The Best Things to Do in San Luis Obispo County, California

It wouldn’t count as California if SLO CAL didn’t boast a competitive wine industry, and oenophiles will not be disappointed with the options on offer here.

Across SLO CAL, more than 280 wine-tasting rooms and a plethora of vineyards await, many of which aren’t your typical tipple locales. There’s something for everyone, from grand country estates to downtown taste shacks.

Book a tasting at local favourite Tolosa, which specialises in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Established in 1772 as the producer of the downtown mission’s sacramental wine, it now produces seven pinots and two chardonnays. Tastings take place in a beautiful sun-dappled space between the winery’s main building and its vineyards, though for a more in-depth experience, visit between August and December to try wine straight from the barrel.

At Cass Wineries in Paso, guests are given an ‘agricultural education’ via a kind of adult summer camp. Sure, you can sit and sip wine in pretty spots across their 145 acre estate, but you can also partake in axe throwing, archery, painting classes, sidecar tours and sunset hikes. They also offer a bee keeping retreat, and a cider retreat is in the works – as is a pool with swim up bar for guests lucky enough to book their exclusive and pristine on-site accommodation. It’s not all about booze though, tastings of another sort are big business here.

Those with a penchant for liquid gold should get stuck into the county’s olive oil farms. Begin at Kiler Ridge Olive Farm, which produces the highest quality oil (extra virgin) from Italian olive trees imported as saplings and grown in Californian soil. Here you can taste the different types of oil they produce as well as participate in pruning workshops.

With over 80 miles of coastline and diverse topography, SLO CAL is competitive when it comes to providing exhilarating outdoor activities. Kitesurfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, diving and hiking and just the tip of the iceberg. In true SLO style, some of the most popular are the more sedate.

Consider exploring by bike – specifically e-bike – which allows you to cover more ground while saving energy. The Bob Jones Bike Trail is a good place to start, taking cyclists, runners and hikers through a mix of urban and rural scenery between San Luis Obispo Creek and Avila Beach. Plenty of places rent out e-bikes alongside surfboards and kayaks.

Those looking for something a little more adrenaline inducing should head to the Oceano Dunes State Recreation Area near Pismo Beach, where humvee rides whisk visitors on hair- raising rides across pristine sand dunes. Fun fact: these dunes have featured in movies and music videos (Rihanna and Beyoncé shot videos there and Johnny Depp sailed over it in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End).

Less exhilarating (but equally memorable) rides can be found at Covell’s Clydesdale Ranch, which houses around 40 of the Scottish horse breed in a picturesque part of Cambria. Ranch tours see guests driven across the beautiful estate made up of sprawling pastures dotted with the gentle giants.

Wildlife is so prolific in SLO CAL you needn’t go looking for it. A stroll along the craggy coastline of Vista Point reveals just a handful of the 25,000 enormous elephant seals which speckle a 14-kilometre area. Pregnant females lounge atop one another in a state that looks comfortable to no one but them. An elephant seal centre and volunteer informants are on hand to supply fascinating facts.

The picturesque vista of Morro Bay is a great place to spot some wildlife while slurping on a smoothie (try the dragon fruit, peach and chia-infused ‘Pink Panther’ from Goddess Goods). Hippy shops and cool restaurants line the bay whose crowning glory is Morro Rock, an ancient, volcanic hill dating back some 23 million years. A honey-coloured beach connects the rock to the coastline, between which lies a calm harbour. Taking to the water is easy, with a plethora of options available from kayaking to stand up paddling-boarding and e-boats. The latter is the perfect, lazy way to take in the scenery without disturbing the locals, which consist of sea lions, sea otters and of course, bossy sea gulls.

Keen on giant pelagics? Try whale watching. This part of the coastline is popular with humpbacks, grey and even Blue whales. Excursions are easily bookable in the bay, though they can be weather dependent so try and be flexible with timings if you can.

Whatever you do – or don’t do – in SLO CAL, DON’T miss out on Hearst Castle. One of many properties the publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst owned back in his heyday, construction started in 1919 and continued until 1948, when it stopped, unfinished. This elaborate Italian-Spanish-inspired estate was intended to be a museum of things the millionaire liked, and in that respect, he succeeded.

Stuffed with ancient Greek statues, priceless tapestries and artworks whose copies hang in The Louvre, this is an eclectic residence worthy of satire in Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. Built on a favourite childhood camping hill, the property consists of a primary estate building surrounded by various villas, swimming pools (filled with fresh mountain water), a tennis court and at one time, a zoo. Illustrious visitors have included Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Cary Grant and Charlie Chaplin. It’s best absorbed in multiple visits. Pick a themed tour such as ‘Designing the Dream’, which examines the history of the residence’s eclectic style.

In keeping with SLO CAL’s statement architecture is Madonna Inn, a Swiss-Alps-style motel off Route 101 sporting 110 themed rooms. Built by construction magnate Alex Madonna and his wife Phyllis, the style of the property is what makes it stand out. Much of the exterior and restaurant – as well as the hefty cakes it’s known for – are bright pink, Phyllis’ favourite colour. Dining here in the opulent surrounds of the Madonna Inn Copper Cafe is experience enough, but for those staying, horse-riding, spa services and nightly entertainment add to amusements.