 | ||
| San Luis Obispo | ||
| State | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 45.119 (2010) | |
| height | 233 feet | |
| Tourist info | 1 805-781-2777 SLO Visitor Center | |
| location | ||
| ||
San Luis Obispo is a city on the central California coast. Loved by the locals SLO (Pronunciation like that of the word slow) named town has as the location of the California Polytechnic State University ("Cal Poly") distinctive student flair. Because of the high level of education, the gastronomy is also worth a visit. The main tourist attractions are those Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, the very attractive city center and the hiking trails leading through the exciting Mediterranean landscape in the outskirts of the city
background
History and present
The European settlement of the region, which until then had been the land of the Chumash, began in 1772 with the arrival of the missionaries Junípero Serra and José Cavaller and their establishment of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. It was named after the Capetian Prince, Franciscan monk and Archbishop Ludwig von Toulouse (1274–1297). “Obispo” is the Spanish word for bishop. It was the twelfth of a total of 21 missions that Spanish Franciscan priests established in California in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In 1834 the mission became an ordinary Catholic community. After the Mexican-American War, which ended in 1848 with the annexation of California by the United States, the San Luis Obispo County was established in 1850. The official founding of the city of San Luis Obispo followed in 1856 and has also been the county seat since then. The construction of the Pacific Coast Railway brought large numbers of Chinese to the area in the late 19th century, and San Luis Obispo temporarily had a significant Chinatown in the Palm Street area.
The city gained further momentum with the construction of US Route 101 and California State Route 1. In 1925, the world's first motel was built here Milestone Mon-Tel (east of 2525 Monterey St). Architect Arthur S. Heineman chose the location because San Luis Obispo is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco and it took 2 whole days to cover this route in a car. On their honeymoon in 1954, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio stopped at this motel for lunch.
Another building of historic importance is the Carnegie Library (696 Monterey St), built in 1905 and funded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who in the early 20th century spent a fortune to populate California with a network of 142 libraries. The library moved to its current building on the corner of Palm St & Morro St in 1956; the original building has since housed the SLO County Historical Museum.
San Luis Obispo has hardly any industry today. Most jobs are in the service sector, especially education, administration and healthcare. SLO is also the location of an important state prison, which is located just outside California Men’s Colony; almost 4,000 exclusively male inmates are housed here. The majority of the population in San Luis Obispo is white, followed by Latinos and Asians. The median income is slightly below the Californian median income, with women in particular earning poorly here. Almost a third of the population lives below the poverty line, which of course also has to do with the fact that the cost of living and especially the housing costs in SLO are very high even by Californian standards.
SLO in film and literature
Movies to get you in the mood for a visit to San Luis Obispo are California Dreamin ' (1979), The Phantom Command (1985, with Arnold Schwarzenegger), My Blue Heaven (1990, with Steve Martin), Little giants (1994), Murder according to plan (2002, with Sandra Bullock) and I know who killed me (2007).
Bookworms may pull Vanishing Point (2006) by Marcia Muller, V is for Vengeance (2011) by Sue Grafton or A place in your heart (2013) by Amy Hatvany.
Districts
Here is a list of the neighborhoods of San Luis Obispo:
- Northwest: Ferrini Heights, Foothill, Warren Way, Bishop Foothills, Cerro San Luis Foothills
- Middle: Cerro San Luis Foothills, Anholm, Cal Poly, Santa Rosa Park, Monterey Heights, Downtown SLO, North Uptown, Creekshire, San Luis Drive, Downtown South, Mitchell Park, Ella
- West: Laguna and Irish Hills, Laguna Shores, Laguna Lakes Mobile Estates, Upper Royal Way, Royal Way, Laguna Middle School, Laguna Lake
- Southwest: Chumash Village, Calle Lupita, Margarita, Serra Meadows, Silver City, The Meadows at S. Higuera, Los Verdes Park 2
- Southeast: Johnson-Sinsheimer, Wilding Lane, Flora West, Stoneridge, Ridgepoint, Villa Rosa, Edge of SLO, Sequoia, Orcutt, Roadhouse, The Arbors, Rolling Hills & Edna
The CalPoly campus in the north of San Luis Obispo is politically no longer part of the actual urban area. source
getting there
| Distances | |
| Morro Bay | 14 mi (22 km; 18 min.) |
|---|---|
| Atascadero | 18 mi (28 km; 18 min.) |
| Paso Robles | 31 mi (50 km; 33 min.) |
| Bakersfield | 137 mi (221 km; 2:12 hrs) |
| Monterey | 142 mi (228 km; 2:14 hrs) |
| los Angeles | 189 mi (304 km; 3:22 hrs) |
| San Francisco | 232 mi (373 km; 3:37 hrs) |
By plane
- 1 San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (IATA: SBP), 901 Airport Drive, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.
