Visiting SLO CAL? These are our favorite things to do in San Luis Obispo County.

We visited San Luis Obispo a few times over the years. Our first time here was for our anniversary photoshoot. We love return visits to places, because you can take them at a slower pace. For the longest time, we chased thrills and ticked things off our bucket list, but lately our travel style has been evolving. We’ve been gravitating towards more relaxing and cozy experiences, which SLO Cal is perfect for.

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Last Updated: October 23, 2025

7 Unique Things to Do in San Luis Obispo County (Slo cal)

You may have heard of SoCal and NorCal, but SLO CAL has a vibe of its own. It’s the middle region of California, featuring 80 miles of beaches, rolling vineyard-covered hills, and an emerging art scene. It includes San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, and the surrounding area.

See More: The Ultimate California Coast Road Trip

Experience Art at Sensorio

4380 CA-46, Paso Robles, CA 93446, map

Ever since going to Burning Man, we have a new appreciation for art made for after dark. Sensorio is one of California’s largest immersive art exhibits, featuring over 100,000 glowing bulbs resembling bioluminescent flowers.

Field of Light is the original and largest exhibit. Since our last visit, they added six newer exhibits, and our favorite was Dimensions by HYBYCOZO.

Photography Tip: Visit right before sunset to photograph them before they’re lit up. They also photograph nicely, but you can see them both ways.

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Sunset Gondola Ride in Morro Bay

833 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA 93442, map

This was the most romantic way to spend the evening. We got serenaded by Stephano and loved hearing his story. He was once an opera singer, musician, and music professor, and is now a gondolier after falling in love with his boat, the Gianna.

After the sun sets and the building lights up, it almost feels like you’re in Europe.

Local Tip: They also offer a 3-course dinner cruise and night cruises. He’s also an ordained pastor if you’re looking to tie the knot on a gondola.

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Take a Workshop at Junkgirls

870 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, map

I made a metal-stamped bookmark with my playa name, a tag for Leo, and a one-of-a-kind ring out of a recycled spoon.

The atmosphere here was so warm and welcoming; I felt like I was getting a taste of art therapy. It’s a testament to the founders, Melissa and Jenny, who also found healing through art therapy. It felt similar to my Kintsugi workshop, which also finds beauty in broken and discarded things. I’m a big fan and want to go back for their junk journaling workshops.

Besides metal stamping and junk journaling, they also run workshops for monoprinting.

Local Tip: If you’re stopping by to shop, over 70% of the store’s items are made in-house, making them truly one-of-a-kind gifts.

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Hike the Montana de Oro Bluff Trail

35.258093,-120.887191, map

The SLOCAL area has great coastal hikes, and the one we wanted to do was the Montana de Oro Bluff Trail. The trail can be up to 3.9 miles with a 193 ft elevation gain, but you can stop and turn around at any point.

Instead of doing the entire hike, I stopped at the first scenic lookout to do some plein air painting while Jacob practiced his breathwork while listening to the ocean waves. We love tuning into nature’s white noise. Did you know the rhythm of the ocean can activate your parasympathetic nervous system and reduce stress hormones?

Local Tip: If you’re visiting during wildflower season (February to April), you can see California Poppies and other wildflowers.

See More: Best Places to See California Wildflowers

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Grab a Book at Spare Time Books

945 12th St Suite C, Paso Robles, CA 93446, map

I’m in my book era now and love visiting local bookstores. Spare Time in Paso Robles is owned by two bookish besties who purchased the store together, and they’ve made it look so cute! I loved reading their story, and you can follow them on Tiktok.

They also have multiple events and book clubs, including a Silent Book Club, which is especially great for introverts.

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Picnic at Cass Winery

7350 Linne Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446, map

SLOCAL is full of wineries, but since Jacob doesn’t drink wine, we wanted to find a vineyard that we could enjoy together. At Cass Winery, we rented e-bikes to ride through the vineyards and have a picnic lunch.

We found a nice spot next to the reservoir that overlooked the vineyard.

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Madonna Inn

100 Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405, map

Madonna Inn is known for its pink and over-the-top decor. It’s an obligatory stop for Instagrammers, and if you have a sweet tooth, try their pink champagne cake.

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Map of Unique Things to Do in SLO CAL

Where to Eat in SLO CAL

• Feral Kitchen & Lounge, SLO – an upscale speakeasy-style spot with creative cocktails, burgers, and tacos. Don’t miss the views from upstairs.
• Mersea’s Seafood Restaurant, Avila Beach – this one was more for the views than the food.
• S’aranella, Paso Robles – our favorite meal on the trip. A modern take on a Spanish restaurant featuring tapas, pintxos, steaks, paellas, and more. The pan con tomate is a must! I’m still thinking about it post-trip.
• Scout Coffee, SLO – my favorite coffee shop from the trip. I even got some beans for home. Don’t miss the mural outside the shop.
• Seeds, SLO – healthy bowls, toasts, drinks, and sandwiches with great open, outdoor seating.
• Spearhead Coffee, Paso Robles – a local fave that came recommended by our server from S’aranella.

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Where to Stay in SLO CAL

We stayed at The Butler Hotel in SLO and Paso Robles Inn in Paso Robles.

The Butler Hotel was close enough to downtown to walk if we wanted to, but also far enough from the noise if we wanted to call it early. It was a unique stay located inside an industrial exterior that used to be an auto repair shop. On the day of check-in, we received a text with door codes so we could let ourselves into the building and our room without interacting with anyone.

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Paso Robles Inn is located right next to the historic square, making it a great spot to explore Paso. The rooms are spacious, there are wandering paths on the property, and you can walk to a bunch of shops and restaurants (it was a short walk from Spare Time Bookstore, which I adored). 

For more hotel options, check the map below.

Which of these things to do in San Luis Obispo are you putting on your itinerary?

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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

Follow on Instagram (E + J), YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.