What to Do in San Luis Obispo With Kids

San Luis Obispo County, set just between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties on California’s Central Coast, was in our sights late this summer. Though perhaps lesser known that its neighbors to the south and north, San Luis Obispo (affectionally known as SLO) has comparable — and enviable — stretches of beach and rolling, vineyard-filled hills, too. Road trip plans designed to please both young and old were drawn up, and into the car we went.

What to Do in SLO

Farmland is plentiful in SLO, and Avila Valley Barn is the place for kids to get a first-hand farm experience. Chickens, goats, horses and cows await snacks of fresh lettuce leaves from visitors. There are also u-pick fields and a farm shop full of produce and homemade baked goods. We enjoyed a hay-filled, tractor-pulled wagon ride around the property. Plus, you can extend your visit with a barbecue lunch at the on-site Chicken Shack & Smoke House or at the ice cream stand. 

Great parks and hiking trails are as abundant here as apples on the farm. We visited Dinosaur Caves Park in Pismo Beach two days in a row. The spacious, cliffside park has great swings and spinners and is incredible for seabird watching — California brown pelicans and cormorants abound on the giant rocks off the coast.

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For those with older children, hiking at Pismo Preserve and along the Bob Jones Trail  in Avila Beach is beautiful. We shopped the downtown area of the city of San Luis Obispo, where the weekly Thursday evening farmer’s market is lively. And we made a short list of family-friendly wineries to visit. My eight-year-old enjoyed cheese tasting as I sipped wine at Baileyana, one of many wineries in SLO’s Edna Valley.

Where to Stay in SLO for Families: Vespera Resort

There are numerous inns and motels in the county, but the top-of-the-line accommodation is Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach. The seaside property is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and offers 124 luxury rooms, most of which have a private balcony facing the Pacific Ocean. From her own balcony perch, my toddler waved at passersby strolling Pismo’s boardwalk and pier. We enjoyed the firepits and lawn games set out near the pool and boardwalk for guests.

Vespera’s location is supremely walkable for beach time and easy meals in Pismo proper, and it’s also a great home base for travelers planning to take short jaunts around the area. We drove 20 minutes from the resort to shop and have coffee in downtown San Luis Obispo. Our wine tasting adventure was a mere 15 minutes away. And the impressive Morro Rock and eponymous beach is just 30 minutes from the Pismo resort. We hunted for sand dollars for more than two hours here, and watched surfers try their luck on sizeable waves.

After one of these excursions, I was privy to Vespera’s impressive service. My youngest daughter was in a terrible toddler mood, and I returned to the lobby with her wriggling and crying in one arm and multiple bags of sand toys and baby gear in the other. David Morneau, the hotel’s general manager, saw the scene and quickly took my bags. He walked with us to our room while making small chat and managed to make me feel like he sees such things every day. I hope he doesn’t, but I was sincerely grateful for his assistance.

What to Eat in SLO for Kids

We enjoyed multiple meals at Vespera’s on-site restaurant, Somerset Grill, and ordered any dish highlighting local produce. That meant the parfait with Greek yogurt and fresh Central Coast berries at breakfast. And for dinner, the citrus avocado salad and burrata and heirloom tomato appetizer impressed. 

We also took time to sample some of the area’s famous roadside stands and casual eats. When I told my college buddy, who hails from nearby Nipomo, about our trip, he said not to miss Old West Cinnamon Rolls. At 7 a.m., I walked with my toddler to try these delicious, gargantuan treats. One roll can easily feed two, if not three, and a fork and knife are required. For a less sugary morning meal, grab breakfast burritos at the Steaming Bean on Shell Beach Road. 

Per another local’s recommendation, we spent our final night in the area at Ember Restaurant in Arroyo Grande. Watermelon cocktails for the grown-ups and wood-fired pizzas for all on Ember’s garden patio punctuated a great trip. It felt good to slow down in SLO.

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