The cozy little airport of San Luis Obispo. Scheduled flights from United Airlines and American Airlines from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver and Phoenix.
You can get further from here either by rental car, by taxi or with Bus line 1A the local transport company SLO transit. The bus goes to downtown, where you can change to other buses if necessary; Tickets cost $ 1.50 (have cash ready when you board).
If you are traveling from Europe and are not afraid of a longer journey in a rental car, you may be able to get significantly cheaper via SJC (San Jose, Travel time by car: 3:02 hours), SFO (San Francisco, 3:23 hours), LAX (los Angeles, 3:26 hours) or OAK (Oakland, 3:36 hours).
By train
- 2 San Luis Obispo Amtrak Station, 1011 Railroad Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. The train line Coast Starlight of Amtrak (Vancouver–San Diego) has a stop here. Timetable.
The train to the south stops in SLO every day at 3:20 p.m., the train to the north at 3:35 p.m. Here are some travel times:
- Vancouver, BC: 8:40 hours
- Seattle, WA: 8:10 hrs.
- Emeryville: 6:22 hours
- Oakland: 5:49 hours
- San Jose: 4:36 hours
- Salinas: 2:53 hours
- Paso Robles: 1:02 hours
- Santa Barbara: 2:42 hours
- Los Angeles: 5:40 hours
- San Diego: 9:52 hours
To get east from SLO, for example to Chicago, you either get on the line at Emeryville California Zephyr or in Los Angeles on the line Southwest Chief around.
The buses stop right in front of the train station Line 3Bwith which you can get to the Transit Center, the central bus station, and, if necessary, to the CalPoly campus (Kennedy Library) in just a few minutes.
By bus
- 3 Downtown transit center, Osos St, between Palm St and Palmmill Alley (Downtown). The central bus stop. Not only do the local buses from SLO Transit stop here, but also the regional buses from SLORTA. Overview of all lines that run here.
The regional transport company SLORTA maintains the following connections from San Luis Obispo:
- Route 9 to Santa Margarita, Atascadero and Paso Robles
- Route 10 to Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo and Santa Maria
- Route 12 to Morro Bay (with the option to change to Line 15 to San Simeon) and Los Osos
- Route 14 to Cuesta College
Tickets are available on the bus. Have cash ready when boarding (you are always on the safe side with a bundle of 1 dollar bills and a roll of quartz coins).
Also the (unfortunately somewhat ailing) transport company Orange Belt Stages operates a bus route through SLO, namely No. 6296 of Hanford via Paso Robles, Atascadero and SLO to Santa Maria. Details that cannot be found on the website are best asked by phone at 1.559.733.4408. who with Greyhound If you want to travel, the next stop is in Santa Maria.
In the street
San Luis Obispo is located at the intersection of the dream street for all California visitors - California State Route
- with the somewhat more blunt, but much faster US highway
.
mobility
The transport company SLO transit operates a close-knit network of bus routes in San Luis Obispo (Network plan, Tariff overview, Timetables). All lines are also in operation on weekends, but not in the early morning and late evening, and sometimes only in one direction. CalPoly students with valid ID travel for free. All other visitors have 1 dollar bill and 2 quarto coins ready when boarding.
The two main local taxi companies are 234 taxi (1.805.234.8294) and Surf Cab (1.805.806.0313).
Who one Rental car you can get it at the airport, for example. There you will find representatives from in the airport building Advice, budget, hertz and Enterprise.
Tourist Attractions
Churches
- 1 Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-781-8220, Fax: 1 805-781-8214, Email: [email protected]. Catholic mission established here by Junípero Serra in 1772. After the formal founding, Jose Cavaller took over the management and also supervised the edification, which was mainly done by evangelized Chumash Indians. Because other local tribes wanted to get rid of the European settlers and set their wooden buildings on fire, Cavaller finally saw himself forced to start building adobe buildings in 1794. The facility was then rebuilt many times and also used for purposes other than intended. It only attained its present form with the restoration work that began in 1933. Architecturally noteworthy are the bell tower, which is fully integrated into the vestibule, and the L-shape of the floor plan with two naves that are aligned at 90 degrees to the altar. Today the church serves as a place of worship for a Catholic community. Holy Mass Sa 7:00 am and 5:30 pm, Sun 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 6:00 pm (in Spanish: 12:30 pm and 7:30 pm), on working days: 7:00 am and 12:10 p.m.Open: from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., during the rest of the year daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Price: Entry against donation.
