Spring for the Central Coast!

Spring Roadtrip Getaway to San Luis Obispo

Five minutes to the mountains, 10 minutes to the beach, 15 minutes to wine tasting. California's best base camp for spring adventures is San Luis Obispo (SLO). Consistently named a Top 10 destination, SLO is surrounded by ancient volcanoes, miles of soft-sand beaches, beautiful wine country, and a lively downtown. Go on a hike or mountain bike ride in the Irish Hills, where wildflowers are popping up along hiking trails that overlook famous morros (aka ancient volcanic formations). Check out more hiking and biking options, including many that are just minutes from downtown SLO. Spend the day at Avila Beach, where you can swim in the ocean, go on a sunset kayak, or stroll the piers. Just 15 minutes from SLO takes you to Edna Valley wine country, where bike-friendly roads lead to down-to-earth tasting rooms with relaxing picnic spots among rolling vineyards. In April, SLOWine hosts events throughout Edna Valley. At night, San Luis Obispo's downtown is an ideal place to unwind SLO-style. Creekside bistros meet seasonal bounty as chefs prepare fresh-picked produce just hours before it's on your plate. And special events are always happening in SLO, from Thursday nights' famous Farmers' Market to Ranger Led Explorations, Barrels in the Plaza, and the upcoming San Luis Obispo Marathon + Half (a Boston qualifier!).

STAY & SAVE IN SLO: Check out some of the current great deals and packages from downtown boutique hotels to family- and pet-friendly hotels.

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    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

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  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

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  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

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  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

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    Hidden Gems of Reno Tahoe

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  4. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

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