San Luis Obispo Travel Information
The sleepy city of San Luis Obispo serves as the
commercial, governmental and cultural hub of California’s Central
Coast. One of California’s oldest communities, it began with the
founding of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in 1772 by Father
Junípero Serra. Today, still an active church, the
mission anchors the center of town alongside Mission Plaza. For those
seeking to supplement their visit with liberal stretches of sand and
choice libations, consider using San Luis
Obispo as a jumping off point for California's Wine
Country (stretching north and south from town) and some very balmy
beaches.
Before bounding off to bask or tipple, take an afternoon to
see what's on offer around town. Mission Plaza
is the community’s cultural and social
center, a historic plaza a stone's throw from a selection of shops,
restaurants and sidewalk cafes. Thursday nights are reserved for the
all-in Farmers Market, the perfect time to pick up some fresh produce
and sample local goodies if you have not yet partaken.
However you chose to divvy up your day, be sure to do your sight-seeing
on foot in this pedestrian friendly place (though there's also the free
trolley which operates two days a week when you're too all in to hoof
it one step farther).
In the general area, look for local highlights like Hearst
Castle, the palatial estate of newspaper magnate William Randolph
Hearst donated to the state of California in 1957. The mansion's 165
rooms and 127 acres of gardens,
terraces, swimming pools, walkways and private zoo are just a part
of its grandeur, and it's open for tours. If the Hearst Mansion is
a monument to money, The
Madonna Inn is a monument to unremitting kitsch - there's even a rock
waterfall urinal for the gents. if this doesn't rock your world, local
faults just might; east find Carrizo Plain National Monument where
visitors can get an up-close look at the San Andreas Fault. In the
area find 4WD suitable routes and hiking trails, as well as primitive
campsites and ancient pictographs at Picture Rock. Beaches and
bay punctuate the coast west and south of San Luis Obispo, though the
sands of Pismo Dunes Preserve State Vehicular Recreation Area is given
over to Off Highway Vehicle users; sun-bathers will do better to stick
to the sands of Pismo Beach or Avila Beach.
San
Luis Obispo is located eight miles from the Pacific Ocean, 231 miles
south of San Francisco and 200 miles north of Los Angeles at the
junction of Highway 101 and scenic Highway 1.
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