Chilling out in dog-friendly San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo (SLO) has a really good feel to it, the days are warm, the people are friendly, it’s very walkable and is full of great shops and restaurants. It’s also located in wine country, so definitely ticks all the boxes!

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Downtown area

SLO downtown is only a few blocks each way that is set out in an easy to follow grid pattern. There are lots of good shops and restaurants as well as some cute photo ops, including the Fremont Theatre (art deco style in pastel shades). In addition to the main shopping district you'll also find plenty of other highlights that you can enjoy with your dog, including plazas, alleys and other interesting buildings.

For pretty pastels head to the Fremont Theatre

Mission San Luis and Park

The Mission is absolutely beautiful, and while you'll definitely want to check out the front of it, we also enjoyed walking around the perimeter (around the back there is a garden area you can enter and look around). While dogs aren't allowed inside, if you're interested in visiting, then I would suggest just taking turns to go in for a quick look. The Mission also sits within a larger park area, which has a small canal running through it, a few short trials and some nice gardens. It’s a great place to sit and have a cool drink or relax on a warm day.

The SLO Mission and park

The Creamery Marketplace

This open air market has lots of great food places  to choose from and was very dog friendly. It was only a short walk from the Mission, so would be a great spot for a break and lunch. We enjoyed having a look around and stopping for a drink and sweet treat before finding the ‘'SLO Irresistible' mural which is located at the market entrance. When we visited it looked like more eateries were about to open so I'm sure there are even more choices now - and while most had outdoor seating, there were also public spots to sit and we saw plenty of other dogs there.

Fab murals at The Creamery

Mural Spotting

There are lots of great murals and other outdoor art to find around town. We always enjoy mural trails as they're a great way to explore a new place with a dog. One of our faves was the 'SLO Irresistible' mural, which is at the Creamery, though as it’s on an angle it can be hard to photograph! A list and map of the SLO public artworks can be found here

Bubblegum Alley

Its pretty darn gross to look at close up, and I definitely didn't want to accidentally touch it - but the alley itself does smell yummy, like (surprise, surprise), fresh bubblegum! Beatle on the other hand was mad keen to start sniffing and licking so we got in and out for some pics pretty quickly, but its definitely worth a visit. It can be a little tricky to find, but its located on Higuera Street, which is halfway between Garden Street and Broad Street.

You can just explore the alley, or add to it!

OTHER THINGS TO DO

Toro Creek - off leash beach

If beaches are your thing, then head 15 mins towards the coast by car to Toro Creek in Morro Bay. More info about the beach, parking and the nearby dog washing station can be found here

Wineries

SLO also has a number of wineries that welcome well behaved dogs, if you enjoy wine tasting with your best bud then it would be a really fun activity. For more info on these head to VisitSLO.com

SLO Museum of Art

I wish I'd known this was dog friendly when we were there as we definitely would have visited. Apparently the museum is quite small, but it’s also free and located near the Mission and would be a great option if you are wanting to do something indoors or on a warmer day.

Visit nearby Pismo Beach

If you have extra time, then Pismo Beach is only a 15 min drive from SLO. See my other post on this area for dog friendly tips on visiting.

GETTING AROUND

Parking was cheap and plentiful in the town and we found all the main attractions in SLO to all be within easy walking distance.

IN SUMMARY

If you only had one day to spend in SLO you would be able to see all of the main attractions. But if you want to ‘go SLO’ (see what I did there…) check out VisitSLO.com for more info about dog friendly restaurants and accommodation.