- 2 First Presbyterian Church, 981 Marsh St (Downtown). 1904-1905 built from the outside rather inconspicuous church with a very interesting wooden vault inside.
- 3 Mountainbrook Church, 1775 Calle Joaquin. The city's most popular church is located on a hill southwest of downtown. Modern building and non-denominational orientation. The coolest church services far and wide with popular music and the relaxed atmosphere typical of many American churches. Church services Sun 9-11 a.m. Children celebrate their worship separately from adults in a child-friendly way. A corresponding program is also offered for young people during the 11 a.m. service. Excellent opportunity for young travelers to practice their school English in a very nice setting.
Mission SLO: living rooms on the left, the church on the right
The interior of the mission church
.png/236px-Mission_San_Luis_Obispo_de_Tolosa,_782_Monterey_Street,_San_Luis_Obispo,_San_Luis_Obispo_County,_CA_HABS_CAL,40-SANLO,1-_(sheet_2_of_11).png)
Floor plan of the mission church
First Presbyteranian Church
.png/236px-Mission_San_Luis_Obispo_de_Tolosa,_782_Monterey_Street,_San_Luis_Obispo,_San_Luis_Obispo_County,_CA_HABS_CAL,40-SANLO,1-_(sheet_2_of_11).png)
Buildings
- 4 Kundert Medical Clinic, 1106 Pacific St (Corner Santa Rosa St.). This medical practice designed by cult architect Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the architectural highlights of the city. The building, a "Usonian", was built in 1956. To see the inside, you have to be a patient of the doctor who still has his practice here, or very charming to the reception staff.
- 5 Ah Louis Store, 800 Palm St. The Chinese immigrant On Wong (1840-1936), better known as Ah Louis, opened a small shop at this location in 1874, supplying the Sino-American community with the items they needed, including rice, rum, and opium (which was still legal at the time). The original wooden structure gave way to today's brick building in 1855. The family still owns the house and business. The Ah Louis Store is the city's oldest store. Souvenirs and gift items are on offer.
Kundert Medical Clinic
Ah Louis Store
Museums
- 6 History Center, 696 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-543-0638, Email: [email protected].
Changing exhibitions on the city's history.Open: Monday and Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on Tuesday.Price: Entry against donation. - 7 San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-543-8562.Open: From Independence Day to Labor Day, daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The rest of the year at the same times but Tuesday is then closed.Price: Admission is free, donation is expected.
- 8 San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, 1940 Santa Barbara Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-548-1894, Email: [email protected].California's Central Coast Railway History.Open: Saturdays only from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Price: Adults US $ 3, children US $ 2.
- 9 Dallidet Adobe & Gardens, 1185 Pacific St. Interesting and listed house built in 1856 by a French immigrant for his family, the interior of which can be visited. Guided sightseeing tours are offered on weekdays for a fee.Open: Sa Su 11 am-5pm.Price: Free entry, donation requested.
- 10 San Luis Obispo Children's Museum, 1010 Nipomo St. (Corner of Monterey St). Play facility in downtown for children up to elementary school age.Open: seasonally changing times; in spring Tue-Wed 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Thu-Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 1 p.m.-5 p.m.Price: $ 8 (children 2 and under free, seniors $ 60 5).
Mission San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
SLO County Historical Museum
Streets and squares
- Higuera Street (between Nipomo St and Santa Rosa St). SLO's main street, which is the busiest: boutiques, restaurants, cafes and pubs. The best place to start a stroll through downtown is here. Characteristic of the quarter is the large number of mighty exotic trees, about which the population is somewhat polarized because some love them ardently, while others suffer from the fact that the roots destroy the underground lines to their buildings. "Higuera" is the Spanish word for Fig tree.
- 11 Mission Plaza, Monterey St between Broad St and Chorro St. This small park is located between Higuera Street and Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, where you can have a wonderful lunch with food that you have bought nearby. Not only the Mission Church, but also the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art and the History Center of San Luis Obispo County are within sight.
Parks
activities
Hiking and biking
- 1 Bishop Peak. In the northwest of the city, a 2½ km long hiking trail ("Rock Garden Trail") leads to a rock that towers proudly over the city. The path begins at the northern end of Brittany Circle, where there are also some parking spaces available, which are quickly occupied when the weather is good. The ascent is considered to be one of the most attractive activities in SLO; Bring at least 2 hours of your time.
