There's nothing slow about SLO—the nickname for San Luis Obispo, a vibrant college burg four hours south of the Bay Area; with its warm SoCal weather and abundant NorCal activities, this town has a vibe that’s distinctly SLOCal. Grab your favorite playlists and sunglasses and set your cruise control for a Weekend Sherpa wanderlust weekend.
Just across from Cal Poly's campus is Bishop Peak, the highest of the region's nine rocky morros, or ancient volcanic mountains. At 1,559 feet, Bishop's a favorite hike for many SLOcals and for rock-climbing aficionados, who take on routes with names like Civilized Evil. To get to the summit, you'll have to scramble up some granite boulders, but the effort is worth it, with views of SLO, all the morros, and the Coast Range down to the ocean. Our advice: Start before noon—there's no shade—and bring water. It's 4.5 miles up and back.
With more than 8,000 acres of rugged coastal cliffs, nearby Montaña de Oro State Park is a playground for all kinds of outdoor-lovers. The "Mountain of Gold" lives up to its name along the 3.4-mile (round-trip) ocean-hugging hike on the Bluff Trail. (You can also cruise it on a two-wheeler.) Low tide offers opportunities for exploring the tidal pools at Spooner Cove. Picnic benches are welcome places to stop and smell the salty sea. Intermediate and advanced mountain bikers should check out the network of singletrack like the Ridge and East Boundary trails. The latter's fun whoop-de-dos should put a smile on your face.
BONUS: Montaña de Oro is also your best camping option around San Luis. Make a reservation at one of the two environmental campsites (less than a .5-mile hike in), Badger Flat (Env. #3) or Deer Flat (Env. #4). Both are perched high up on a bluff, overlooking the blue Pacific. All for $15.
Directions to Bishop Peak: From downtown San Luis Obispo, head north on Santa Rosa St. (Highway 1). Turn left onto Highland Dr. and drive about 1 mile to the end of the road where the trail starts.
For a map and directions to Montaña de Oro, click here. For campground reservations, click here.
Beachcombers, lazybones and picnickers should seek out Shell Beach, the nicest oceanfront property in SLOland, where the western bluff blocks a lot of the wind and keeps the sand warm. Because the entrance is hard to find, Shell is less crowded and touristy than nearby Avila and Pismo beaches. Stairs take you to the best section of beach, located just behind the Cliffs resort, which will generously provide free valet parking even if you don't stay there. Tip well.
If you don't favor the salt air, soak yourself silly in the mineralized waters of Sycamore Springs, which features 17 private outdoor tubs scattered on a forested hillside. Located about 10 minutes outside SLO proper, Sycamore is a wellness center that takes its Zen studies seriously. But if you just want to find your own bliss among the oaks and sycamores, that's cool too. The tubs have names like Shangrila, Twilight, and Tubby. If you can, snag a soak in Paradise; it's the highest on the hill and the most secluded.
The Cliffs Resort, 2757 Shell Beach Rd., Shell Beach; 805-773-5000.
Sycamore Mineral Springs, 1215 Avila Beach Dr., San Luis Obispo; 805-595-7302. Tubs are $15 per person, per hour. Reservations are recommended for an afternoon soak.
SLO's downtown is full of pleasures, starting with the creek that runs through the middle of town, and the inviting shops, dining, and parks lining its banks. One of the more popular places to have lunch or dinner is Novo, set in an old brick warehouse that used to be a cigar factory. Grab a table outdoors on the multitiered wooden patio and you'll be staring down at the creek, a designated critical habitat for steelhead trout that swim up it to spawn every year. The trees around the patio are strung with lights, and a giant oak tree grows right in the middle of the place. Don't miss the mango-avocado spring rolls and fresh potato samosas.
To make your SLO tour an upgraded wanderlust weekend, stay at the Provençal-style B&B the Petit Soleil. With its cobblestoned courtyard, ambient French accordion music, and bright-flowering window boxes, you'll feel like a little bit of Europe blew in with the sea breeze. Relax with complimentary wine tasting at night and wake up to amaretto French toast in the morning. Absolument magnifique!
Novo, 726 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo; 805-543-3986.
Petit Soleil, 1473 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo; 805-549-0321. Weekend rates start at $209 per night.