How to Spend a Sustainable Weekend in San Luis Obispo

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By Kind Traveler • Posted on May 10, 2025

This weekend guide to San Luis Obispo is designed to help you slow down and travel kindly, two sentiments that this friendly, laid-back city shares. The warm community spirit is rooted in care and creativity, allowing independent businesses and sustainability initiatives to thrive here.

San Luis Obispo lies at the heart of California’s Central Coast along the Pacific Coast Highway. Affectionately nicknamed SLO, the city is part of the wider San Luis Obispo County, which is characterized by small communities scattered among volcanic peaks, pastoral valleys, and green hills that roll to the Pacific Ocean.

Blessed with a mild Mediterranean climate all year round, San Luis Obispo is surrounded by wineries and farms producing world-class wines and farm-to-table fare. Paired with its easy-going charm, nine distinctive neighborhoods, vibrant arts scene, and protected natural beauty, it’s a compelling destination for a weekend vacation.

SLO is a trailblazer of sustainable tourism. Part of the Kind Traveler Every Stay Gives Back program, its Keys for Trees initiative partners with 42 hotels across the city to plant trees in the local area for every overnight stay. Here, you can find Visit SLO's live Kind Traveler impact dashboard detailing how many trees have been planted so far and additional ways to get involved. Here’s how to spend a weekend in San Luis Obispo and ensure your dollars give back to the SLO community.

Photo Credit: Taste of SLO - Walking Food Tour

Food Walking Tours

Discover SLO’s vibrant food and culture on a walking food tour. Taste of SLO Walking Food Tour’s original Downtown Tour takes you to five unique food spots to sample locally-made artisan chocolates, Santa Maria-style BBQ, and authentic Peruvian cuisine.

Created with the ‘SLO attitude’ in mind, this tour celebrates small businesses and local farm-to-table food washed down with SLO County wines and craft beers. Alcohol-free tours are also available, and if you let them know in advance, they can accommodate vegetarian and gluten-free dietary requests.

Sustainable Wine Tastings

SLO County is a prolific wine-producing region and has received global recognition for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, though you’ll find some top-quality Syrah, too. Over 50 SLO County wineries follow sustainable and biodynamic viticulture practices certified by SIP.

The in-depth third-party assessment requires winemakers to protect the three ‘Ps’ of sustainability - People, Planet and Prosperity - addressing factors like community involvement, soil health protection, habitat conservation, energy usage and waste reduction.

You can do wine tastings and tours at some of the local wineries using the Sustainable Wine Trail map. Just make sure to book ahead to avoid disappointment. Some SIP-certified wineries to add to your itinerary include:
Accessible from Downtown SLO, Tolosa Winery runs 90 to 95% of its operations on renewable energy from solar panels.
The family-run Claiborne & Churchill Winery, up the street from Tolosa, has the world's first straw mill winery building, which provides enough insulation to store barrels without air conditioning.
Established over 40 years ago, Wolff Vineyards has over 125 acres of certified sustainable land and it’s been growing wine sustainably for 20 years.

Photo Credit: Visit SLO

Scenic Cycling Routes

Leave your car behind and explore SLO County and the Central Coast by bike. Surrounded by rolling hills and wine valleys as far as the ocean, San Luis Obispo has over 75 miles of scenic bike paths for all levels. It’s also been a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists since 2007.

The Bob Jones Bike Trail is a leisurely 3-mile ride on a broad path that takes you from the city to the sands of Avila Beach. For a more adventurous day out, cycle to Morro Bay and kayak with Central Coast Outdoors in the National Estuary, a regular hangout for sea lions and rare sea birds.

The Railroad Bicycle Trail is a safe way to explore the city as it’s on a separate lane away from traffic. The 1.9-mile trail starts from the Railroad Museum and runs parallel to the old railroad tracks.

Wally’s Bicycle Works offers e-bikes and push-bikes for hire, and some hotels, including San Luis Creek Lodge, offer a fleet of bikes to guests.

Eco-Conscious Retail Therapy

Support small businesses and local artisans with some eco-minded retail therapy. Downtown has a lively shopping scene with unique independent stores selling local crafts and sustainable goods.

The Junk Girls is a treasure trove of antiques and one-of-a-kind home accessories made with recycled materials. While you’re there, swing by female-founded Len Collective for handmade jewelry and Humankind Fair Trade for ethically-made gifts and souvenirs.

EcoBambino is the place to go for eco-friendly kids’ clothes and toys, and Secrets Of The Garden celebrates the healing power of herbs in its collection of organic loose-leaf teas and remedies.

Visit Thrifty Beaches and Central Coast Vintage for vintage clothing. The Assistance League of SLO County Thrift Store is also worth browsing. Proceeds from the store fund the nonprofit’s philanthropic programs, which support local children in poverty with school supplies and clothes.

For a dose of self-care, visit Sloco Massage & Wellness. The well-care service offers personalized massages designed to relieve stress and reduce inflammation. Additional therapies include an infrared sauna, cryotherapy, dry salt therapy and meditation.

Photo Credit: FARMStead ED/Facebook (Bottom) and San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden/Facebook (Top)

Responsible Outdoor Activities

With varied natural landscapes, almost 300 days of sunshine and mild Mediterranean temperatures all year round, SLO County is ideal for responsible outdoor adventures in nature. Go as low-key or adventurous as you like with plenty of hiking trails, nature reserves, local parks and beaches to explore.