- 3 Bob Jones City to Sea Bike Trail (Bob Jones Trail). Very nice bike trail that starts 10 minutes south of SLO (parking lot on the edge of Ontario Rd, a good 100 meters south of the Silver Horse winery) and in Avila Beach (2 Avila Beach Dr & San Juan St) ends.
Theater, cinema and concert
- 4 Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave (Cal Poly). The largest theater building in the city; this includes the Sidney Harman Hall with 1,286 seats and the Alex & Faye Spanos Theater with 498 seats. Drama, dance and concerts. In-house parking garage.
- 5 Sunset Drive-In Theater, 255 Elks Ln (6 minutes south of downtown, on the edge of Cabrillo Hwy).Not a matter of course in the USA either, but rather like threatened with extinction in Europe: a drive-in cinema.
- 6 San Luis Obispo Repertory Theater, 888 Morro St, corner of Palm St (Downtown). Tiny nonprofit theater (only about 100 seats) founded in 1947 by a small group of enthusiasts. Drama and musical. About 20 shows a month. Closed in summer.Price: $ 20-38.
Themed tours
- Central Coast Food Tours. Organizer of very popular themed tours with a culinary and wine-related focus, but at the same time getting to know the city. For San Luis Obispo you have the choice between the Downtown San Luis Obispo Food & Walking Tour (3½ hours, $ 78) and the San Luis Obispo - Food & Vineyard Driving Tour (4½ hours, $ 139; in the organizer's SUV). Two other tours are offered in Paso Robles. The groups of visitors are very small and the tours are therefore very personal. Since not every tour is offered every weekday, it is advisable to plan and book early. The tours start at meeting points specified by the organizer.
- Taste of SLO- Walking Food Tour. Another provider of guided culinary tours. These start daily (except Sun) at 1.30 p.m., last about 2½ hours and run through 5 bars and shops.Price: $ 75-85.
- Hop On Beer Tours. Those who prefer beer to wine can tour some small local breweries in a minibus with this tour operator.
shop
Food
- 1 Farmers' Market, Higuera St, between Nipomo St and Osos St (Downtown). The nicest and best shopping opportunity in town for foodies and the curious.Open: Thursday 6 pm-9pm (if the weather allows).
- 2 Splash Café and Artisan Bakery, 1491 Monterey St. The best bakery and confectionery in town offers fresh bread and sweet pastries as well as quick seafood dishes.
Supermarkets
- 3 Ralph’s, 201 Madonna Rd. Large supermarket in the southwest of the city. A bus stop for bus line 2 is right next door.
- 4 Trader Joe’s, 3977 S Higuera St. Supermarket in the south of SLO, which also meets the expectations of European travelers. Line 2 buses stop within sight.
- 5 California Fresh Market SLO, 771 Foothill Blvd. (Foothill Plaza Shopping Center). The largest supermarket in the north of the city. Two bus stops for lines 3 and 4 are very close by.
- 6 Of, 3900 Broad St (Corner of Tank Farm Rd). Another big supermarket in the south of SLO. A bus stop for bus line 1 is within sight.
Farms and wineries
- 12 Avila Valley Barn, 560 Avila Beach Dr.. South of SLO, almost by the sea, is this farm with the sale of its own products and children's entertainment program (petting zoo with farm animals, in summer crash courses for the production of jam and other canned foods). A must-see for families with children.
- 1 Kelsey Lake Canyon Vineyards, 1947 Lake Canyon Rd (11 minutes southeast of downtown). This winery is located in the narrow mountain ridge just before the coast, where you can taste and buy what the winemaker Jac Jacobs has to offer right now. Tannin-rich red wine, dry white wine, sparkling wine, port and cider (hard cider).Open: Daily 11 a.m.-5.30 p.m.
- 2 Wolff Vineyards, 6238 Orcutt Rd (a good 10 minutes southeast of SLO). Edna Valley winery with wine tasting opportunities. Good address for lovers of some grape varieties that are not grown quite as often in California, such as Syrah, Petite Sirah and Teroldego.Open: daily 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- 3 Edna Valley Vineyard, 2585 Biddle Ranch Rd (in Edna, 12 minutes southeast of SLO). The third major winery near San Luis Obispo. In addition to the standard grape varieties (especially Chardonnay), Malbec is offered. The wine tasting room offers a very nice view of the surroundings.Open: daily (except on some major public holidays) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 4 Niven Family Wine Estate, 5828 Orcutt Rd. Another winery located in the Edna Valley. The rehearsal room is housed in a former 1-room schoolhouse. The family business, which has existed since 1973, only uses sustainable cultivation methods. Another trademark are the beautifully designed bottle labels. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah.Open: daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: Wine tasting $ 15.
