San Luis Obispo County

Secluded in the midst of rolling hills and spectacular beaches, San Luis Obispo County offers a blend of history, beauty and recreation. Located just 190 miles south of San Francisco and 190 miles north from Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo County is easily accessible by land and air. Highway 101 and the scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1 traverse the county along the coast and inland.

County Cities:
Arroyo Grande
Atascadero
Grover Beach
Morro Bay
Paso Robles
Pismo Beach
San Luis Obispo

County Towns & Villages:
Avila Beach
Cambria
Cayucos
Creston
Los Osos/Baywood
Nipomo
Oceano
Pozo
San Simeon
Santa Margarita
Shandon
Templeton

Climate:
San Luis Obispo County has a pleasant, Mediterranean climate year-round, averaging 315 days of sunshine per year.

Transportation:
San Luis Obispo County is easily accessible by land and air.

Attire:
Casual and comfortable attire, with light to medium-weight clothing suitable year-round. A sweater or jacket is recommended for cool evenings or misty mornings.

Lodging:
Over 8,500 lodging rooms are available throughout the entire San Luis Obispo County area. Accommodations include resort hotels, moderate hotels and motels, quaint inns and historic bed-and-breakfasts. Several include golf courses and tennis facilities. Rates vary.

Dining:
San Luis Obispo County is home to hundreds of restaurants. Many specialize in gourmet food and wine. Included in the wide variety of cuisine: regional sourdough bread, international coffees, handmade natural preserves, award-winning ice cream, amber ale brewed on site, pressed apple cider, handmade chocolates and highly-acclaimed local wines.

Shopping:
San Luis Obispo County is a shopper’s paradise. From the outlet centers in both south and north county -to- San Luis Obispo’s downtown district -to- the old-fashioned shopping row in Cambria, shoppers delight in unique gifts, antiques and galleries.

Attractions/Recreation:
San Luis Obispo County is home to some of the world’s most spectacular beaches and picture-perfect communities. At the world-famous Hearst Castle®, visitors are introduced to the life and times of William Randolph Hearst through four tours daily and via the National Geographic Theater Hearst Castle® documentary.

Picturesque San Luis Obispo County boasts of two distinct wine regions, with over 64 wineries that attract worldwide acclaim. Situated between the towering Los Padres National Forest on one side, and the Pacific Ocean on the other, the diverse geography of the area creates specific micro-climates that provide ideal conditions for growing premium wine grapes. The region is most famous for its high quality, elegant Pinot Noirs. The vineyards continue to gain increased recognition for its Syrah, Grenache, and white Rhone varieties.

To the north, in the Paso Robles wine region, the long, hot summers and the chalk, limestone hillsides play an important part in producing the high quality fruit that turns specialty grapes into award winning wines. Paso Robles is particularly known for its big, ripe Zinfandels, bold Cabernets, and a bountiful crop of velvety-smooth Merlots.

More than 60 wineries welcome visitors to sample prize-winning selections and current releases. In addition to year-round tasting, many wineries offer wine-lovers special dinners, concerts, harvest parties, and other events, and some offer tours explaining the wine-making process in detail.

Other San Luis Obispo attractions include lake resorts, two historic California Missions, rejuvenating mineral springs, watchable wildlife and recreation opportunities along miles of majestic coastline provide interest.

Special Features:
San Luis Obispo County has a myriad of community events and festivals year-round, including: weekly farmers’ markets, Morro Bay Harbor Festival, Mozart Festival, many wine festivals and much more!