Learn about the plants of the world’s five Mediterranean climate regions in the 150-acre SLO Botanical Garden. The Discovery Trail is over a mile long and has spectacular panoramic views from the hilltop Human Sundial.

The city is blessed with many beautiful parks, including Laguna Lake Park, Meadow Park, and Johnson Park to name a few. Most have picnic tables and outdoor recreation areas, including sports courts and hiking trails.

For wilder landscapes, the Irish Hills Nature Reserve has over 8 miles of hiking trails through 720 acres of grassland. The reserve offers impressive views of the city from above framed by the Morro Hills. On some trails, you can see as far as the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

If you like to connect with the land and learn about local produce, the SLO County Farm Trail has over 25 farm experiences on an interactive map. Depending on the season, you can do seaweed foraging, olive oil tastings and permaculture workshops.

Immersive Arts & Culture

Explore San Luis Obispo’s diverse cultural heritage through its immersive art galleries and museums. It’s well worth checking what’s on during your visit, as the city has a busy programme of festivals, events, live music, and community celebrations at Mission Plaza.

Just Looking Gallery is the Central Coast’s premier fine art gallery, showcasing local and nationally recognized artists. The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) exhibits renowned visual artists from California and the US. Admission is free, and family art days are every second Saturday of the month.

The History Center of San Luis Obispo County is a nonprofit museum dedicated to preserving the history and culture of SLO County. Housed in the former Carnegie Library building, it has a gallery, research room and gift shop.

As for evening entertainment, the Palm Theatre screens indie movies and documentaries and is the only movie theater in the US to run on solar power.

Photo Credit: Hotel SLO

Where to stay

When you stay in one of SLO’s 42 hotels, a portion of your room charge is used to plant new trees around town as part of Visit SLO's Keys for Trees initiative with EcoSLO and Kind Traveler. It’s part of the city’s commitment to reaching carbon neutrality by 2035.

If you’re keen to base yourself in Downtown, Hotel SLO is a modern urban resort with a full-service spa and business center.

Staying in a small bed and breakfast is another great way to immerse yourself in the local community and meet other like-minded guests. The cozy Apple Farm Inn is set within an authentic millhouse and has a restaurant serving farm-to-table food. With just seven rooms, the Heritage Inn is an intimate B&B in a heritage-listed Victorian building. It’s within walking distance of Downtown and the train station.

Where to eat

You can find seasonal farm-to-table fare in restaurants and cafes across SLO. Sally Loo’s Wholesome Cafe serves breakfast and lunch with organic, local ingredients. Its baked goods are made fresh in-house each morning and it sources coffee beans from a small ethical roaster in Santa Margarita.

Luna Red has been supporting local farmers for nearly 40 years. This chic restaurant offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options along with an extensive craft cocktail menu. Don't miss Seeds in Downtown SLO, offering California-inspired, healthy breakfast and brunch. Female-founded Ebony makes authentic Ethiopian dishes using organic and vegan ingredients.

If you prefer to cook your own meals, check out SLO Food Co-Op. The community-owned food market is a Green Certified business and stocks produce from local farms. Make sure to swing by the deli for some ready-to-eat picnic treats.

Photo Credit: Sally Loo’s Wholesome Cafe

Photo Credit: Wally’s Bicycle Works

How to get around

San Luis Obispo is well-connected and downtown is very walkable, so it’s possible to do a car-free vacation. The SLO Car Free Program was set up to minimize air pollution and traffic by incentivizing visitors to explore without their cars. Sign up and pledge to receive exclusive discounts at participating local businesses when you show your SLO Car Free voucher.

SLO Transit runs eight fixed bus routes that take you all over the city. Plan your route and track your bus using the SLO Transit cell phone app. For more flexibility, hire bikes from Wally’s Bicycle Works. It has electric bikes, road bikes and beach cruisers in its rental fleet and it can deliver them to you if you’re within a 20-mile range. Lyft, Uber and local taxis are also available.

SLO Regional Rideshare is a valuable resource that helps to limit single-occupancy journeys on the road. Use the platform to find tips on carpooling, bus routes, and shuttle rentals. The city is also connected by the Greyhound bus network and Amtrak, giving you the option to enjoy both a car-free vacation and a flight-free vacation.

Pepper a few of these kind activities throughout your weekend itinerary and discover what it means to live the ‘SLO’ life on California’s Central Coast. Learn more about how San Luis Obispo’s Keys for Trees partnership with Kind Traveler's Every Stay Gives Back program positively impacts people and the planet.

Author Bio: Francesca Brooking is a freelance travel writer and content creator who loves sharing stories of community-driven change. She writes about topics including wildlife conservation, nature tourism, and sustainable city guides. She also runs a blog focused on making sustainable outdoor travel accessible and affordable.

How to Spend a Sustainable Weekend in San Luis Obispo

This weekend guide to San Luis Obispo is designed to help you slow down and travel kindly, two sentiments that this friendly, laid-back city shares. The warm community spirit is rooted in care and creativity, allowing independent businesses and sustainability initiatives to thrive here.