Find yourself a vacation that can do both
It might sound counterproductive, but sometimes you have to slow down to get your heart really pumping. In SLO CAL (San Luis Obispo County), every moment is reserved for what truly matters: from paddleboarding across serene blue waters while performing yoga to ziplining hundreds of feet above the oaks before sipping fabulous wine. Because whether you’re galloping full speed on horseback or enjoying the slow rock of a hammock, it’s all about savoring the small stuff and taking big leaps into the wild. That’s right. Get yourself a vacation that can do both!
Here’s 8 awesome ways to achieve zen-adrenaline in SLO CAL:
# 1 Soar and Soak
Hold your breath and hang on. Ziplining in SLO CAL is unlike anywhere else in the world, thanks to world-renowned wine and oak-studded scenery. Not only will you soar high above forest and vine at Margarita Adventures in Santa Margarita, you’ll end your multi-line run with a glass of Ancient Peaks cabernet sauvignon. Seeking greater relaxation? End a positively high-flying day with a long hot soak at famous natural sulfur hot springs in Paso Robles or Avila Beach.
# 2 Cycle and Sip
If you’re a cyclist, you’re always looking for that next, epic ride. Good thing SLO CAL is home to dozens of unique trails where traditional bikes and mountain bikes are warmly welcomed. Ride the Bob Jones Trail, which runs from Avila Beach to the sea; traverse Paso Robles Wine Country’s diverse wine trails offering up views of vineyards, wildflowers, wildlife, and wineries; or take to the coast, where Highway 1 stretches from Ragged Point, down to Hearst Castle and right by the charming hamlet of Harmony, to the Morro Bay Embarcadero and beyond. Cheers to a road well traveled with a well crafted cocktail at Il Cortile, La Cosecha, Luna Red or KROBAR.
# 3 Off-Road and Glow
Start your engines! There’s only one place in California where you can put key to ignition on the dunes. Consider the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation area your need-for-speed playground, where wheeled toys and trucks of all sorts kick up sand under sunny skies. Drive your ATV across the beach, light a bonfire and make s’mores, or park your vehicle and stay a while. After all that sun, sand and wind, you’ll be ready for a spa treatment. Try the Madonna Inn Spa, where after your massage or facial, you can relax in a heated pool or soak in your choice of two luxurious hot tubs.
# 4 Grow and Go ‘Wow’
Thanks to a long growing season, SLO CAL is flush with fresh produce all year round. Sure, you can stop by a farmer’s market (unfolding weekly in just about every town across the area), but wouldn’t you rather get your hands in the dirt? Book a rugged agritourism adventure and see where happy farmers come from. Stepladder Creamery offers up tours of its hilltop Cambria goat farm, the Groves on 41 in Templeton is home to acres of olive trees, and Talley Farms in Arroyo Grande showcases a working vineyard, winery, and farm. Unwind with an unbelievable sunset in quiet Shell Beach or Cayucos, where pink and orange-skies are often heightened by sea life sightings.
# 5 Paddle and Stroll
Adventure like you mean it. Sure, you’ve kayaked—but have you ever rowed inside an underwater cave? Explore this rocky, wet terrain at Pismo Beach’s historic Dinosaur Caves Park and know you’ve experienced one of SLO CAL’s most thrilling hidden gems. Afterward, you’ll want to dry off, rest your arms and stretch those legs. Stroll fun-loving Pismo Beach, where you can dig into iconic chowder at Splash Cafe, walk a bustling boardwalk and pier, or shoot some pool with your best buds.
#6 Gallop and Guffaw
If your idea of fun is galloping horseback along glistening tide pools while the sun sets on the water, you’re in luck. Although this might sound like a fairytale fantasy, its just a day at the beach at Montana de Oro State Park, located in scenic Los Osos. Feel the fresh salty air on your face as you trot along some of SLO CAL’s most coveted coastline. End your dreamlike evening with an entertaining, family-friendly show at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano or a play at the SLO Repertory Theatre.
#7 Climb and Dine
Reach farther and sweat harder. Test your stamina and strength at The Pad Climbing gym in San Luis Obispo, where you’ll work out every muscle in your body (and especially your arms and core). What’s more, rock climbing is a fun activity for the whole family with challenging walls for every age and skill level. Cool down and cozy up with a farm-to-fork dinner featuring some of SLO CAL’s most delectable seasonal flavors. Choose from a long list of fresh eats, including Thomas Hill Organics, SLO Provisions, Sidecar, Mason Bar and more.
#8 Hike and Stretch
Lace up the hiking boots and get hopping! Whether you choose to tackle Atascadero’s steep Cerro Alto Trail—which, on a clear day, offers up some of the best views in the county—or prefer to run with Fido across Cuesta Ridge’s Botanical Area, you’re sure to work up a hankering for a cold one. Combine the soothing stretches of a legit yoga class with the refreshing flavors of local craft beer with BOGA (yes—yoga paired with craft beer) or, for the sportier among us, POGA (yoga combined with paddleboarding). Just be warned: You may soon be texting your friends: “Namaste in SLO CAL forever.”
