San Luis Obispo- North County
San Luis Obispo’s North County is a must see California destination that has risen in popularity over the past couple of decades due to its thriving wine industry! There is no shortage of wineries and breweries to explore to appease every class of travel: from luxury wineries experiences to your local, casual wine tasting ranch where you are welcome to bring the whole family and listen to some live music while sampling the local wines! Not a wine aficionado? No problem! The rural, North county setting has so much more to offer. SLO North county is a prime place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and explore endless options in dining, camping, hiking and outdoor adventures galore!
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum- I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of exhibits available at this museum. The recreation area outside has a playground as well as multiple dramatic play areas. In the 3 stories inside the museum you will find various educational exhibits as well as dramatic play areas including a restaurant, an ice cream shop and a costume stage that is set for the kids to perform to name a few!
Bubblegum Alley- a neat alleyway in downtown where adults and kids alike can stick their chewed up bubblegum to the brick wall and be a part of this local, funky tradition.
Downtown SLO- SLO has a very aesthetic, clean and thriving downtown city center. If shopping, you can find anything from tourist shops to the apple store to lululemon! Here you will find a huge variety of local restaurants, bars and wineries sure to fit any vibe!
Sinsheimer Park- There are many parks and playgrounds in SLO. This one is one of the largest and most popular. It has ziplines, giant climbing structures and lengthy slides that are stories tall!
Atascadero
Charles Paddock Zoo- This zoo is sweet and simple! It can easily be walked in an hour which makes it the perfect size with small kids in my opinion :) They have some really unique animals: porcupines, bearcats and red pandas to name a few. There is no restaurant here, but the gift shop has snacks.
Lake Park- This is a great recreational area in Atasacadero! The playground is bordered by the zoo on one side and Atascadero Lake on the other. There are lots of swings and some long, neat slides at the playground! Along the lake you will see people strolling the trails, fishing and feeding the ducks. There is a boat rental dock that rents our pedal boats, paddle boards and kayaks on the weekend.
The zoo allows in and out privileges for the day so you can go back and forth between exploring the zoo and picnicking or playing in the park :)
Paso Robles
Wineries- This is what Paso is known for! The winery options are endless!
Downtown Paso- Paso Robles has an idyllic downtown that has been revamped over the last few years! There is a large park and grass field in the city square that is surrounded by shops and restaurants. For the Gilmore Girls fans out there- think of the Stars Hollow aesthetic, but add in a cool playground!
Ravine Waterpark- I have not been in town at the right time to catch this yet- but locals rave about it and it looks SO COOL. It is a legit waterpark with a lazy river, water slides, a wave pool and a kiddie area! There are cabana rentals available and a restaurant and bar on site.
Paso Robles Children’s Museum- This museum is a great place to burn a couple of hours with little ones. It is a bit smaller that the SLO one and caters more to kids 8 and under, I would say. But it is a great children’s museum still! There’s an old fire truck in the bottom flocayor that the kids can play on along with the other attractions. Upstairs you will find many different areas set with dramatic play equipment to encourage discovery and imagination! There is also a little playground outdoors. The museum is near the downtown Paso area. It would be easy to stack a Children’s Museum visit with a trip to a restaurant or treat spot in downtown :)
Breweries- There are a ton all over the place!
Beach Days
The most popular beaches that are easily accessible from North county SLO are:
Cayucos- This is a true, “off the beaten path” central coast beach destination and the closest one to access from north county.
Morro Bay- Morro Bay is a great option for a mellow beach near North County. Be sure to see the famous “Morro Rock” and to grab a bite at one of the eateries in Morro Bays quaint downtown strip while visiting!
Avila Beach- Avila Beach is a quiet, coastal city with a great stretch of beach that is popular with SLO county locals in the summertime! Make a day of it and visit Avila Valley Barn or Central Coast Aquarium.
Pismo Beach- Pismo Beach is a touristy South SLO County Beach. The pier seems endless! Shops and restaurants line the boardwalk. On the entrance to the pier you will find a small playground with the cutest sea-themed play equipment as well as the famous PISMO BEACH sign.
Day Trips
Hearst Castle
Camping and Hiking
Hiking Trails are abundant in SLO County. See AllTrails for recommendations. I may post some of my own, eventually when I have the chance to scope out the best trails with my littles in tow!
Camping is a very popular activity in SLO county, as well. See The Dyrt for recommendations. I will add some favorites when I get a chance to explore them, personally :)
