San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California is famed for its 1700s Spanish mission, museums, unusual folk art installations, traditional markets and arts and cultural community. The Mission San Luis Obispo in Mission Plaza dates to the 18th century and houses a museum of artifacts related to hundreds of years of local history. Among the more unique and quirky attractions here is Bubblegum Alley, a true display of folk art where the walls are covered with wads of multicolored bubblegum. The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art showcases rotating exhibitions of important contemporary artists.

All up and down Higuera Street, the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market features dozens of vendors selling fresh produce, food and flowers. At the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum, kids can learn while having fun with hands-on exhibits. For adults, the Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo features wine testing, a vineyard, a winery and a museum of the craft of winemaking.