- 5 Tolosa, 4910 Edna Rd. Winery on the edge of the airport that uses sustainable farming methods. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Not very cheap.Open: daily 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Specialty stores
- 7 Barnes and Noble, 894 Marsh St (Corner of Morro St). Branch of the last bookstore chain that Amazon still has to face.
- 8 Boo Boo Records, 978 Monterey St. Music CDs, records, posters, t-shirts and rock music memorabilia.
- 9 Phoenix Books, 990 Monterey St. Second hand bookstore.
Department stores
- 10 Kohls, 205 Madonna Rd. The largest fashion department store in SLO, located in the south of the city.
- 11 Target, 11990 Los Osos Valley Rd. The city's largest department store is located in the south of SLO. Clothing, housewares, home furnishings, electrical appliances and much more. A bus stop for bus line 2 is within sight.
- 12 Best Buy, 255 Madonna Rd. The largest electronics department store is located on Madonna Plaza in the south of SLO. Not exactly cheap, but you won't find more choice anywhere else.
- 13 Goodwill Central Coast, 15 Higuera St.. Large second-hand shop where thrifty people can buy extremely inexpensive used clothing. Also easy to reach with bus line 2.
kitchen
Cheap
- 2 Petra Mediterranean Pizza and Grill, 1210 Higuera St.. Gyro, shawarma, falafel, kebab, pizza and more in good quality for little money.
medium
- 3 Big Sky Cafe, 1121 Broad St.. Creative eclectic cuisine made from sustainably grown fresh ingredients. One of the most popular restaurants in town. Breakfast too.
- 4 Firestone Grill, 1001 Higuera St.. Considered the best BBQ restaurant in SLO. Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs and more.
- 5 Goshi Japanese Restaurant, 570 Higuera St.. Tucked away in a back yard off Higuera St is this most popular Asian restaurant in town.
- 7 Luna Red, 1023 Chorro St.. The best thing about this restaurant (besides its good Spanish-Mexican cuisine) is its lovely patio.
Upscale
- 8 Ciopinot, 1051 Nipomo St.. The city's most popular upscale restaurant specializes in seafood.Price: Mains from $ 28.
- 9 Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica, 849 Monterey St. Southern Italian cuisine at its best with ingredients from organic farming.
- 10 Novo, 726 Higuera St.. Considered the best restaurant in town. Eclectic international cuisine. Wonderful romantic garden terrace.
nightlife
The closest club with live music is there Harry’s Night Club & Beach Bar in Pismo Beach (690 Cypress St). Mostly rock is played.
accommodation
In addition to a few individual addresses, there are several clusters of hotels in San Luis Obispo, namely in downtown and at four of the motorway exits. Visitors to Cal Poly who come without a car are most conveniently staying in one of the many hotels on Monterey Street, because the 4B bus runs here, with which one can travel to the campus without changing.
Very few hotels in SLO (Apple Farm, Madonna Inn, Quality Suites) can afford their own airport shuttle. From all the rest you have to take a taxi if you want to get to the airport early on the weekend when the buses are not yet running.
Cheap
- 1 Avenue Inn, 345 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-543-6443, Fax: 1 805-592-2455, Email: [email protected].facebook url usedIndependently run hotel right in downtown. All rooms with refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker. Breakfast included in the price.Price: from $ 115.
- 2 Lamplighter Inn & Suites, 1604 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 866-756-7378, Email: [email protected]. Independently run hotel with 77 rooms of different sizes. Outdoor swimming pool. Breakfast included in the price. On working days you can stay here much cheaper than on the weekend. A bus stop for bus line 4 is right in front of the hotel.Price: from $ 89.
- 3 Motel 6 San Luis Obispo South, 1625 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (at the intersection of Hwy 101 & Los Osos Valley Rd). Tel.: 1 805-541-6992. Cheap motel with simple but functional and modern rooms in the south of the city. No breakfast.Price: $ 108.
- 4 Budget Inn, 1001 Olive Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Tel.: 1 805-544-0400, Email: [email protected]. Small budget motel 2 minutes northwest of downtown. All rooms with refrigerator and microwave. The hotel does not have its own website, so the best way to save agency fees is to book directly with the hotel by phone. Breakfast included in the price.
- 5 Garden Street Inn, 1212 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-545-9802, Fax: 1 805-545-9403, Email: [email protected]. Downtown Bed & Breakfast with 9 rooms, all individually furnished in "Victorian" style. Breakfast is included in the price.Price: from $ 103.
