San Luis Obispo Day Trip

“While the main attraction to SLO shopping district is of course the shopping, you might want to stop in to the art museum or the historical museum, both of which sit in the heart of downtown SLO.”

Nestled half way in between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo is about 15 minutes from Avila Beach. San Luis Obispo, or SLO as it’s known, is a college town but tourists won’t find the town overrun with students. What they will find is a variety of shops that tend to carry both the trendy. However, even the major chains are housed historic buildings so walking the streets of SLO is interesting.

The best way to get through the city is by walking. You can find parking meters all up and down the streets in down town SLO and the meters are reasonable if you’re parking for an afternoon. There is a trolley that shuttles people around town so there’s no need to worry about where you park. Arrive early on summer weekends.

Shoppers will find all sorts of stores along the streets of downtown SLO. There are the usual stand bys such as Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, and Gap, along with vintage clothing stores, unique gift stores and a variety of home decorating stores. It is a family place and there’s a little something for everyone.

If you’re lucky enough to go on Thursday night, make sure to stay for the evening’s Farmer’s Market. The SLO Farmer’s Market is one of the oldest running fairs of its type and the locals as well as tourists love to hang out and a get a dinner plate of barbecue beef as well as check out the unique wares and produce being sold.

While you’re there, you might as well visit Bubble Gum Alley, an oddity that is surprisingly popular for both locals and tourists. Located in an alley in downtown SLO, there exists a massive quantity of chewed bubblegum. Definitely make a point to take a picture or two while you are there. Given that this is an alley of walls filled with chewed gum-it’s surprisingly popular. Whether you add your own colored and chewed confection is another story.

While the main attraction to SLO shopping district is of course the shopping, you might want to stop in to the art museum or the historical museum, both of which sit in the heart of downtown SLO.