Getaway Time

City of San Luis Obispo Late Winter Getaway

Isn't it time you took things SLO? It's actually much easier than you think. San Luis Obispo (SLO) is centrally located just a few hours from San Francisco and Los Angeles. It's a Central Coast getaway with a secret: In February and March it's absolutely awesome, with green rolling hills, warm weather, wine country, beaches, bluffside hikes, bike trails, and brew pubs! The sweet seaside has everything from wine country to strolls in state parks within twenty minutes, or hikes leaving right from town! Then there are the creekside restaurants and cool little shops. Accommodations range from romantic B&Bs to chic boutiques and excellent value options. SLO is where you need to go for your next quick escape. Three favorite ideas:

Rock and Roll Icons: Famous for its distinct ancient volcanic formations, get up close to the iconic scenery on a sunset kayak to Morro Rock, a long-extinct volcano formed millions of years ago.

Bike and Brunch (and Beers): Hands down one of the nicest and safest casual biking paths in San Luis Obispo is along the paved Bob Jones Trail through woods paralleling San Luis Creek. Roll into Avila, home to a serene beach and a car-free downtown that's blissfully uncrowded this time of year. Back in SLO, head to a downtown brewpub or grab brunch al fresco style on a patio overlooking the creek.

slocitycom_015-image-jpeg

Hike From Town: Take to the hills on one of San Luis Obispo's hiking trails leaving right from town. Lace up the boots for the floral-filled Irish Hills and get gorgeous views of verdant hills out to the ocean. Wildflowers will be blooming soon!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View
  2. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  3. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View
  4. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Locals' Feature: Jim Litchfield, Owner of Reno Fly Shop

    If there's a river, you're likely to find Jim Litchfield there. As the owner of Reno Fly Shop, Nevada's premier fly fishing outfitter and shop, Jim's passion for rivers knows no bounds: he's fished in places near and far, including Alaska, Bolivia and Christmas Island. But home is beautiful Reno, where he has been running Reno Fly Shop and leading tailored river float and fly fishing adventures (including beginner-friendly options) for over a decade.

    View
  2. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  3. Volcanic Activity

    Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.  

    View
  4. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

    View