- 6 Heritage Inn B&B, 978 Olive Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (on the Autobahn 101 (Exit 203A)). Tel.: 1 805-544-7440, Email: [email protected].Bed & Breakfast with 7 rooms furnished in "Victorian" style, all with queen-size beds. Breakfast is included in the price.Feature: Garni.Check-in: 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Check-out: 11:00 a.m.Price: $ 115-200.
- 7 Lexington Inn, 2050 Garfield Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (Close to Monterey Street). Tel.: 1 805-549-9911. RLH chain motel with 75 rooms, all with refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker. One has a small kitchenette. Nice outdoor swimming pool. Breakfast is included in the price.Price: from $ 109.
- 8 Motel 6 San Luis Obispo North, 1433 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (at the intersection of Hwy 101 & Los Osos Valley Rd). Tel.: 1 805-549-9595. A second branch of this cheap chain, older than the one mentioned above and not in good shape, so much cheaper. Outdoor swimming pool.Price: $ 60.
- 9 Rose Garden Inn, 1585 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (at the intersection of Hwy 101 & Los Osos Valley Rd). Tel.: 1 805-544-5300, Email: [email protected]. Independently run hotel in the southwest of the city. Cake breakfast included in the price. Outdoor swimming pool.Price: $ 114.
- 10 Villa Motel, 1670 Monterey St. Independently run simple little motel. All rooms with refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker. No breakfast.
The motels below are the shabbiest in town, but because of their very low prices, they are in such high demand that rooms are hard to find online. The best way to book is to call the hotel.
- 11 Americas Best Value Inn, 950 Olive Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Tel.: 1 805-544-8886. Cheap motel of the RLH chain 2 minutes northwest of downtown.
- 12 Homestead Motel, 920 olive St. (on the edge of Route 101 (Exit 203A)). Tel.: 1.805.543.7700. Independently run motel with 17 rooms. All rooms with refrigerator and microwave. Breakfast included in the price.Price: from $ 111.
- 13 Ramada, 1000 Olive Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Tel.: 1 805-544-2800. Wyndham chain hotel 2 minutes north of downtown. Outdoor pool. Breakfast included in the price.Check-in: 3:00 p.m.Check-out: 11:00 a.m.Price: from $ 69.
- 14 Sunbeam Motel, 1656 Monterey St. Independently run small motel with good value for money. All rooms with refrigerator and microwave. No breakfast.Price: from $ 68.
medium
- 15 Apple Farm Inn, 2015 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-544-2040, Email: [email protected].Independently run hotel with rooms that are furnished in a rustic country house style. Rated very highly in TripAdvisor. All rooms with refrigerator and coffee maker. Outdoor swimming pool. Breakfast costs extra.Price: from $ 151.
- 16 Best Western Plus - Royal Oak Hotel, 214 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Tel.: 1 805-544-4410, Fax: 1 805-544-3026, Email: [email protected].Chain hotel 5 minutes southwest of downtown, on the edge of a shopping center. One of the highly rated addresses in TripAdvisor. Outdoor swimming pool. Breakfast included in the price.Price: $ 150.
- 17 Hampton Inn & Suites, 1530 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (at the intersection of Hwy 101 & Los Osos Valley Rd). Tel.: 1 805-594-1445, Fax: 1 805-594-1448. Hotel of the Hilton chain 6 minutes southwest of downtown with 84 rooms on 4 floors. All rooms with refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker. Breakfast included in the price. Indoor Swimming Pool.Check-in: 3:00 p.m.Check-out: 12:00 p.m.Price: from $ 175.
- 18 Holiday Inn Express, 1800 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-544-8600, Email: [email protected]. Chain hotel 3 minutes northeast of downtown, rated very highly in TripAdvisor. Outdoor pool. Breakfast included in the price.Check-in: 3:00 p.m.Check-out: 11:00 a.m.Price: $ 185.
- 19 Inn at San Luis Obispo, 1895 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-544-0973, Email: [email protected]. Independently run hotel 3 minutes northeast of downtown. All rooms with refrigerator and microwave. Outdoor pool. Breakfast included in the price.Price: $ 159.
- 20 Peach Tree Inn, 2001 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-543-3170, Fax: 1 805-543-7673, Email: [email protected]. Independently run small hotel with individually furnished rooms, all with a refrigerator. Breakfast included in the price.Price: from $ 135.
- 21 Petit Soleil, 1473 Monterey St. Bed & Breakfast with 16 rooms of different sizes, all furnished in "Provencal" style. Considered the best B&B in town.Feature: Garni.Price: from $ 179.
- 22 Sands Inn & Suites, 1930 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 800-441-4657. Individually run motel with 70 "Victorian" rooms, all with a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker. Outdoor swimming pool. Breakfast included in the price.Price: from $ 132.
