Two Days Away in San Luis Obispo County
Welcome to Two Days Away, our series featuring weekend-long itineraries within a five-hour drive of your city. Sometimes, we all just need a little adventure fix, and San Luis Obispo County in California offers a perfect getaway.
There are two reasonable routes to drive between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The 5 freeway is faster and more direct, but the 101 freeway is a charming drive that winds through some of the best terrain in California. Road trips are about the journey, not just the destination, and much of the 101 stretch is worth turning into a destination in itself. San Luis Obispo is one of the best weekend getaways from either LA or San Francisco. It is home to several towns with diverse terrain and culture, from the beach to the hills, quaint farm country to the university-driven cosmopolitan side. Here are some of the best things to do in San Luis Obispo County.
Travel Time:
– 3 hours from LA
– 3 hours and 15 minutes from San Francisco
– 5 hours from San Diego
If you don’t do anything else: Explore the outdoors
The Central Coast of California has a nearly perfect climate year-round, making it the perfect place to spend a lot of time outdoors. Pismo Beach offers activities for high-energy beachgoers and a wide, warm stretch of sand for sunbathers. Madonna Mountain has trails for hikers and bikers of all levels. The Lemon Grove Loop is a great option if you’re short on time, but be aware that it can get crowded on Sundays. All the paths are wide and dog-friendly.
Fill the weekend with:
– Wine tasting in San Luis Obispo County: There are many world-class wineries to choose from in Paso Robles, including Denner Wine, Niner Wine Estates, Booker Wine, and Hubba Wines. For a serene, lovely setting, DAOU Vineyards is a must-visit. If you want to taste at many smaller wineries in one place, head to Tin City. Giornata focuses on Italian varieties, Union Sacre has French-inspired wines, and Hubba is also there. Don’t forget to stop by Etto for lunch or fresh pasta.
– Sensorio art installations: Sensorio is a unique visual experience with over 100,000 bulbs that light up and change colors. The family-friendly installations have grown since their launch in 2019 and include five exhibits that play with the intersection of art, technology, and nature. There is also food and drink available.
– Explore the Madonna Inn: With 110 distinctively designed guest rooms in various themes, Madonna Inn is the most fun hotel around. It features an infinity pool, beach access, trail rides, and a luxury spa. The hotel also has a steakhouse, a cafe, a bakery, a cocktail lounge, and a pool bar, so you could potentially spend your entire trip there.
– Eat, drink, and sleep:
– Restaurants and bars: After a day of wine tasting, enjoy some of the best breweries in California. There Does Not Exist makes incredible hoppy beers and great lagers, and Wild Fields Brewhouse won a Brewery of the Year award. BarrelHouse Brewing Co. in Tin City is a fun place to hang out. For a caffeine fix, Scout Coffee Shop serves the best coffee, cookies, and tea. The food scene is great too, with options like Old West Cinnamon Rolls in Pismo Beach, Finca in Paso Robles, and Jocko’s in Nipomo. Morro Bay offers stellar oysters, and Tognazzini’s is a great place to try both.
– Hotels: The Madonna Inn is always a treat, but there are other options like the boutique Hotel Cerro in downtown with well-appointed rooms and a laid-back rooftop pool. River Lodge in Paso is a trendy motel with a good restaurant and hammocks in front of every room. One note, there are no children allowed in the pool.
Ben Mesirow is Thrillist’s LA Staff Writer and an Echo Park native. Claire Margine is always down for a summer road trip and can be followed on Twitter at @cmoshenb. Leila is a fan of the SLO-life and can be followed on Instagram at @LeilasList.
