SLO County. SLO Much Fun!

Fall Getaway to San Luis Obispo County

Beaches, wine country, hiking, bike riding, kayaking …. California has it all. Discover the best of it, without the crowds! Located smack between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo County is 80 miles of coastline, a dozen charming towns, warm weather, and did we mention outstanding value?

Take Me to the Castle: You've never seen Hearst Castle like this. In the fall and during the holidays, two special tours are offered: the Evening Tour and the Holiday Twilight Tour. The evening tour lets you experience the castle at night just as one of William Randolph Hearst's guests in the 1930s would have. The Holiday Twilight tour has you exploring the grounds and grand social rooms, enjoying the decadent décor, thousands of twinkling lights, towering Christmas trees, and a one-of-a-kind poinsettia tree.

Coast Quest: With 80 miles of coastline, easily find just the right kind of beach for you in San Luis Obispo County (and this time of year, they're blissfully uncrowded)! Rent an ATV and dune buggy and take a ride on the Oceano Dunes at Pismo State Beach, the only drive-on beach in California. For a more romantic kind of 4x4 fun, ride horseback on Avila Beach at sunset.

Holiday Spirits (and Wine): It used to be that San Luis Obispo County was an emerging world-class wine destination. Now it's official! There are over 280 wineries in the region. Paso Robles is filled with boutique and small family-owned wineries known for signature proprietary blends of Bordeaux, Rhône, and Zinfandel varietals, while the cooler climate of Edna Valley is known for its Pinots and Chardonnays. A few wineries in the county are also operating distilleries, adding a bit more buzz to your holiday cheer.

Plan Your Trip: Check out San Luis Obispo County's interactive map, filled with destinations and adventures. Plus check out lodging options and deals.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View
  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View
  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View
  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View