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.
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
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | ||||||
| Close |
Apple Farm
The Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo features a working reproduction of a nineteenth-century millhouse with a waterwheel.
Apple Farm
2015 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-2695
United States
2015 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-2695
United States
Phone 1 (805) 544-2040
Fax 1 (805) 596-9573
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Diablo Canyon Atomic Power Station
12mi/20km south of San Luis Obispo stands the Diablo Canyon Atomic Power Station.
Read More
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.
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
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 13:00 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
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.
San Luis Obispo County Museum
Box 1391
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-1391
United States
Box 1391
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-1391
United States
Phone 1 (805) 543-0638
Fax 1 (805) 783-2919
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
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.
Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce
800A West Branch Street
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420-1999
United States
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 - Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville
(In Oceano, California)
There are vaudeville shows and thrillers at The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville in Oceano.
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.
Attractions in Other Popular Destinations