- 23 Super 8, 1951 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-544-6888. Wyndham chain motel 2 minutes northeast of downtown. All rooms with refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker. Breakfast included in the price.Price: $ 154.
Upscale
- 24 Granada Hotel, 1126 Morro Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-544-9100. Boutique hotel in downtown with 17 individually furnished rooms, all with a queen-size bed. Breakfast is included in the price.Price: from $ 299.
- 25 Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Tel.: 1 805-543-3000, Fax: 1 805-543-1800, Email: [email protected].
Independently run hotel housed in a spectacular building 6 minutes southwest of downtown. Each room is decorated and painted in a different style. Here are a few examples: Room Espana is furnished in a Mediterranean style, the Madonna Suite is decorated with many floral motifs in pink and pink and Rock Bottom is reminiscent of a rock cave.Price: $ 269. - 26 Quality Suites, 1631 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (2 minutes northeast of downtown). Tel.: 1 805-541-5001, Fax: 1 805-546-9475. Visually very attractive hotel of the Choice chain. All rooms with refrigerator. Outdoor pool. Breakfast included in the price.Price: $ 225.
- 27 Courtyard San Luis Obispo, 1605 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (at the intersection of Hwy 101 & Los Osos Valley Rd). Tel.: 1 805-786-4200, Fax: 1 805-786-4210. Marriott chain hotel with 132 rooms and 7 suites, all with refrigerators, microwaves and coffeemakers. Breakfast costs extra. Outdoor swimming pool.Check-in: 3:00 p.m.Check-out: 12:00 p.m.Price: $ 242.
- 28 Embassy Suites by Hiltons San Luis Obispo, 333 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Tel.: 1 805-549-0800, Fax: 1 805-543-5273.
Hotel of the Hilton chain. Indoor Swimming Pool. Breakfast costs extra.Price: from $ 186. - 29 La Cuesta Inn, 2074 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-543-2777, Fax: 1 805-544-0696.Boutique hotel 3 minutes northeast of downtown. Outdoor pool.Price: $ 224.
- 30 San Luis Creek Lodge, 1941 Monterey St. This independently run small hotel with 25 interestingly decorated rooms in three different buildings is considered to be the best in town. Breakfast is included in the price.Price: from $ 214.
- 31 SLO Brew Lofts, 738 Higuera St. (Downtown). Tel.: 1.805.543.1843. 5 very nicely furnished and fully equipped apartments with 1-3 bedrooms. If the online booking doesn't work because of the very high demand, it is best to try by phone.
Learn
Cal Poly
The California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is a major public university with over 20,000 students enrolled. The school is particularly strong in the areas of architecture (2nd place national) and Environmental design, a young subject that researches environmentally friendly solutions for all possible areas of life. Cal Poly is one of two public engineering colleges in California; the second is in Pomona. If you take the bus to the campus, you can choose between 3 stops: Performing Arts Center (lines 4A B, 9, 10), Kennedy Library (lines 3A B, 4A B, 9, 10, 10X, 12X, HT) and Foothill at Casa (Mustang Village, Lines 3A B).
Although Cal Poly was founded back in 1901, most of the buildings on campus are significantly newer. The oldest is that Old Power House (1908-1910) on the northeast corner of S. Perimeter Rd & Cuesta Ave. The most important stops on a campus visit include:
- 11 805 Kitchen, 19 S Perimeter Rd. The main Cal Poly canteen with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Visitors can also eat here for cash. There are also 21 other (mostly commercial) restaurants and fast food restaurants on campus.
- 14 Cal Poly University Store, Building 65, University Union, 1 Grand Ave.. The university store. Must-Buy in solchen Geschäften ist ein T- oder Sweatshirt mit dem Logo der Uni. Wer soviel Geld nicht ausgeben will, begnügt sich z.B. mit einem Lanyard.
- 13 Leaning Pine Arboretum, Via Carta. Ganz im Norden des Campus liegt dieser kleine botanische Garten mit Pflanzen aus aller Welt. Parkmöglichkeiten etwas versteckt westlich von Via Carta.Open: Mon-Sat 8 am-5pm.Price: free entry.
Performing Arts Center
Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften
Architektur
Kinesiology
Business School
Die Uni hat ein recht starkes Musik-Department, dazu gehört unter anderem ein Chor (website), ein Symphonieorchester (website, Programm), ein Bläserensemble, ein Blasorchester (Programm) sowie eine äußerst sehenswerte Marching Band („Mustang Band“). Musikliebhaber, die SLO während des Semesters besuchen, sollten die Programme genau studieren, weil man so preisgünstig an so hochkarätige Musikveranstaltungen sonst kaum herankommt. Auch die Aufführungen des Tanz-Departments sind öffentlich und einen Besuch wert (website). Ort ist meistens das Performing Arts Center (Programm).
