The Great Big Wonder

One of my favorite people on the planet has a family condo in Pismo. Since Spring Break 2016 my friends and I have made it our mission to visit whenever we have a longweekend available. Since then we‘ve done a lot, and I‘ve been waiting to make this guide until I felt confident about what to put in it. So here it is, two years in the making. My guide the San Luis Obispo County.

San Luis Obispo (SLO) County is a sweet escape on Central California’s Coast. The weather there can err on the side of the grey and chilly but on some wonderful occasions, the sun breaks through the clouds and warms the air.

There is A LOT to do here, from hiking to sightseeing to eating and more; I’ve only just scratched the surface, so here is a list of my favorite things to do and see in SLO County.

Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa: Avila Beach

 I love a good hot tub experience, so of course, when I found Sycamore Mineral Springs I was ECSTATIC! You can book your own private hot tub or the massive Lagoon for an hour for $20 per-person during the weekend. I’ve never rented out the lagoon, however; the hillside tubs are amazing. You have your own private deck surrounded by trees and greenery. We  only ran into other humans when checking in and while we were on the path to our tub. The tubs fit groups of 2-8 people depending on the size of the hot tub, and they are filled with mineral spring water. Clothing Optional.

The Point San Luis Light House: Avila Beach

The Point San Luis Light House is a gorgeous escape on the cliffs of Avila Beach. Built 128 years ago this historic gem was so much fun to explore for a few hours on a sunny day. There are a few options for getting to the lighthouse. You can take a trolley ride from a private parking lot (next to a dog beach), hike into the property or kayak and walk up to the house. Tours are offered at noon, one, and two on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tour tickets are about $22 and they get you to access into the lighthouse and a wonderful tour guide. The docents are sweet elders who share fun facts about the lighthouse and its original residents. There is a cute little swing on the property that overlooks the water it’s perfect for a photo op. Walking is involved, but you do get the chance to climb into the tiny room where the beacon originally lived.

Solvang: Solvang

If you’re a Californian, visiting Solvang at least once in your life is a must. This unique Danish town is a fun day trip for the whole family. I’ve been a few times but most recently we rented a pedal bike to explore, it was so much fun. Peddle bikes require a group willing to get a workout and survive a day of yelling directions at each other. Solvang has a few great restaurants serving tasty traditional Danish food and desserts. A Hans Christian Anderson Museum lives above The Book Loft Bookstore and a horse-drawn trolley makes loops down the main street. Check it out if you’re looking for a day trip that covers all the bases.

The Monarch Butterfly Grove: Pismo State Beach

Butterfly season in Pismo Beach is beautiful! From October through February, drop by the Monarch Butterfly Grove and spend some time checking out the migrating monarch for free! This is most certainly an activity to bring the kids along for. Wander through the eucalyptus trees or flutter in at 11 or 2 for a docent talk. The Grove offers telescopes to better view the monarchs resting in the tree limbs above. Free parking is found along the street next to the grove, however, spots can fill up fast so head to the grove early unless you’re comfortable with a short walk.

Hearst Castle: San Simeon

Hearst Castle is a staple must see when visiting central California. William Randolph Hearst (insert one of the many Newsies references I made during our visit) acquired the land from his father after his mother’s death in 1919.  Alongside architect Julia Morgan Hearst created La Cuesta Encantada, ‘The Enchanted Hill’. The estate is home to wonderful pieces of art, countless rooms with incredible decor, lush gardens and of course the famous pools. Now a California State Historic Park the castle offers daily tours featuring different themes and parts of the castle. You could easily visit the castle three times and still not have seen it all. Join a day tour to learn about the history of the house or dress up in your favorite 1930’s attire for a living history evening tour.

Mission San Luis Obispo De Lotosa: San Luis Obispo

Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of the front of the mission as every time I’ve gone it has been raining too hard to get my camera out or like the photo above, there was event was going on at the door to the mission. The Mission San Luis Obispo De Lotosa is a small mission with a cute museum where the old living quarters for the Priests and friars used to be. At certain times during the day, you can catch a docent-led tour during which they share the history of the mission including who is buried in the walls.

SLO Bubblegum Alley: San Luis Obispo

This SLO icon supposedly predates is Seattle sibling by 10 years. Grab some gum at a local shop or bring your own and stick it to the smelly and frankly disgusting alley wall. Although this stop isn’t for the germaphobe in the family, it is a fun quick activity, and you get to leave a little bit of yourself behind.

Hiking: All over SLO County.

Much of the hiking in SLO County is beautiful, you really can’t go wrong with your choice of trail. I’m suggesting Cave Landing and Pirates Cove in Pismo Beach as a good starter hike for the area. It’s a 2.1 out and back moderate trail, with beautiful views, a cave and steps down to the beach!

The Beaches

I wanted to cover all of the beaches in one go with shorter blurbs. Here are all of the beaches I’ve visited in SLO County.

Pismo State Beach:

Pismo state beach has it all, dunes with trees and plant life, fishing, a pier (currently closed for refurbishment), surfing and swimming, sunbathing and a swingset! Enjoy a day in downtown SLO followed by a relaxing stroll along the beach. Be prepared, Pismo beach can get pretty crowded on the weekends.

Morro Rock Beach: Morro Bay

Home to the 576-foot beast Morro Rock, Morro Rock Beach is the best place for a spectacular beachside view. You can head into the town of Morro Bay to rent kayaks, shop and eat. The beach itself is pretty quiet, with long stretches of sand, lots of shells and rocks, and some pretty dunes.

Olde Port Beach: Avila Beach (Port Saint Luis)

Olde Port Beach is a dog-friendly beach 0.7 miles away from  Avila Beach, need I say more. Dogs run around off-leash chasing balls and splashing in the water. This beach also has fire pits for seasonal use. Generally this beach is less crowded, but not the safest u less you don’t mind rolling around with the pooches.

Avila Beach: Avila Beach

Cute shops, restaurants, cafes and an aquarium line the beachfront at Avila Beach. Great for volleyball, a game of catch or relaxing in the sand and enjoying a picnic. This quiet retreat is my favorite.