orSLOas its loving fanbase likes tocall it, is the
centerpiece for thewidercountyof thesamename
and itepitomizes thesmall-towncharm itsflashier
neighborshave lost.
Inandaround thecity, you’llfinddozensofhiking
andbiking trails thatmake themostof thecounty’s
verdantcountryside.Or, forwaterbabies, thereare
severalpeacefulbeaches just10minutes’ driveaway.
Butbranchout from thepicturesquesurround-
ings— though theyareabighit—andspenda few
days in thecenterofSLOwhereyou’ll experience its
culinaryscene.Whileaward-winningrestaurants,
wineriesandbreweriescomeasstandard through its
streets, it’s the famousFarmers’Market that is the
city’sstand-out star.Agriculturestillplaysavital
role in the local economyand it’sevidentonThurs-
daynights, during thesecond largest farmers’market
in thewesternUnitedStates.For threehoursevery
week, sixblocksofHigueraStreetareclosedoff fora
streetparty featuringaselectionof thecounty’s fresh
produce, hotbarbecuesandengagingentertainers.
For the littleones, theChildren’sMuseum isa
must-do, andskaters in the familywill love thenew
state-of-the-artSLOSkateboardPark.Thekidswill
alsohave fun leaving theirmarkonSanLuisObispo’s
infamousBubblegumAlley—where thousandsof
piecesofchewedgum line the70-foot-longalleywall
justoffHigueraStreet.
sanluisobispovacations.com
ShareSLO
DON’T
MISS
1.Farmers’
Market
Partywiththe
localsevery
Thursdaynight.
2.Child’sPlay
Takethetykes
totheChildren’s
MuseumandSLO
SkateboardPark.
3.Sips&Suds
SLO’scity
centerteems
withbrewpubs,
winebarsand
restaurants.
AMERICANWAY
APRIL2016
43