Ein weiteres auch für Zuschauer interessantes außercurriculäres Programm, das die Uni bietet, ist das Cal Poly Ballroom Team. Ort ist meist das Architekturgebäude, nur größere Events finden im Chumash Auditorium statt.
Cuesta College
Daneben gibt es in SLO auch ein gar nicht so kleines Community College, das Cuesta College. Der Campus liegt 10 Minuten nordwestlich der Stadt auf halbem Wege nach Morro Bay. Hier studieren gut 11.000 junge Leute, die mehrheitlich aus der näheren Umgebung stammen. Die Studiengebühren sind hier deutlich geringer als bei Cal Poly, allerdings reicht das Angebot auch nur bis zum Associate Degree.
security
Die Kriminalitätsrate in San Luis Obispo entspricht grob der anderer kalifornischer Städte. Kapitalverbrechen und Raubüberfälle sind in SLO sogar besonders selten. Es wird jedoch recht viel geklaut, und Frauen sollten es vermeiden, nachts allein unterwegs zu sein.
health
In medizinischen Notfällen ruft man, wie überall in den USA, 911 at. Auch im Emergency Room of Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center (1010 Murray Avenue) findet man in dringenden Fällen rund um die Uhr ärztliche Hilfe.
Wenn das Problem eher eine Mittelohrentzündung oder ein verstauchter Fuß als etwas wirklich Lebensgefährliches ist, fährt man aber besser zu Med Stop Urgent Care (283 Madonna Rd), wo man meist deutlich weniger lange auf den Arzt warten muss als im Krankenhaus. Mo-Fr 8-19 Uhr, Sa So 8-16 Uhr.
Bei akuten Zahnproblemen wendet man sich im Zweifelsfall direkt an eine Zahnarztpraxis, und zwar am besten an eine Gemeinschaftspraxis wie z.B. SLO Smiles (878 Walnut St), wo irgendeiner der fünf Zahnärzte schon Zeit finden wird, selbst wenn man unangemeldet erscheint. Falls alle Praxen gerade geschlossen zu sein scheinen, lohnt sich vielleicht auch ein Anruf bei Emergency Dentist USA.
Auch mit Kindern ist man, wenn es nicht akut lebensbedrohlich ist, am besten bei niedergelassenen Kinderärzten aufgehoben. Größere Gemeinschaftspraxen sind z.B. die Central Coast Pediatricians (1235 Osos St) und die Bravo Pediatrics (3241 S. Higuera St).
Practical advice
- 4 San Luis Obispo Visitor Information Center, 895 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Tel.: 1 805-781-2777..Geöffnet: Donnerstag bis Samstag von 09:30 bis 18:00 Uhr, Sonntag bis Mittwoch von 09:30 bis 17:00 Uhr.
trips
- 14 Highway 1 Discovery Route, Highway 1 zwischen Ragged Point und Oceano. Diese ausgearbeitete Route führt über einige der schönsten und interessantesten Punkte der Central Coast. Startpunkt ist die Old Edna Townsite in dem winzigen Ort Edna 13 Minuten südwestlich von SLO. Von dort geht es weiter über Nipomo, Oceano, Avila Beach, Los Osos Baywood Park, Cayucos, Cambria und San Simeon bis Ragged Point.
- 7 Valencia Peak Trail. An Spooners Cove, einem Strand 30 Minuten westlich von SLO, beginnt dieser Wanderpfad. Der Trailhead liegt Pecho Valley Road und bietet einige Parkplätze. Der Weg führt auf einen der höchsten Gipfel im Montaña de Oro State Park (442 m) und bietet traumhafte Aussicht.
- 15 El Chorro Regional Park, Cabrillo Highway, 10 Minuten nordwestlich von SLO. Der schönste Naturpark in der Umgebung. Golfplatz und Wanderpfade.
literature
- : San Luis Obispo. A History in Architecture. Arcadia Publishing, 2004, ISBN 978-0738529271 .
- : Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo: 156 Great Hikes. Day Hike Books, 2015 (3. Auflage), ISBN 978-1573420709 .
Web links
- http://www.slocity.org (en) – Offizielle Webseite von San Luis Obispo
- Tourism San Luis Obispo
- The Tribune - local newspaper
- localwiki: San Luis Obispo
