Located about three hours south of San Jose, San Luis Obispo – or SLO for locals – is a quick and fun weekend getaway for a change of pace. Full of stops for foodies and fans of outdoor adventures, its spacious views and proximity to the coast provide loads of options for everyone while visiting SLO with kids.
What to do with kids:
San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum
Currently open Thursdays – Mondays, this outstanding three-floor interactive museum is designed to spark curiosity and imagination in the ten and under crowd. If you’re planning to be in town on a Thursday evening, check their schedule to see if that week has Moonlight Hours for free admission or a Sensory Night for children on the autism spectrum and their families.
The first floor science exhibits provide opportunities for hands-on learning about animal habitats, magnets, earthquakes, space and more. There is a small gift shop, and the studio has constantly changing creative art projects. Book lovers should check out the unique stairs from the first to the second level featuring the spines of popular children’s books.
The second floor pretend play areas allow your little chefs, firefighters, trolley drivers, surgeons and more to engage in all sorts of imaginative play. The climbing structure provides a unique perch for a view of the area outside, and the giant building blocks enable grand construction projects.
On the third floor, the smallest visitors ages 4 and under can engage in baby and toddler-friendly explorations of trains, ball runs, and cozy spots for stories.
The outdoor play area includes structures to climb, balance on and use to make music. In warm weather, the water table is a welcome spot to cool off after riding horses or teaching school in the old western town.
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
In the heart of downtown, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa offers a way to incorporate some California history into a relaxing day in town. Since California public schools have typically taught about the history of the Missions in fourth grade, I wanted to visit as many of California’s 21 Missions as we can before our children reach that age. I think this is our fifth one to visit, so there are plenty more to go!
Built in the late 1700s, the Mission is still an active parish serving the Central Coast. The museum and gift shop are open most days with guided tours available daily. There is no fee for admission, but donations are accepted.
Mission Plaza provides an open area with benches where adults can relax and enjoy the fountain or nearby creek and let the kids get some wiggles out before strolling through the downtown shopping district or enjoying one of the many family-friendly restaurants. You may find a market, concert or other community events happening there during your visit.
While downtown, stop for a photo at the quirky Bubblegum Alley before moving on to explore the nearby hiking trails or beaches!
Where to stay:
We stayed at the Madonna Inn, a destination unto itself. I’ve driven by this many times and finally decided to plan far enough in advance to secure a reservation for our trip.
With each of its 110 guest rooms in a different theme, this pink-swathed rococo fever dream opened in 1958. Designed and owned by Alex and Phyllis Madonna, it features giant rocks that came from the surrounding acres in many rooms along with custom leaded glass, copper and brass work throughout the common areas.
Dinner in the Gold Rush Steakhouse isn’t complete without a slice of their iconic pink champagne cake. The Copper Café provides cozy booths or a diner bar for classic fare, or come early and sit a spell in the Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge while waiting for your table.
The pool is one of our favorite hotel pools ever, with a zero-entry pool and deck with sweeping views of the surrounding hills. You can also check out equipment for a game of tennis, pickleball or basketball on the signature pink courts. Guided horseback trail rides are available, or you can explore the hiking trails on the more than 1,000-acre property. You can even charge your electric vehicle at the on-site charging stations.
Where to eat:
Louisa’s Place – Centrally located on Higuera Street, this local fixture has been voted “Best Breakfast in SLO County” more than 20 times since its opening in 1976. Still serving breakfast and lunch daily, it’s worth the wait to score a table.
Cool Cat Café – Along with its sister locations in Pismo Beach and Maui, the Cool Cat Café serves up epic burgers and milkshakes with a 1950s diner vibe.
SloDoCo – How many different types of donuts can you think of? SloDoCo has more…way more. With over 100 donuts available every day, they have favorite classics as well as with vegan and gluten-free options.
While a weekend away isn’t nearly enough to capture the magic of San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast, you can certainly recharge, reflect on some of California’s history and refocus your family through time exploring together.
