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San Luis Obispo Attractions

San Luis Obispo County

Location and origin

This town lies about 180mi/300km northwest of Los Angeles, at the junction of the U.S. 101 coast road and the CA 1. It is the site of the fifth mission station built by Father Serra. Serra thought that two volcanic hills nearby resembled a bishop's mitre, and so he gave this otherwise unimportant mission the name of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (St Louis, Bishop of Toulouse).

Importance

Originally the town lived by dispatching products from surrounding ranches; gradually tourism and official bodies concerned with the town's development became more important. The California Polytechnic State University, which has about half as many students as San Luis Obispo has inhabitants, boasts important agricultural and scientific engineering faculties.

The first olive trees in North America are said to have been planted in the mission; two of the 200 year-old trees still exist.
Ah Louis Store
The Ah Louis Store, dating from 1874, is a survivor from the time when many Chinese lived in San Luis Obispo. The building originally housed a Chinese bank and post-office, and was where the town's Chinese fraternity used to meet.
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed
Close
Apple Farm
The Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo features a working reproduction of a nineteenth-century millhouse with a waterwheel.
Address
Apple Farm
2015 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-2695
United States
Phone 1 (805) 544-2040
Fax 1 (805) 596-9573
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:009:00
Close18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Diablo Canyon Atomic Power Station
12mi/20km south of San Luis Obispo stands the Diablo Canyon Atomic Power Station.
Montana de Oro State Park
The Montana de Oro State Park is ideal for nature lovers who enjoy mountain biking, horseback riding, and camping.
Tips
Call for hours.
San Luis Obispo Children's Museum
CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MUSEUM.

San Luis Obispo Children's Museum has over 25 hands-on exhibits for youngsters, ranging from theater performance to fire-fighting. Subjects include health, safety, history, humanities, science, nature, the arts, and the community.
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0013:00
Close 15:0015:0015:0015:0017:0017:00
Always closed on:
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Cost
Admission Cost$ 8.00
Senior over 60$ 5.00
Child 2 & underFREE
All values are in United States Dollars
San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum
The San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum contains artifacts of the Chumash Indians, articles from the ranches, and exhibits from the Victorian period, as well as a library specializing in the history of the county.
Address
San Luis Obispo County Museum
Box 1391
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-1391
United States
Phone 1 (805) 543-0638
Fax 1 (805) 783-2919
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosed10:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close 16:0016:0016:0016:0016:00
Tips
Donations are welcome.

San Luis Obispo Surroundings

Arroyo Grande, California
Arroyo Grande (pop. 14,378) is located 11mi/18km southeast of San Luis Obispo. It was founded in 1862. It took another five years before structures were built in the town.
Address
Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce
800A West Branch Street
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420-1999
United States
Phone 1 (805) 489-1488
Fax 1 (805) 489-2239
Arroyo Grande - Lopez Lake Recreational Area
(In Arroyo Grande, California)
The Lopez Lake Recreational Area offers the visitor fishing, boating, camping and hiking. It is located near Arroyo Grande.
Oceano, California
Oceano is located south of Pismo Beach.
Oceano - Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville
(In Oceano, California)
There are vaudeville shows and thrillers at The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville in Oceano.
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosed
Close
Cost
Admission Cost$ 22.00
Senior$ 20.00
Military discount$ 20.00
Child 12 & under$ 18.00
All values are in United States Dollars
Tips
Reservations recommended. Call for show times.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Oceano Dunes State Recreation Area
(In Oceano, California)
Set on 1,500 acres the Oceano Dunes State Recreation Area is a delight for offroaders. It is located in Oceano, three miles south of Pismo Beach. There are beaches and dunes which are ideal for motorcycles, four wheel drive vehicles and dune buggies.
Cost
Vehicle plus all occupants$ 5.00
All values are in United States Dollars
Tips
Call for park hours. Camping is allowed on the beach. Reservations are required on holidays.
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