Discover the easygoing California lifestyle in this college town.
Nestled about 10 miles off California’s Central Coast between Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, local wineries, and the Santa Lucia Mountains, San Luis Obispo—aka “Slo”—runs at the pace its nickname suggests. Surfers and kiteboarders will want to head to Cayucos or Morro Strand State Beach, while wildlife lovers can visit Morro Bay State Park to look for birds, sea lions, and otters via walking and biking paths or kayaking areas. For views of the rugged coastline, don’t miss Montaña de Oro State Park, or consider Lopez Lake or Santa Margarita Lake for boating, swimming, and fishing. Los Padres National Forest runs east of town, offering hiking, off-roading, horseback riding, and more. RV parks are not frequent in town but you can find several to the north in Paso Robles and to the south in Pismo Beach; most have full hookups and amenities. Slo’s climate is mild with warm, dry summers and cool Winters.